Fayette County School System spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach on Tuesday afternoon said schools will be closed for students and staff on Wednesday and Thursday. All extra-curricular activities for the two-day period have also been cancelled, she said.
Winter break was already scheduled beginning Friday.
The National Weather Service Tuesday morning issued a winter storm warning for north and central Georgia, including the Fayette and Coweta areas. Beginning Tuesday night, the forecast called for a mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow.
The most significant accumulation was forecast for Wednesday, with up to nearly a half-inch of new ice expected. The winter storm is expected to end Thursday morning after another dose of frozen precipitation.
Tuesday’s rain event may have an impact on roads in Fayette County, as crews can’t put salt down to pre-treat roads in the rain for fear the salt will be wiped off the road, effectively wasted.
Because of that potential, Peachtree City Public Works crews were holding off on a possible pre-treatment run in advance of the predicted ice-sleet-snow storm slated to hit Wednesday night after this edition of The Citizen went to press.
“We may put sand down in advance but we’re playing that by ear right now,” said Community Services Director Jon Rorie Tuesday. “We really can’t get out ahead with a lot because we don’t want it to wash away.”
The ice is expected to accumulate on local roads, almost certain to make many streets impassable until perhaps Thursday as the weather warms up.
Fayette County Administrator Steve Rapson said Monday that two county dump trucks picked up salt loads from the Georgia Department of Transportation earlier this week to make sure there was some on hand to treat icy spots.
Fayette County Public Works Director Phil Mallon said crews are on stand-by if needed to run in two 12-hour shifts. Mallon said the priority during the ice event will be to clear roads of trees, apply sand and salt and work with power companies to restore electricity.
In terms of priority for clearing are bridges, intersections, roads, arterial roads, major collector road, minor collector roads and local roads and streets.
