and JOHN MUNFORD

[email protected]

Fayetteville residents saw

a blanket of snow cover the area Wednesday night and Thursday morning,

but most of them only saw it from their homes.

Only two weather-related accidents

were reported in the city Thursday morning, with no injuries and minor

damage. Overall traffic was far below normal, according to a department

spokesperson.

"Most people stayed at

home," said Maj. Harold Simmons of the Fayetteville Police Department.

"That made it easier for us."

Police patrolled the city in

cars with snow tires, while other city personnel took to the streets to

scrape away snow and put sand on surfaces to make driving more manageable.

No roads in the city were closed due to weather, Simmons said.

City Hall opened at 10 a.m.,

although a few city officials came in as early as 7 a.m. to check out

roads and other weather-related issues, according to City Manager Joe

Morton. The regularly scheduled City Council meeting for Thursday night

had already been cancelled due to a lack of activity during the holidays.

Peachtree City also reported

extremely light traffic in the wake of heavy snowfall.

"There's not much traffic

on the road," Maj. Mike DuPree of the Peachtree City Police Department

said Thursday morning.

Although a few accidents have

been reported, most motorists have been using extreme caution when taking

to the ice- and snow-covered roads, DuPree said.

Most of the accidents have

involved cars running off the road, he added, although one motorist went

off the road and struck a fire hydrant.

The department closed the northern

leg of Peachtree Parkway to through traffic Thursday evening because of

the difficulty of navigating the hilly terrain and the bridges, DuPree

said.

Police have also been cooperating

with the Public Works Department, particularly by reporting road hazards,

DuPree noted.

"Public works had some

people stay through the night to work with the police department on any

road problems," DuPree said.

When winter weather strikes

like this, it's best for all to stay home if at all possible "and

enjoy it," DuPree said.

"The roads can be treacherous,"

he said. "Everybody needs to be careful."

City Hall was closed Thursday

until at least noon, when officials would re-evaluate the weather situation

and determine whether to cancel the City Council meeting slated for 7

p.m., said Public Information Officer Betsy Tyler.

The remnants of this week's

winter storm may not be wiped away until Sunday, when forecasters predict

rain for the area, according to the National Weather Service office in

Peachtree City.

Roads will likely be frozen

again Friday morning, said Gerald Birdow, a hydrometerological technician.

Five inches of snow was recorded at the NWS office at Falcon Field Airport

for the 24-hour period ending 7 a.m. Thursday.

With freezing temperatures

expected last night and early this morning, the snow and ice will likely

stick around a little longer, Birdow said.

'The temperatures should be

in the upper 30s to lower 40s," Birdow said.

The frozen precipitation may

be wiped away Sunday as the area has a good chance for rain showers, Birdow

added.

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