East Cobb Weather

North Georgia freeze warning issued for Saturday includes Cobb

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North Georgia freeze warning

If you think it was chilly when you woke up this morning, wait until Sunday. The National Weather Service in Atlanta has issued a freeze warning for most of north Georgia, including Cobb County.

Around 10 a.m. today, the NWS issued the warning from 9 p.m. Saturday through 10 a.m. Sunday, with overnight temperatures possibly dipping into the 20s.

The freeze warning area runs along and north of a line from LaGrange to Griffin to Covington and Washington.

In Cobb, temperatures dropped into the high 30s last night, with highs today only in the low 50s. That’s also the forecast for Sunday afternoon, but not before low temperatures tonight are expected to be around freezing.

Adding to the chilly conditions are winds that could reach gusts of 15 mph during the day today. They will fade on Sunday, according to the NWS, but rain is expected late Sunday night and through Monday.

After warmer, but often rainy, weather this week, the freeze warning signals a return to colder weather for most of next week.

Tuesday is expected to be rainy all day, and with the lower temperatures there is the chance of more freezing conditions, with lows possibly falling under 32 overnight.

High temperatures aren’t likely to get much higher than the low 50s until the end of the week, with clear and sunny skies.

 

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Cobb weather and traffic post-Michael: Several downed trees, some flooding

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Wednesday night’s heavy rains, the product of Hurricane Michael, produced around three inches across the county, according to an update sent out by Cobb government late this morning.Cobb County logo, Cobb 2017 elections

Cobb DOT crews were dealing with around a dozen downed trees, including one on Tondee Court in Northeast Cobb, and some flooding on roads that has been cleaned up.

There was a brief tornado warning in Cobb early Wednesday evening, mostly for the southern part of the county. Some estimates had around six inches of rain in the Powder Springs area.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Powder Springs Creek, which was at 11 feet, what’s considered flood stage.

Cobb schools were in session as usual Thursday, after operations and transportation crews made a check of facilities and roads starting around 3 a.m. Schools were closing around the lunch hour and for the rest of the day for a previously scheduled early release for staff development.

Cobb DOT is urging motorists that if they approach a traffic signal that is not working, to treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Georgia Power is saying that if you see a downed or low-hanging electric wire, don’t touch it. That includes cable TV lines. Instead call 1-888-891-0938 or dial 911 to report downed power lines.

Georgia Power is reporting only a small number of outages in metro Atlanta; most are in areas of south and central Georgia hit hard by hurricane-force winds as Michael moved up from the Florida Panhandle.

Cobb EMC was reporting only a small number of outages this morning.

A good bit of central and south Georgia was under a tropical storm warning and flash flood watch this morning as clean-up has gotten underway. Those warnings have been cancelled.

President Trump this morning declared a state of emergency for Georgia, meaning impacted areas could receive federal aid for clean-up. Gov. Deal declared a state of emergency for 108 counties before the storm hit.

The National Weather Service issued this information this morning:

Do not go sightseeing within impacted communities. Sightseers interfere with the emergency work of first responders.

When clearing out fallen trees, be careful with chainsaws and axes. Always wear protective gear and keep others at a safe distance. Leaning trees and those which have fallen on roofs or power lines can be especially dangerous. If you are not in good health or unsure about what you are doing, have someone with tree cutting experience do the job. Never cut trees without a partner.

The sun came out late this morning in Cobb, and some fall-like temperatures are expected for the rest of the week, with highs in the 70s.

Tonight’s lows could dip into the 40s.

 

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Cobb emergency crews prepare for impact of Hurricane Michael

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Cobb emergency crews, Hurricane Michael

Just a little while ago Cobb government public information officer Ross Cavitt sent out the following message and video here of crews working in the Vinings area, related to county preparations for what we might get via Hurricane Michael:

Cobb County’s Emergency Management Agency participated in National Weather Service and GEMA briefings this afternoon. We expect some gusty winds and up to two inches of rain in this area. Much of this will happen after dark tonight.

Cobb County Department of Transportation crews spent much of the day clearing clogged storm drains and preparing their tree clearing equipment in anticipation of work tonight.

Cobb County Emergency Management Director Cassie Mazloom says the tornado threat in the Cobb area is low but still worth monitoring. The biggest concern remains downed trees and power outages, especially since we’ve been in a fairly dry period.

Cobb is included in a hazardous weather outlook area issued this morning by the National Weather Service in Atlanta.

Just before the eye of the storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane earlier this afternoon, wind gusts of nearly 150 mph were measured at Tydall AFB near Panama City Beach, Fla., according to news reports there.

Yesterday Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in 93 counties in central and south Georgia, which are expected to get a heavy brunt from Michael.

