WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: NOON-MIDNIGHT TODAY
-Summary: A mixture of rain, sleet and snow is expected today beginning midafternoon with accumulations of a half To two inches possible. Also in the mix: Rain, sleet and perhaps freezing rain. An updated winter weather advisory for has been issued by the National Weather Service for Northwest Georgia. Details
FORECAST (Below: schools, preparations, roads, local closings)
5:45 a.m. update.
-70% chance of rain, snow Thursday afternoon; 40% Thursday night.
-Today: A slight chance of snow between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime accumulation: less than a half inch.
- Tonight: A chance of snow, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31. North wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
- Friday night: A slight chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. North wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday: A slight chance of flurries. Partly cloudy, with a high near 34. North wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
-Extended forecast> Click / Regional radar
-GEMA: 1/2 to 2 inches in our area;Chattooga could see more: The map below shows the Georgia Emergency Management snow prediction for Thursday afternoon and evening. Much of our market is in the half- to 2-inch zone.
STORM PREPARATIONS
Floyd EMA chief: Prepare now for perhaps up to 1 to 2 inches of snow
(Floyd County release) The National Weather Service estimates the area is expected to receive 1 to 2 inches of snow beginning Thursday around 1 p.m., ending at 7 p.m. It could resume again early Friday. Temperatures aren't expected to climb above the freezing mark until later this weekend.
Scotty Hancock, Director of Floyd County's Emergency Management Agency, advised residents to be prepared for the possibility of winter weather. Take the following precautions to provide for the safety and security of their family and property during a winter storm:
-Keep your radio or television tuned to a local station to keep informed of current weather conditions and forecasts.
-Be prepared at home by keeping adequate supplies: heating fuel, non-perishable food, clean water, flashlights with extra batteries, first aid supplies, extra blankets, and a battery powered radio. A fire extinguisher is also recommended for year-round use, if needed, in your home.
-Keep some kind of emergency heating equipment and fuel on hand so you can keep at least one room of your house livable in case your power is off. Keep the room ventilated to avoid buildup of toxic fumes.
-Stay indoors as much as possible. If you must go outdoors, dress warm in loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Your outer garment should be water repellent. Avoid overexertion from walking to get supplies.
-Driving conditions might be hazardous, so use precaution while driving.
-GEMA's advice to residents on preparing for winter storms> GEMA
-Hear the audio of GEMA's news minute on storm issues> Audio
ON THE ROAD
-From DOT/Roads could be an issue through weekend: A winter storm and below-freezing temperatures are likely to result in extremely hazardous driving conditions on Georgia roadways, perhaps well into the weekend in some areas. Snow accumulations are possible Thursday and Thursday night roughly north of a line from Columbus to Wilkes County. Anticipated below-freezing temperatures overnight may result in icing conditions that could be repeated Friday overnight.
-If you must drive: Reduced speed, patience and extreme caution are urged at all times. Drivers are advised to at least 100 feet behind and to not pass Georgia DOT equipment treating roadways.
-Check the DOT map as well (right)> Click
-AAA offers tips on storm travel conditions> Click
SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
-St. Mary's Catholic School, Rome, plans to classes as normal Thursday but all after-school activities on campus have been canceled.
-Floyd Schools to go full day Thursday; after-school events canceled
(MR) Floyd County School System administrators are watching the weather situation closely and working with Emergency Management personnel to determine any changes in school activities or plans that may need to be altered.
-At this time, the regular school day will go on as scheduled for Thursday.
-All after-school activities and after-school care will be cancelled for Thursday in anticipation of frozen precipitation to arrive Thursday afternoon. Current weather predictions call for the best chance of measureable precipitation between 3 and 6 p.m. Thursday. The forecast continues to vary as to exactly how much, if any, frozen precipitation the area may receive. The chance that the area will receive measurable frozen precipitation during the school day Thursday is still too small to call off the school day for Thursday.
-A decision on Friday will be made after assessing the situation on Thursday afternoon and evening.
-System personnel will continue to monitor the weather overnight and meet with Emergency Management again at 10 a.m. Thursday. If there are changes in the weather that bring the bad weather system into the area earlier than expected, it may be necessary to dismiss school early on Thursday. Parents are encouraged to make back-up plans for Thursday in the event that there is a need to close school early. Currently, there are no plans to release schools early on Thursday. However, if weather forecasters change the timeframe that frozen participation may move into the area, those plans could change. Again, due to the uncertainty with the weather forecast, please make contingency plans, in the event that it is necessary to close school early on Thursday.
-Updates: The school system telephone number is at 706-234-1031. The system web site is www.floydboe.net. A weather update message will be available on the school system telephone system between the hours of 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
-Bartow schools closing early: Bartow County schools are closing two hours early on Thursday because of the storm threat> Headlines
-Gordon, Calhoun schools closing early> Click
-Darlington to follow normal class schedules on Thursday--but that could change> Details
-Shorter moves up game because of weather threat: Shorter College's home basketball contests against Southern Poly State University, originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6 and 8 p.m. at the Winthrop-King Centre, will now take place at 3 and 5 p.m. because of the threat of inclement weather> Click
-Southern Co. (Georgia Power) sets winter peak demand record> click
>For more, see our expanded weather below (click)
CLOSINGS & CANCELLATIONS
-All Floyd County after-school activities and after-school care are canceled for Thursday in anticipation of frozen precipitation to arrive Thursday afternoon.
-That includes the middle school basketball games with Darlington.
-Send closing, cancellation information via e-mail> Click here
-Retail Watch/Another West Rome retailer said to be closing:
-We're checking reports of another retail closing, this one a specialty shop that has served Rome/Floyd County for more than a decade. We'll post updates as soon as we confirm with the owners.
-Jan. 7/Floyd Healthcare Resources Inc., Rehab Care Inc., to hold ground breaking ceremonies for The Specialty Hospital on the north side of the FMC campus at 2 p.m. > Health
-Jan. 7/Planning commission meets at 2:30 p.m. Light agenda> Details
-Annual King Weekend events announced> Click MLK
-Jan. 25/The Rome-Seven Hills Rotary Club is pleased to present the Basketball Classic between Shorter College and Berry College. The proceeds from the game will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Georgia as well as the Club's other local literacy and education projects. Between the women's and men's games, Rome Seven-Hills Rotary Club President Jerry Patty will present checks to Carrie Edge of the Boys and Girls Club and to both Berry College and Shorter College as a result of this event.The Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Georgia now has over 2000 members, and these funds will be used to continue their mission. Rome Seven Hills Rotary Club is excited to have been able to contribute more than $40,000 toward the Boys & Girls Club over the last several years. This endeavor further supports our Rotary International initiatives around literacy and education.
-Jan. 23/Winter Contra Dance set for Ford Gym, Berry College, from 7 until 10:30 p.m. Featuring Rebel Yell with calling by Dennis Edminston. Cost: $7.
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey
-Jan. 5, 2010, will go down in Georgia Tech athletic history as 'Black Tuesday'
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