State officials say they’re prepared for snow

ATLANTA – Weather forecasts Thursday afternoon warned state officials of the possibility of snow in Atlanta and Northeast Georgia Friday night, and they say they’re ready.

Gov. Nathan Deal and Emergency Management Director Jim Butterworth met with reporters following an announcement at the Capitol about 800 call-center jobs heading to Duluth.

“We are even more prepared in the event that we get the ice or snow that we very likely will get,” Deal said. “It appears the forecast continues to drop the affected area even closer to metro Atlanta, so we’re going to be prepared to do that and respond to the areas — especially in Northeast Georgia where it appears that they are going to be hit the hardest.”

The state’s forecasts suggest that the winter-weather system accompanying a cold front moving across the state will bring snow Friday night and Saturday morning with accumulations of more than a half inch in Atlanta and greater amounts farther north. But at least the frozen stuff will be coming on a weekend.

The system is unstable, making precise predictions difficult.

For example, the Weather Channel is predicting constant rain Friday in Athens with a high of 38 degrees. It says Saturday will be cloudy with a high of 25.

On the other hand, the National Weather Service calls for rain all day Friday with snow Friday night and a low of 31 degrees in Athens. A 30-percent chance of snow the next morning turns to a chance of rain later in the day.

Among the scenarios state officials are watching is the possibility of morning rain changing to snow with significant accumulations.

“As with everything with the weather, we do not have control over it. We are going to be monitoring it very closely,” Deal said. “If it changes, if the patterns change and the timing of when it will come in changes, we are flexible in being able to adapt accordingly.”

Rain makes it impossible for state highway crews to spread saltwater on roads to melt snow. So, they are hoping for a pause and some drying between the morning rain and afternoon snowfall.

“The timing of this event is definitely critical,” Butterworth said.

Both men vowed that the state would not be caught unprepared like critics charged Deal in 2014 when midday snow fall prompted early departures from work, clogging roads that prevented snow removal, stranding commuters on roadsides and some students in their schools.

Wednesday ahead of the weather’s arrival, Deal declared a state of emergency for 15 northern counties, and Thursday, he added Hall and Banks to the list. He also extended the emergency period to Sunday.

Butterworth told reporters Deal has taken a hands-on approach this time.

“The governor has been right in the middle of everything we have been doing,” he said.

Butterworth cautioned private citizens to also gear up, including being equipped to survive a period without heat or power in their homes.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety issued a bulletin urging motorists to check safety items on their cars before heading out, such as adequate washer fluid, tire tread, ice scrapers, jumper cables, flares and blankets.

Follow Walter Jones on Twitter @MorrisNews and Facebook or contact him at walter.jones@morris.com.