Today he expanded that area to 108 counties, many of which are now under a hurricane warning, according to the National Weather Service, with the threat of devastating amounts of heavy rain and hurricane-force winds, possibly in excess of 70 mph.

The storm is projected to sweep up  part of the Middle Atlantic coast before crossing into the Atlantic Ocean.

In the video, the interview is with Gary Pongetti, Cobb DOT Drainage Division Maintenance Supervisor.

Earlier this morning, the Cobb County School District sent out this message:

We continue to remain in contact with the National Weather Service and are monitoring the track of Hurricane Michael. Our Operations and Transportation teams are ready to get every student to school and back home safely for the rest of the week!

Cobb schools will be on a previously scheduled early release Thursday for a local school professional learning day.

High temperatures in Cobb are expected to cool, starting on Thursday, and not get out of the 70s for the rest of the week. Low temperatures are expected to drop into the 50s, with mostly sunny weather on the weekend after the chance of rain and showers on Thursday.

The National Hurricane Center said today that the only stronger storm on record to reach so far north on the Gulf Coast was Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 storm in 1969 that slammed into the Mississippi coast, killing more than 200 people and reaching winds of more than 170 mph.

 

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Cobb under flash flood watch until 8 a.m. Friday

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Cobb flash flood watch

The start of the school year is a soggy one, and the rest of the week will be wet as well. Cobb is one of many counties in north and central Georgia under a flash flood watch until 8 a.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta is predicting that Cobb could get between and inch to an inch and a half of rain until then.

Under a flash flood watch, conditions exist that could lead to flash flooding of lakes, streams, creeks and rivers and could cause hazardous driving situations on roads.

The forecast for Cobb calls for cooler temperatures but high humidity over the next few days. Today’s high is expected around 80, with a low of around 70, and a 100 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms.

For Thursday, similar conditions are expected, with the rain expected to taper off to a 60 percent chance by the evening.

Friday also calls for a 60 percent chance of rain with highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 70s. Likewise for Saturday, with the chance of rain forecast to dwindle to a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.

The rainy weather is expected to continue into early next week.

 

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Cobb included in thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m. Thursday

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Cobb thunderstorm watch

The heavy rains and storms that began late Wednesday night and have continued today may not quite be over. Cobb County is included in a thunderstorm watch that is covering most of north and central Georgia until 8 p.m. tonight.

Officially the National Weather Service in Atlanta is calling this a severe thunderstorm watch, and the Cobb area has experienced some severe weather since last night.

Sporadic thunderstorm warnings have been issued in the watch area, but one has not been issued for Cobb.

In a watch situation, conditions are present for potential severe storms to emerge, including heavy rainfall, lightning, thunder and high winds.

Today’s high in the East Cobb area is expected to be near 90, with lows tonight in the low 70s. The chance of severe thunderstorms is expected to be reduced from 70 percent this afternoon to 40 percent tonight.

On Friday, the forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms with highs in the low 90s and lows in the low 70s.

Similar weather is on tap for the weekend and into Monday, with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday.

The stormy weather could be around into the July 4 holiday next Wednesday.

 

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Cobb included in flash flood watch due to Alberto until Wednesday morning

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Cobb flash flood watch, subtropical storm Alberto

The National Weather Service has included Cobb County in a flash flood watch until Wednesday morning due to rains stemming from Subtropical Storm Alberto.

The watch was to begin at 2 p.m. Monday and covers most of north and central Georgia. The heavy rains could cause flooding in rivers, lakes, streams and other low-lying areas.

Alberto was making landfall on the northwest Florida Gulf Coast early Monday afternoon, according to the NWS, which also included this information in its watch alert:

Subtropical storm Alberto will continue northward into eastern Alabama through this evening bringing abundant moisture and rainfall along and east of its track. This will allow for increased rainfall potential across the area. Although average rainfall totals will average 2 to 3 inches, some areas could see as much as 4 to 5 inches through Tuesday night. Creek and river levels are already above average and will not take much additional rainfall to cause levels to rise above bankfull.

Several creeks and rivers will rise out of their banks closing roads and impacting homes, businesses and farms. High water may not recede until well after the rain has ended.

The chance of rain in Cobb and metro Atlanta is expected to increase later on Monday afternoon and overnight and through Tuesday, possibly up to a 90 percent chance. We could get up to three-quarters of an inch of rain Tuesday night.

In addition to the rain and possible flash floods, foggy conditions may also be present.

The watch period ends at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

On Wednesday, thunderstorms are likely, especially on Wednesday evening, with the chance of storms tapering off as the week continues.

High temperatures Monday and Tuesday will be in the high 70s and lows in the high 60s. From Wednesday through Thursdays, highs could reach into the mid-to-high 80s with lows in the low 70s.

Sunny skies are not expected to return until Saturday.

