Atlanta Snowfall: Will The Roads Be Ready?

ATLANTA, GA — Snow is in the forecast, or at least a mix of snow and rain, and crews with the Georgia Department of Transportation are getting trucks ready to hit the road Thursday night to prepare roads ahead of the moisture. Crews in several local jurisdictions are getting their roads ready as well, say media reports.

The National Weather Service said Thursday morning that a light rain across north and central Georgia could turn into a mix of rain and snow, or just snow, by late Thursday night.

By Friday morning, local forecasters say that ommuters in metro Atlanta could see between half an inch and an inch of snow, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The snow is expected to melt on contact with roads, except for grassy areas and elevated surfaces, but freezing temperatures on Thursday night could make wet roads hazardous by causing black ice, say forecasters.

SEE MORE: Georgia Weather Forecast: Snow Is On The Way

GDOT crews at the agency's Forest Park center were filling trucks Thursday with a brine solution to spray on roads, WSB-TV Channel 2 reported. The truckes were due to fan out across the area by 9 p.m. Thursday, treating interstates and major roads.

When sprayed ahead of a snowstorm, the brine prevents ice and snow from sticking to roads. This allows crews to put down less sale and gravel during a snowfall, reducing the chances of creating potholes, Channel 2 reported.

Cobb County's Department of Transportation sent out four trucks at noon to treat bridges and overpasses with brine, the AJC reported. Officials there said the process takes about three to four hours.

In Fulton County, a spokesman said Thursday that officials are waiting to see whether the snow leads to any school or public facility closings, the AJC reported. The county's Public Works Department plans to send out snowplow-equipped sand spreaders early Friday.

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