Winter Weather in Georgia, January 20, 2001

Arctic air rapidly filtered into north and central Georgia behind the strong cold front that brought severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to the state on the 19th. A fast moving, Alberta clipper-like system brought a brief period of snow to north central and northeast Georgia during the afternoon. The snow was generally confined to areas north and east of a line from Dalton, to Jasper, to Dawsonville, to Dahlonega, to Cleveland. Snowfall amounts were generally in the 1/2 to 1 inch range, with Fannin county reporting 1.5 inches for the most. Temperatures were near the freezing mark during the snowfall, but fell below during the evening hours. Thus, while roads were not significantly impacted initially, by evening, most roads in Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Towns, and Union were reported to be ice covered and hazardous with only emergency travel recommended.