 

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Cobb flash flood watch in effect through Saturday morning; a rainy Memorial Day holiday weekend expected

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Cobb flash flood watch, National Weather Service

Intermittent rainshowers are expected throughout the Memorial Day weekend, and to start it off Cobb and much of Georgia have been placed under a flash flood watch until 8 a.m. Saturday.

The National Weather Service said this afternoon the greatest chance for flash flooding is in central Georgia, along with portions of north Georgia.

Between an inch and two inches of rain could fall in those areas until Saturday morning. Localized flash flooding of creeks and streams is possible in places where heavy rainfall occurs.

This is from the NWS watch issued at 3 p.m. Friday:

“Additional rounds of very heavy rainfall are likely as a trough of low pressure to the west feeds very high amounts of moisture into the area. Widespread rainfall amounts of one to two inches are likely. Locally higher amounts of 3 inches or more are possible where storms repeatedly move.

“Much of this heavy rain could fall in a short amount of time. With the heavy rain that has already fallen in the last 2 days, it will only take a relatively small amount of rainfall to cause significant flash flooding.

“Creeks and rivers will rise out of their banks closing roads or impacting homes, businesses and farms. Roads may become closed for extended periods of time. High water will not recede until well after the rain has ended.”

The extended hazardous weather outlook for Cobb continues through Memorial Day and Tuesday, with scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms possible every day. Heavy rainfall could occur stemming from Tropical Storm Alberto, which is projected to hit the northwest Florida Gulf Coast on Monday.

That is the first named storm of the year, although the 2018 hurricane season doesn’t officially begin until next week.

High temperatures in Cobb and metro Atlanta are expected to reach or exceed 80 degrees every day over the holiday weekend, with expected lows in the mid-to-high 60s.

After Friday’s 50 percent chance of rain, the chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday is forecast to be 60 percent, and around 50 percent on Monday.

Rain also is in the forecast for all of next week.

 

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East Cobb Weather Alert: Advisory issued due to heavy rains and possible hazardous roads

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East Cobb Weather Alert
Water accumulating on Johnson Ferry Road at Columns Drive at the Chattahoochee River, around 10:15 a.m. today. (Georgia 511 camera photo)

The East Cobb area is included in a special weather statement issued by the National Weather Service about the potential for hazardous roads due to heavy rain this morning.

Around two inches of rain have fallen in parts of East Cobb, and around 10 a.m. the NWS included this area, as well as North Fulton, Forsyth, North Gwinnett and outlying areas, in its advisory.

The advisory period was to last until 11 a.m. due to the stationary rain showers, but the potential for road hazards could last much of the day. More rain is expected in East Cobb as the day continues.

Here’s the information the NWS is passing along for now:

“Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding especially in poor drainage areas.

“Some locations in the path of these storms include Atlanta, Marietta, Gainesville, Cumming, Homer, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Smyrna, Dunwoody, Milton, Duluth, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Buford, Chamblee, Norcross, Doraville and Braselton.

“Motorists should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to hydroplaning.”

South Cobb is included in a flash flood warning also issued this morning by the NWS, and that warning is expected to last until the middle of the afternoon.

Slow-moving showers are expected to continue through most of the rest of the day and tonight, according to the NWS. Localized flash-flooding is possible in low-lying areas, especially around creeks, rivers and streams.

More rain is in the forecast for Thursday and through Friday night, with the chance of rain dropping through the weekend.

Lower Roswell Road at Old Canton Road around 10 a.m. today (Georgia 511 photo).

 

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East Cobb Weather Update: Heavy rains, high winds in forecast through Tuesday

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East Cobb Weather Update

After a beautiful start to the weekend, Earth Day in East Cobb has been a soggy one, and the start of the week will be wetter still, with high winds to boot.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta has issued a hazardous weather outlook starting Sunday night and continuing into Tuesday.

East Cobb and the metro Atlanta area, as well as much of north Georgia, could get 2-4 inches of rainfall during that period. That also means the possibility of flooding in the usually suspect areas, although for now the NWS has issued a flood watch along the I-85 corridor through Monday afternoon.

A wind advisory will be in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday and Cobb is included in this area. East winds between 15-25 mph are expected, with gusts of 34-40 mph possible and even higher in higher elevations.

The chance of thunderstorms Sunday night is highest after 11 p.m. and into the overnight hours of Monday.

Showers and a possible thunderstorm are most likely on Monday before 3 p.m., as the Monday morning as well as afternoon commute figures to be soggy.

Highs on Monday are expected to be in the upper 60s and lows in the mid 50s. There’s a 50 percent chance of rain Monday night.

For Tuesday, the rain will be tapering off to around a 40 percent chance, and thunderstorms possible after 2 p.m. Highs are forecast for the high 60s and lows in the mid 50s.

There’s a reduced chance of rain for most of the rest of the week in the East Cobb area, with partly sunny skies possible on Wednesday. The sun is expected to be out in full force on Friday.

