ATLANTA — Freezing rain and sleet are moving through the entire metro Atlanta area early Sunday morning, creating hazardous conditions on roads and elevated surfaces.
Temperatures across the metro remain below freezing. Officials say any precipitation falling is likely freezing rain or sleet and is already accumulating on metal surfaces such as signs and streetlights, as well as bridges and overpasses.
Emergency management coordinators across the metro began sharing updates as ice continued to build Sunday morning.
FULTON COUNTY
Officials reported untreated elevated surfaces and sidewalks freezing over at the county’s emergency operations center. Measurements showed between one-sixteenth and one-eighth of an inch of ice accumulation in parts of the county.
Johns Creek and Alpharetta reported roadways rapidly icing over, with slush confirmed on roads in Alpharetta.
The City of Decatur has measured about one-eighth of an inch of ice on raised surfaces.
A trained spotter later reported up to 0.15 inches of ice accumulation near the intersection of Westside Parkway and Old Roswell Road in the Roswell area of Fulton County.
Grass was holding ice, while residential roadways and sidewalks remained wet but free of ice at that time.
GWINNETT COUNTY
Officials reported sleet mixing with freezing rain in Lilburn early Sunday morning.
COBB COUNTY
A trained spotter reported approximately 0.20 inches of ice accumulation near the intersection of Brooks Drive and Fessenden Avenue in Austell.
Earlier, light glazing was reported on elevated surfaces in the Sweat Mountain area of Marietta, with temperatures near still slightly below freezing.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Emergency officials reported some of the heaviest impacts in Cherokee County as of late Sunday morning. Ice accretion measured about one-third of an inch at the county’s emergency operations center in Canton.
Officials said reports indicate between 0.25 and 0.40 inches of ice across the eastern third of the county, with the highest amounts reported in the Mica community of northeast Cherokee County. A very light glaze was reported across western parts of the county.
Sporadic calls for downed trees and power outages continued, with temperatures hovering between 28 and 29 degrees.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Officials reported ice accumulating on trees and vehicles at the county’s emergency operations center, with temperatures still below freezing.
County DOT officials said no ice had been reported on roadways as of early Sunday morning. Georgia State Patrol reported U.S. 278 and Georgia 61 from Dallas to the Douglas County line remained clear with moderate rain.
DEKALB COUNTY
Officials reported no major roadway issues early Sunday morning after travel through Midtown, Decatur and Lilburn.
Some small trees were observed beginning to droop.
BARTOW COUNTY
Georgia State Patrol reported a glaze of ice forming on elevated surfaces, measuring around one-tenth of an inch. Troopers said ice could be heard crackling on trees due to strong winds.
FORSYTH COUNTY
Around 9:45 a.m., radio operators with Forsyth ARES reported very slick conditions along Highway 9 at Post Road in Cumming. Officials warned the roadway could become dangerous at speeds above 25 to 30 miles per hour.
PICKENS COUNTY
Officials reported Highway 53 east of Jasper was iced over with at least one vehicle in a ditch. Ice was accumulating on trees and power lines, and secondary roads east of Jasper were becoming coated.
Several streets in the City of Jasper were closed due to ice, and power outages were reported affecting more than 600 customers. Temperatures across the county remained in the 20s.
Officials reported significant ice accumulation and power outages in Pickens County. Western portions of the county measured about 0.60 inches of freezing rain, where most power outages were reported. Eastern Pickens County saw about 0.30 inches of freezing rain and sleet.
Officials said reports of downed trees and power outages continued to come in as conditions worsen.
HENRY COUNTY
Officials reported vehicles glazed over in Hampton early Sunday morning.
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY
Emergency officials said sleet started to pick up early Sunday morning, with visibility decreasing on roadways due to ice accumulation.
Officials continue to urge drivers to stay off the roads if possible and to travel with extreme caution if travel is necessary.
