GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 15, 2021) – With rain and below-freezing temperatures creating the potential for black ice, the City of Gainesville will operate on a two-hour delay Tuesday, Feb. 16, to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.
All city administrative offices and facilities will open at 10 a.m., including the Gainesville Administration Building, Gainesville Community & Economic Development building, Gainesville Public Safety Complex, Gainesville-Hall County Senior Life Center, Gainesville Civic Center and Frances Meadows Center.
Gainesville Connection, Hall County Dial-A-Ride and WeGo will also operate on a delay, with services resuming at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued Monday, Feb. 15, a special weather statement for Gainesville-Hall County, warning of the potential for black ice beginning Monday night and continuing through early Tuesday a.m. The statement will remain effect until 3 a.m. Tuesday, the NWS stated.
“Rainfall associated with an approaching cold front will be moving through the region this afternoon and evening,” it stated. “As the rain exits the region this evening, cold air will filter into the area quickly behind the rainfall. In addition … relative humidity values are expected to remain high overnight. As a result of the temperatures quickly dropping below freezing and relative humidity values remaining high … many area roads and bridges will not have an opportunity to dry off and subsequently [will] have an opportunity to freeze overnight and into the early a.m., resulting in areas of black ice.”
Across the North Georgia mountains, as the cold front pushes in behind the storm system this evening, the NWS stated rain could change to light freezing rain, sleet or snow.
“Any accumulations are expected to be very light, however, with temperatures falling into the 20s, some roads may become icy from winter precipitation or the refreezing of water on roadways previously mentioned,” it stated.
The public is encouraged to remain alert, monitor the latest conditions and be prepared for patchy black ice before traveling. For more information, visit the NWS’s official website, weather.gov.