High temperatures all week are expected in the mid 60s to low 70s and lows in the low-to-mid 50s and possibly the high 40s later in the week.

 

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Cobb freeze warning included in North Georgia forecast for Sunday morning

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Winter’s not quite over yet. Tonight’s for bundling up, including your beautifully blooming seasonals, as a freeze warning has been issued for most of north Georgia, including Cobb.

The National Weather Service says the warning will be in effect from midnight to 10 a.m. Sunday, and the area covered runs along a north from Carrollton, Marietta and Cleveland.

Temperatures in Cobb are forecast to hover at, or just above the freezing mark overnight and into daylight Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon, however, it’s going to warm up again, with high temperatures expected around 60. Sunday night’s low is expected in the mid-40s, and highs are expected in the mid-to-high 60s at the start of the week. There will be a chance of rain through Tuesday.

By the end of the week, it’ll really feel like spring again, with temperatures possibly reaching near 80, and a fully sunny forecast.

 

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Cobb storm aftermath: Foggy morning, wet roads and a cold evening

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Cobb storm
I-75 at Windy Hill Road, looking South. (Georgia 511 camera photo)

Monday night’s bad weather didn’t leave quite the damage as Alabama, where a tornado touched down, as well as in the south Fulton area. However, there has been a major mess for morning commuters. Here’s what we know so far about the Cobb storm aftermath, and what to expect today as the cleanup continues:

  • There’s a dense fog advisory for Cobb and most of metro Atlanta until 10 a.m., and dreary skies are expected for much of the day. The rush-hour commute has already been affected by this, but driving anywhere today figures to include low-visibility conditions;
  • There’s no additional rain this morning, but there’s a lot of what’s left of last night’s thunderstorms still on the roads in standing puddles and runoff;
  • High winds scattered debris, including tree branches, and we haven’t heard of any specific major issues in East Cobb, or anything that may affect traffic, including lane or road closures. We’ll update this if/when we get any information.
Cobb storm
Sandy Plains Road at Shallowford Road (Georgia 511 camera photo)

Most of the worst of the fog has already left the East Cobb area (it’s worse in west Cobb and along the Chattahoochee River), but today’s weather is still going to be soggy, and then it’s going to get cold tonight.

After high temperatures in the mid-60s, it could get around freezing, with a chance of scattered showers and low temperatures in the mid-30s.

On Wednesday, the sun returns with highs expected in the 50s. More rain is in the forecast for later in the week.

 

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COBB WEATHER ALERT: Tornado watch issued until 4 a.m. Tuesday; Cobb schools cancel Monday night activities

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Cobb weather alert, National Weather Service

UPDATED, 9:20 p.m.

Cobb is included in a tornado watch issued by the National Weather Service until 4 a.m. Tuesday. A second storm system with a tornado is moving out of Alabama. At 10:30 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for all of Cobb County until 11:15 p.m. More storms were moving through counties in western Georgia, where tornado warnings had been in effect.

UPDATED, 5:58 P.M:

The Cobb County School District announced shortly before 5 p.m. today that all school-related activities tonight are cancelled.

ORIGINAL POST, 2:04 P.M.:

The National Weather Service has included Cobb and metro Atlanta in a severe weather forecast for this afternoon and evening that includes the possibilities of thunderstorms, high winds, hail and tornadoes.

The threat is greatest between 3 p.m. and midnight, according to the National Weather Service forecast, which includes much of north Georgia.

Here’s more from what the NWS released in its revised projections around 1:30 this afternoon:

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will develop this afternoon, especially south of I-20. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with large hail and brief gusty winds the primary threat,
along with heavy rain.

Later this afternoon through this evening, a more organized line of severe thunderstorms will move from Alabama into northwest and west-central Georgia. It is along and ahead of this line where all modes of severe weather exist, including tornadoes, large hail potentially greater than 2 inches, and damaging winds in excess of 70 MPH. Heavy rainfall and frequent lightning will also occur. Expect the potential for severe weather to be its highest between 5 PM and 2 AM
Tuesday morning.

This map was released around 2:20 p.m. today:

We’re also seeing some school districts in west Georgia begin to cancel at least after-school activities, due to the weather threat, but haven’t seen anything yet for Cobb. We’ll update that here when we get more information.

 

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Weather alert: Cobb freeze watch in effect for early Saturday morning

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Cobb freeze watch
NWS low temperature projections Friday night and early Saturday morning for north Georgia.

The National Weather Service office in Atlanta has issued a freeze watch from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday for several counties in northwest Georgia, including Cobb.

The watch is part of a larger hazardous weather outlook for most of the weekend in north and central Georgia.

Mild but rainy weather this week helped trees and other vegetation that have been blooming.

