Winter Weather — North Fulton, Georgia

2010-12-15 to 2010-12-16 · North Fulton, Georgia

Event narrative

The Fulton County 911 Center reported up to 0.25 inch of glaze ice across the northern part of the county and about 0.1 inch of glaze ice across the central part of the county from just north of the Atlanta airport toward downtown Atlanta. Little or no ice accumulation was observed south of the Atlanta airport. Numerous traffic accidents were observed on the interstates in the north part of the county, including Interstates 20, 75, 80, and 285.

Wider weather episode

A significant Arctic air mass, which had spread across the southeast U.S. beginning on the 12th, was retreating slowly northeast. By mid-afternoon on the 15th, mid-level warm advection, combined with a weak disturbance aloft, resulted in the development of light precipitation across north and central Georgia. Much of north Georgia, north of Interstate-20, remained just below freezing as the precipitation spread into the area from the west during the mid-afternoon. Ground surfaces were at or below freezing as the result of the previous three days of all-day below freezing temperatures and early morning temperatures in the 10-15F range. In addition, surface dewpoints at the onset of the precipitation event were near 0F across north Georgia, resulting in a significant wetbulb effect. Surface temperatures dropped quickly at the onset of the precipitation from the mid 30s into the upper 20s. Thus, although liquid equivalent precipitation averaged only 0.01 inch across most of the affected area, it froze immediately on contact with the surface. An initial burst of sleet quickly changed over to light freezing rain and eventually freezing drizzle through the evening hours as the boundary layer air mass had undergone significant warming and was well above freezing. Roads, including major interstates from Atlanta west to Alabama and north to Tennessee, quickly and literally became like ice skating rinks as a thin sheet of black ice (<0.1 inch) formed on the roads and highways. To make matters worse, this occurred during the 5 pm to 7 pm evening rush hour. Major highways and interstates north and west of Atlanta, such as Interstate-20 and Interstate-75, became completely clogged with accidents. Thousands of motorists became stranded in multiple car pileups and backups. In some cases, a quick trip became several hours long. Over 3000 accidents occurred across north Georgia during this evening, with at least 1000 of these occurring just in the Atlanta metropolitan counties alone. While no fatalities were reported, several injuries occurred. Some details are provided below.

Banks county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Barrow county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Bartow county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice. More than 20 accidents across the county, many on I-75;

Carroll county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice across mainly the northern part of the county. The majority of the problems were in the Villa Rica and Carrollton areas. More than 100 accidents across the county. One person injured in an accident on South Carroll Road;

Catoosa county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Chattooga county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Cherokee county - 0.1 to 0.25 inch of glaze ice. At least 223 traffic accidents reported across the county;

Cobb county - 0.1 inch of glaze ice across most of the county, with up to 0.25 inch of glaze ice in the far northeast part of the county;

Dade county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Dawson county - generally 0.1 inch of glaze ice across much of the county;

DeKalb county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice across the northern part of the county. Little or no ice in the southern part;

Fannin county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Floyd county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice. At least 115 car accidents reported across the county;

Forsyth county - 0.25 inch of glaze ice across much of the county. At least 64 traffic accidents across the county;

Fulton county - up to 0.25 inch of glaze ice across far north Fulton county, up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice north of the Atlanta airport toward Midtown, with little or no ice south of the Atlanta airport in the southern part of the county;

Gilmer county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Gordon county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Gwinnett county - 0.1 to 0.25 inch of glaze ice across the north part of the county. Several major accidents. One accident on Old Fountain Road resulted in life-threatening injuries. A major 15-car pileup occurred on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard;

Hall county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Haralson county - generally 0.1 inch of glaze ice across the county;

Jackson county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Lumpkin county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Murray county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Paulding county - 0.1 inch of glaze ice across much of the county. Hundreds of accidents reported across the county;

Polk county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice. Numerous accidents across the county. One person injured in an accident on U.S. 27 North near Cedartown;

Towns county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Union county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Walker county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

White county - less than 0.1 inch of glaze ice;

Whitfield county - up to 0.1 inch of glaze ice. Four tractor-trailer rigs were jack-knifed on Interstate-75 near Rocky Face.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 273909. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.