South prepares for weekend threat of debilitating snow, ice

Forecasters’ warnings of debilitating snow, ice and sleet as far south as Georgia sent parts a bit crazy Friday. Shoppers were looking for storm supplies from stores and road crews were trying to avoid another wintertime catastrophe.

Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in Virginia after a blizzard caused thousands of motorists to be trapped on the roads. Ralph Northam declared a State of Emergency and urged people not to ignore the approaching storm. North Carolina’s emergency declaration saw some stores empty their shelves of essentials, including bread and milk.

Trucks prepared to spray a briny mix on roads to prevent icing. Travis Wagler stated that he hadn’t seen such an increase in supplies at his Abbeville hardware store in at least two winters.

“We’re selling everything you might expect: sleds, but also salt, shovels and firewood,” Wagler said from Abbeville Hardware. Forecasters for the area predict that there will be a quarter inch (0.6 centimeters), of ice on trees and power lines. This could cause days without electricity.

Wagler stated, “People are concerned.”

A Georgia Department of Transportation brine truck is seen atop a truck ahead of a winterstorm at the GDOT Maintenance Activities Unit site in Forest Park (Ga.) (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson).

Governor of South Carolina Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Governor, issued an emergency order stating that the state would likely feel its effects from the major winter storm beginning Sunday morning.

He said that there is the potential for dangerous conditions due to accumulations of snow and ice, which could lead to power outages throughout the state.

WINTER STORM TO BRING FREEZING RAIN AND ICE TO PLAINS & MIDWEST

According to the National Weather Service, snowfall could be as high as 2 inches (5 cm) or 5 inches (12.7 cm) from Saturday night through Sunday. Power outages and travel problems could be worsened by an additional layer of ice and winds gusting up to 35 mph (56 km/h). At the highest elevations, snow accumulations can reach 8 inches (20cm).

After dropping into the Southeast over the weekend, the storm was so large that it was expected to move into the Northeast, dropping snow, sleet, and rain around densely populated Eastern Seaboard.

Before a winter storm, a number of hoes that were used to fill brine tanks are seen near storage bins for brine. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Governor. Brian Kemp stated that the state was ready to go for the blast and was “to the maximum”. Late Friday, he declared a state emergency. He said the main concern was the northern portion of Georgia located just above the east-west Interstate 20 route.

“Hopefully, the storm won’t deliver, but it could deliver,” he said. We just don’t know,” he said.

Forecasters predicted that parts of Tennessee could see as much as 6 inches (15 cm) of snow. Northern Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley region in Alabama could also experience light snow accumulations. Any precipitation could freeze and make it difficult to drive, with lows in the 20s for a large portion of the country.

SHOULD YOU WINTER FIX YOUR CAR?

Friday saw heavy snowfall across a large portion of the Midwest by a fast-moving storm. This made travel difficult and many schools had to close or be moved online.

The winter storm watch extended northward from metro Atlanta to Arkansas in west and Pennsylvania in north. It covered parts of 10 states, including Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Metro Atlanta could be affected by travel problems. In 2014, about 2 inches (5 cmimeters) snow caused traffic to stop in slip-sliding. This event is still called “Snowmaggedon”.

Dawsonville Hardware is located about 60 miles (97km north of Atlanta). Owner Dwight Gilleland stated that he was already using heaters by noon on Friday and that he had five bags of salt/sand left.

He said, “I believe the pandemic has made people even more anxious than usual.”

A Georgia Department of Transportation member pulls a lever to start a brine truck in preparation for a winter storm at the GDOT Maintenance Activities Unit location in Forest Park, Ga. on Friday, January 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

According to Randy Britton, a spokesperson for Winston-Salem in North Carolina, the city had to borrow workers from other agencies to treat roads ahead of the storm. This was because COVID-19 had created a shortage of workers. As the city prepared for winter weather, volunteers also pitched in, he said.

He said, “We feel really good about where are at the moment.” “We’ve checked the boxes.”

North Carolina Governor. Roy Cooper signed an order of emergency and the administration encouraged people to remain at home when the storm hits. The state highway agency warned crews that there might not be enough labor to respond to emergencies as quickly as usual due to shortages.

“We just don’t have as many people to drive the trucks or operate the equipment,” said Marcus Thompson, a spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Martin Luther King Jr. holiday will see many schools and businesses close Monday, which could reduce travel problems. Also, temperatures expected to rise into the 40s could cause delays in getting to work.

Pam Thompson, owner of Dillard House Stables north Georgia’s Rabun Country, was close to the bullseye due to the largest snow forecast. In case the snow and/or ice doesn’t move quickly, she was gathering feed andhay for 40 horses.

“We have snow every year up here in the mountains and it will be anywhere from 6 to 8 inches, and it’s usually gone pretty fast,” Thompson said. “What I’m seeing on the forecast is that it’s going to be really cold next week, so the snow may not go away as quickly as normal.”