The sun will be out for the weekend, but temperatures are forecast to be around freezing for the next few nights.

The possibility of freezing temperatures Sunday and Monday nights are also included in the hazardous weather outlook.

After temperatures Friday ranged into the high 50s, Saturday, Sunday and Monday daytime weather will be warmer, in the low-to-mid 60s. Lows will fall back into the 30s and 40s for most of the coming week.

Wind gusts that were as high as 20 mph today will continue through the weekend, and are expected to be calm by the start of the week. Stronger winds are expected in the mountainous areas of northeast Georgia.

As the work week begins, cloudy skies and rain will return to metro Atlanta, with a 50 percent chance of showers Monday night, and a 30 percent chance on Tuesday night.

 

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Cobb County flood watch in effect for most of the weekend

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Cobb County Flood Watch, National Weather Service

The rain that began Friday night is not expected to let up for most of the weekend, and as a result Cobb County and much of metro Atlanta are under a flood watch.

The watch began at 7 a.m. today and continues through 7 p.m. Sunday, with Cobb possibly getting between 2-4 inches of rain.

The usual areas in East Cobb that are prone to flooding—along the Chattahoochee River and Sope Creek, as well as the Noonday Creek area—are susceptible to this weather pattern, which includes the possibility of thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service issued the watch for most of north and central Georgia, from a line north of Columbus to Griffin to Athens.

In addition to the rain, dense and heavy fog is expected to linger in the watch area throughout this afternoon, and visibility could be reduced between a quarter to a half-mile.

The chance of rain in East Cobb is 50 percent today and 80 percent tonight, with rain and patchy fog returning overnight. Highs are expected in the low 60s, with lows in the same range.

On Sunday, the chance of rain is 90 percent, with fog returning during the day and temperatures reaching the high 60s. The lows Sunday are expected to be in the high 50s as a high chance of rain continues.

The chance of rain continues into the start of the week, but a rainy and overcast week is expected as warm temperatures continue.

 

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Cobb included in hazardous weather outlook for most of Wednesday

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The thunderstorms that have moved through western Georgia this morning were spreading into metro Atlanta, and Cobb County is included in a hazardous weather outlook that will be in effect for most of today.

At 10:30 a.m. the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City issued the outlook, which includes most of metro Atlanta and a good portion of north and central Georgia.

The outlook includes information about potential severe weather, including thunderstorms and the possibility of tornadoes.

Tornado watches and warnings have been in effect in various areas of Georgia this morning. High winds and storms have been reported in Bremen, as that weather system headed east toward metro Atlanta.

The NWS said that in the outlook area, an isolated severe storm is possible, as are high winds and isolated tornadoes.

Between an inch and two inches of rain also is expected to fall, causing the possibility of flooding in some areas.

Thursday and Friday will see sunshine, but a rainy weekend is in the forecast.

This week is Weather Preparedness Month in Georgia. A scheduled statewide tornado drill scheduled for close to noon today has been postponed to Friday because of the current weather conditions.

 

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Cobb schools closed on Friday, Jan. 19; other East Cobb openings/closures/updates

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East Cobb Park, Cobb schools closed Friday
Sunshine helped melt much of the snow, including at East Cobb Park, but icy roads are expected to freeze over again Thursday night. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

The word’s just come down that for the third day in a row, Cobb schools will be closed on Friday.

The Cobb County School District cited “hazardous road and travel conditions throughout the county,” and that includes a number of areas of East Cobb.

The major roads are clear for the most part, but along roads without the direct sunshine that helped the melting process today, there’s still a lot of ice and slush. That’s expected to freeze over again tonight as temperatures drop down into the mid-to-low 20s.

When we went out earlier this afternoon, we noticed this too, especially along Robinson Road near Fullers Park, and along Robinson on either side of Old Canton Road.

That’s one of a couple dozen or so icy patches in East Cobb that remain treacherous. Earlier today, some social media postings included a lot of ice on Hembree Road near Pope High School, and around Walton High School.

Other areas where ice has been an issue include:

  • Sandy Plains Road at Wigley Road and north on Wigley Road;
  • Several areas along Mabry Road;
  • Ebenezer Road;
  • Several spots along Bells Ferry Road;
  • Barnes Mill Road;
  • Roswell Road near Barnes Mill;
  • Post Oak Tritt near Johnson Ferry Road;
  • Shallowford Road east of Johnson Ferry;
  • Johnson Ferry Road at Oak Drive;
  • Sewell Mill Road near Old Canton Road;
  • Johnson Ferry at the Chattahoochee River;
  • Several areas along Powers Ferry Road.

Cobb County government will have normal working hours on Friday.

Mt. Bethel Christian Academy will be holding classes as normally scheduled on Friday.

