Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Georgia, January 16 to 17, 2008

Relatively cold, Canadian air was in place across north Georgia as a low pressure system moved northeast from the Gulf of Mexico across south Georgia. As a result, widespread light to moderate snow and some sleet fell across north Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours of the 16th. A few areas, especially in the Atlanta metropolitan area, experienced several hours of freezing rain. Snowfall of two to three inches was common in the northeast Georgia mountains counties, while snowfall further south toward Atlanta was generally one inch or less. No snow of significance fell south of a Newnan, to Fayetteville, to Athens line. Accumulations of sleet were generally 1/2 inch or less, while accumulations of freezing rain were less than 1/10 inch, except in the Atlanta area, where up to 1/4 inch of glaze ice was reported in a few areas. Specific snowfall amounts were by county, Banks - 1.50, Barrow - 0.50, Cherokee - 3.50 and 0.25 inch of ice, Cobb - 1.50 inch of snow, Dade - 3.00 inches of snow, Dawson - 2.25 inches of snow and 0.25 inch of sleet, Fannin - 2.00 inches of snow, Forsyth - 1.50 inches of snow, Forsyth - 1.50 inches of snow, North Fulton, 0.75 inch of snow and 0.25 inch of glaze ice, Gilmer - 1.50 inches, Gordon - 0.50 inch, Hall - 3.00 inches of snow, 0.25 inch of sleet, and 0.125 inch of glaze ice, Lumpkin - 3.00 inches of snow, Newton - 1.00 inch of snow, Oconee - 1.50 inch of snow, Paulding - 0.75 inch of snow, Polk - 3.00 inches of snow, Towns - 4.00 inches of snow, Union - 4.00 inches of snow, and White - 3.00 inches of snow.