The Walker School also announced it would be trying to make a go of classes on Friday, tweeting out this message not long after the Cobb announcement:

On Friday, warmer weather is expected to stick around longer, with highs into the low 50s and lows in the high 20s, with the chance of ice returning again Friday night.

It’s going to get gradually warmer over the weekend, into the low 60s by Sunday.

It’s also expected to be mostly sunny, with partly cloudy skies on Sunday and rain on Monday.

Send us your weather news and photos, if you have them, to: editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post them here.

 

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Cobb begins thawing out from winter storm: Thursday mid-day closings, weather, roads, schools update

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NWS Snowfall Map, Cobb winter storm

As temperatures climbed toward freezing this morning, Cobb County government offices and libraries opened, and road clean-up continued, aided by some very welcome sunshine.

Late last night, Cobb spokesman Ross Cavitt said that around 200 accident calls were reported to county 911 dispatchers within the first 24 hours of the storm, including 15 stranded motorists, 10 hit-and-run incidents and two needing fire extrication from their vehicles.

No serious injuries have been reported, but the roads are still icy and slushy in some places.

Earlier this morning Cobb DOT said there were 50 reports of black ice throughout the county overnight:

Most major roads in good shape but side streets, especially those in shade, remain problematic. Be safe if you are venturing out. Fortunately traffic is light.

If you’re a CobbLinc rider, local and paratransit service began at noon, but XPress bus services are cancelled today.

Temperatures could reach the high 30s or even 40 by mid afternoon, with lows tonight and overnight falling back into the mid-to-low 20s.

Then it’s getting warmer starting Friday, and for most of next week. Friday’s highs could get into the low 50s and by Sunday we could get into the high 60s.

Related story

We a few updates about openings, closings, cancellations and postponements from East Cobb businesses, faith communities and other organizations beyond what was posted on the link just above, but we’ll keep adding to this list below during the afternoon.

We’ll also update with news about whether Cobb schools will have classes Friday. They’re closed again today, and today’s school board meetings have been postponed to next Thursday.

We’ll also be catching up with some other news that we’ve been wanting to post here the last couple days—and there’s a lot going on to share in East Cobb—starting later today and tomorrow as well.

Thursday openings

  • Transfiguration Catholic Church
  • XenGo Fusion Kitchen & Sushi
  • The Avenue East Cobb
  • Ted’s Montana Grill
  • Johnny’s New York Pizza
  • Book Exchange
  • St. Andrew UMC, at 1 p.m.
  • Once and Again Books
  • The Art Place-Mountain View, at 1 p.m.
  • East Cobb and NE Cobb YMCA open until 7 p.m.

Thursday closings/cancellations

  • Tonight’s Walton PTSA open house and general meeting
  • All practices/activities for East Marietta Basketball
  • The Cobb Watershed Stewardship program’s Privet Pull Mob for this afternoon at Noonday Creek Park

Send your weather news and photos and we’ll post it here: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

 

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Wednesday winter weather update: Cobb government closed; motorists asked not to travel as roads remain icy; closures, delayed openings and more

by
Winter Storm, Jan. 17, 2018
Many areas of East Cobb got a half-inch to an inch of snow Tuesday; temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until Thursday.

Here’s your mid-day Wednesday Cobb winter weather update, and we’ll keep adding more information as we get it the rest of the afternoon:

Cobb County government offices will be closed all day today because of the icy road conditions, and with temperatures not expected to rise out of the 20s.

That includes courts, public libraries and all CobbLinc bus service. Late last night county officials had indicated a delayed starting time of 10 a.m., but road conditions have made it hazardous to travel, as ice is packed under snow.

Related story

Accidents are taking place in many areas; Marietta Police said this morning that at least 15 accidents have taken place in the city, and that number is expected to climb. There’s no word yet on major accidents in the East Cobb area, but we will update any information that becomes available.

Any roads with melting ice are expected to refreeze tonight, and crews will be back out treating major routes. The Cobb Commute link has updates on roads that have been treated.

Cobb government sent out this message via social media earlier this morning:

Cobb DOT crews spent the night treating roadways and crews continue to work the roads, now on their second run over their countywide routes. But as the snowfall moves out, the number of accidents in the county has increased, with police reporting some hills and bridges impassable.

County officials will get more updates from the DOT crews and make a determination later today when to resume operations.

Related story

After Tuesday’s snow, temperatures fell dramatically below freezing. Cobb DOT had work crews out all night and into the morning, but because of icy conditions and sub-freezing temperatures into Thursday afternoon, motorists are advised not to get out on to the roads unless they have to.

As of 11 a.m. Cobb schools have not communicated any new information, including whether there will be classes on Thursday.

As of this writing the temperatures are in the mid teens in East Cobb, with highs projected only in the low to mid-20s. Lows tonight are forecast to fall back into the teens, with highs in the 40s expected on Thursday, but not until the afternoon.

East Cobb News will continue to update this post during the day with the latest information about closures, cancellations, postponements and other weather-related news.

Send your weather news, and photos if you have them, to: editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post them.

What follows below are the latest closings/delayed openings/cancellations/postponements from this morning, not including those we posted last night on the link above:

Closings

  • Mass and all activities at Holy Family Catholic Church
  • Dog City Bakery
  • Haven, The Dog Spot
  • Tritt Animal Hospital
  • Rescued Too
  • Johnny’s New York Pizza
  • Ronald Sachs Violins
  • East Cobb and Northeast Cobb YMCA
  • All activities at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation
  • LGE Community Credit Union
  • All Fidelity Bank branches
  • Kids’ Zone Daycare and Learning Center
  • Club Pilates East Cobb
  • Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant
  • Montrose Animal Hospital
  • Studio 348 for Women
  • Book Nook Marietta
  • Office and activities at St. Andrew UMC
  • Peace Love and Pizza
  • All activities at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church
  • Gigi’s Cupcakes
  • Once & Again Books Shallowford
  • Cat Clinic of Cobb
  • Book Exchange
  • Chick-fil-A Lassiter
  • All activities at Eastminster Presbyterian Church
  • Offices and all acitivities at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church
  • Intrigue Salon
  • Kids Kuts Salon
  • Atlanta Swim Academy
  • Three-13 Salon
  • Righteous Que
  • Free-Flite Bicycles
  • Mansouri Family Dental Care
  • All activities at Eastside Baptist Church
  • Parisian Nail Salon
  • Massage Heights East Cobb

Openings

  • Zaxby’s Lower Roswell Road, 11 a.m.
  • Muss & Turner East Cobb, noon
  • Frankie’s Italian restaurant, Roswell Road
  • Loyal Q, 11 a.m.
  • Winston’s Food and Spirits
  • Terrell Mill Animal Hospital, 10 a.m.
  • Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square, open until 4 p.m.
  • Marietta Donuts, open until 5 p.m.
  • Marietta Fish Market, 4 p.m. depending on road conditions
  • Chick-fil-A East Lake
  • The Wing Cafe and Tap House
  • WellStar East Cobb Health Park
  • Marietta Ice Center revised schedule for public skating sessions: 1:15-3:15 p.m.; 3:30-6 p.m.; 6:15-8:45 p.m.

Cancellations

  • East Cobb UMC Wednesday Night Supper

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Cobb schools closed Wednesday; county included in state of emergency; updated closures/cancellations/delayed openings

by

NWS Snowfall Map

Updated Wednesday story, 12 p.m.

UPDATED, 8:35 P.M. and 10:55 P.M. Tuesday

Shortly before 8:30 tonight, the Cobb County School District announced that Cobb schools will be closed on Wednesday, for students and staff, “due to road and travel conditions.”

Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 83 counties in Georgia, including Cobb, and non-essential state government offices will be closed Wednesday.

Cobb DOT crews are working in 12-hour shifts, starting at 5 p.m. today, and switching to fresh crews at 5 a.m. Wednesday, to treat major roads with a salt and gravel mix as between a half-inch to an inch of snow is forecast to fall on Cobb, and turn to ice as temperatures reached freezing.

Cobb County government is on a delayed opening Wednesday until 10 a.m., including libraries.

With the wind chill, temperatures in the morning could feel as cold as several degrees below zero. A winter weather advisory is in effect for Cobb and most of north Georgia until 10 a.m. Wednesday and a wind chill advisory is in effect until 7 a.m.

CobbLinc will delay the start of all bus services until 10 a.m.

Snowfall began falling in East Cobb a little after 7 tonight, as temperatures fell to around the freezing mark.

The Walker School also is closed on Wednesday, as are Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, the Wood Acres School, Gracepoint School and Faith Lutheran School.

All campuses of Kennesaw State University are closed on Wednesday, but dining services will continue. All campuses of Chattahoochee Tech also will be closed Wednesday.

The Eastside Christian School open house scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed a week to Jan 24 at 9:30 a.m. All classes are cancelled Wednesday.

The St. Catherine’s Episcopal preschool is closed Wednesday, as is the St. Ann Catholic preschool.

At Transfiguration Catholic Church, preschool, PREP classes and Adult Education classes are cancelled Wednesday, and perpetual adoration will be closed until noon.

The Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon Wednesday has been cancelled.

The East Cobb YMCA and Northeast Cobb YMCA are delaying opening until 10 a.m.

Olde Towne Athletic Club is opening at noon Wednesday.

More updates will posted here as they become available.

ORIGINAL REPORT, posted 4:55 p.m.: 

With public and private schools already having cancelled Tuesday evening events, here’s the latest Cobb winter storm update. We’ll keep posting additional information as we have it, including any news about Cobb schools for Wednesday.

The Cobb County School District has been saying this afternoon that “a decision about school for Wednesday will be made either late tonight or early tomorrow morning.”

Send your news about cancellations/postponements to: editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll add it here.

Weather Conditions

From the National Weather Service, precipitation is expected to come through a line from Carrollton to Canton and into northeastern Georgia around 6 p.m. tonight (as shown in map above), and as temperatures plunge dramatically.

Temperatures were in the high 40s in the East Cobb area around 4:30 p.m., but dropping temperatures, along with the wind chill, could make it feel a few degrees below zero overnight and into early Wednesday morning.

Closings/cancellations/postponements

  • Cobb County government, including libraries, is closing at 6 tonight, and programs and events scheduled for tonight are cancelled or rescheduled. All government offices, agencies and facilities are slated to open on a delayed basis on Wednesday at 10 a.m.;
  • The East Cobb and Northeast Cobb YMCA branches are cancelling all after school activities, as well as paid programming. The branches plan to stay open until 7:30;
  • Transfiguration Catholic Church is cancelling all evening parish activities and meetings, PREP classes and adult ed classes, and Perpetual Adoration is closed from 6 tonight to noon Wednesday. Tonight’s 7 p.m.  Mass will be held “as long as the weather holds up,” according to a social media post from around 1 p.m.;
  • St. Ann Catholic has cancelled Wednesday Mass services at 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.;
  • The Walker School is cancelling all after school-activities, including practices and games;
  • The Wood Acres After School Tree House is closing at 5 p.m.
  • After-school care at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy is closing at 5 p.m. and North campus athletics are cancelled;
  • All after-school activities at Eastside Christian Academy will conclude at 5:30, and pickup is required by that time. JV basketball games at Mt. Paran are cancelled;
  • All campuses of Kennesaw State University are closing at 5 p.m., and all night classes after that are cancelled;
  • The same goes for all campuses at Chattahoochee Tech, closing at 5 p.m.;
  • The Walton High School wrestling team’s picture day and senior night event scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed a week, to Jan. 24.

Cobb DOT/Roads

The Cobb DOT road maintenance division has been pretreating roads with brine this morning and is treating roads with salt and gravel mix on designated major routes this afternoon. Between a half-inch and an inch of snow is expected in Cobb. A total of 15 crews will be rolling out by 5 p.m., with another similar number of crews to follow at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Emergency Information

The Cobb 911 office issued this information around 3 p.m. Tuesday:

Cobb County and much of North Georgia is preparing for the possibility of hazardous weather. Here are some numbers that you might need. Call these numbers instead of 911 if there is not an emergency. Call 911 if you need the fire department, an ambulance or the police. 911 is unable to give time frames on power outages.

Do Not Call 911 unless it is a life-threatening emergency. This would include someone who is utilizing life-sustaining equipment that requires electricity. 911 will not report your outage to any utility company.

Cobb EMC
770-429-2100
CobbEMC.com

Georgia Power
888-660-5890
GeorgiaPower.com

Marietta Power & Water (Marietta City)
770-794-5150
MariettaGA.gov/151/Power-Water

Cobb County Water System
770-423-1000
CobbCounty.org

Cobb County Police (non-emergency)
770-499-3911

 

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Cobb schools cancel Tuesday evening activities ahead of winter weather

by

UPDATED, 11:20 A.M.

From CCSD:

All afternoon and evening activities are canceled for Tuesday, January 16, except for ASP which will operate on a normal schedule. Parents are encouraged to pick up students from ASP as early as possible.

Classes resumed today in the Cobb County School District after Monday’s Martin Luther King holiday, but the system released this statement shortly before 9 a.m. regarding the winter weather advisory issued yesterday about the National Weather Service: Cobb schools closed

We are monitoring weather forecasts and temps for late Tuesday into Wednesday, January 17, and the impact the weather may have, if any, on Tuesday evening activities and Wednesday classes.

Marietta City Schools have cancelled all Tuesday evening exracurricular activities.

In East Cobb, the only postponement/cancellation we have thus far is Johnson Ferry Christian Academy delaying its scheduled open house tonight to next Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in the chapel.

Some school districts in north Georgia, including Bartow County, are releasing early today, but thus far Cobb has not indicated that will be happening here.

Tuesday’s high temperatures in Cobb and metro Atlanta are expected to be in the high 40s.

The snow isn’t expected until late this afternoon, with very cold weather moving in this evening.

That winter weather advisory area includes Cobb and goes into effect from 5 p.m. tonight to 7 a.m. Wednesday. In addition, a wind chill advisory has been issued that also includes Cobb from 9 p.m. tonight to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

The NWS has extended its advisory area to include most of Georgia; the map below was issued earlier this morning.

More updates will be posted here when they become available.

National Weather Service

 

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