Winter Storm Warning in effect for North Georgia
Community, weather February 6, 2021
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – High elevations (1,500 and above) might experience up to three inches of snow overnight. Lower elevations can expect up to an inch of snow.
The Winter Storm Warning lasts throughout the weekend until 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 6 for Union, Towns, Lumpkin, Rabun, and White Counties.
According to the National Weather Service out of Peachtree City, Ga, travel could become difficult from snow on roadways. NWS recommends if traveling to keep a flashlight, food, and water in the vehicle.
Rabun’s expected to bear the brunt of the storm with “heavy snow and sleet expected. Total snow and sleet
accumulations of up to four inches.”
A winter weather advisory is in effect for Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, and Dawson until Sunday at 12 p.m.
Total snow accumulation could be between one and two inches with possibly more at higher elevations. Only an inch is anticipation at the lower accumulations.
NWS asks drivers to use caution on the roads.
Light snow falling in Union County
Community, weather November 30, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – A winter weather advisory goes into effect at 5 p.m. and lasts until 7 a.m. on Tuesday for most of north and northeast Georgia. Union County began experiencing a light snowfall around 2 p.m. on Monday.
However, no accumulation probably because of the wet ground from recent rainfall. The higher elevations in Murray, Gilmer, and Fannin can expect up to two inches of snow. Everywhere else might see a half an inch.
Drivers should use caution slippery road conditions are expected with potentially hazardous conditions this evening and tomorrow morning.
Fetch Your News will update this story as more information becomes available.
UCS moves to online learning ahead of Hurricane Zeta
News October 28, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Schools will move to online learning on Thursday, October 29 in anticipation of Hurricane Zeta.
In a statement from the school, it read as follows:
The National Weather Service (NWS) out of Peachtree City has issued a flash flood watch which will be in effect until 9 p.m. on Thursday. A tropical storm warning was issued on Wednesday, October 28 at 11:04 a.m. Winds could reach anywhere between 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
From the NWS:
– “POTENTIAL IMPACTS: Limited – Damage to porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes. Unsecured lightweight objects blown about. – Many large tree limbs broken off. A few trees snapped or uprooted, but with greater numbers in places where trees are shallow rooted. Some fences and roadway signs blown over. – A few roads impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways. – Scattered power and communications outages.”
North Georgia Technical College is also closed on October 29.
Thunderstorms result in power outages, flooding, and downed trees
Community, weather April 13, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – The overnight severe thunderstorms and high winds left 7,900 in the area without power and multiple trees blown down, and some flooding.
No injuries reported at this time. Weather statements recorded winds of up to 60 mph at 1:23 a.m. A Tornado Watch was also issued late into the night for Union County. Much of North Georgia was under either a watch or a warning, a tornado did touch down in Murray County.
Approximately 50 trees fell across Union, 2,500 residents lost power, nine power lines down on county roads, and one carport blown into the road. Some flooding occurred and debris clogged up culverts. At least, one-vehicle accident took place due to the storm.
Courtesy od Commissioner Paris’ Facebook.
Union County EMA is currently assessing damage throughout the county and Blue Ridge Mountain EMC (BRMEMC) is working to restore power.
Some residents lost power around 12 a.m. until 7 a.m. due to trees across power lines. In his 8 a.m. update, BRMEMC Manager Jeremy Nelms reported that around 4,000 of the outages had been restored. However, the continued high winds are a concern for bucket truck use. The wind advisory ends at 10 a.m. according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
BRMEMC power outage map from the severe weather.
Nelms asked the public to please stay out of the crews’ way while working to restore power and to follow social distancing guidelines. “We want these men to remain as healthy as possible to continue performing their jobs. Thank you!” said Nelms.
To report a power outage, call BRMEMC or visit its website.
The Road Department is out clearing trees throughout the county. River and streams have risen significantly and resulted in some minor flooding. At least one home reported water inside the house.
In Blairsville proper, the Glenn Gooch By-pass four-way red-light is flashing red. Please use caution in that area.
Feature image courtesy of BRMEMC Facebook.
Community braces for potential ice, snow, and freezing rain
Community, weather February 20, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County’s under a winter weather advisory until 1 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 and county administrative offices, library, as well as schools are closed for Thursday, Feb. 20.
However, most of the day has produced rain rather than freezing rain or snow, but reports of snow have started as of 3 p.m.
In the National Weather Service (NWS) at Peachtree City’s morning report, the organization stated:
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST FRIDAY…
* WHAT…A mixture of rain and wet snow transitioning to all snow.
Total snow accumulations of up to one inch except up to two inches in the highest elevations, with isolated higher amounts possible.
* WHERE…Northeast and portions of north-central Georgia. The most hazardous conditions will be at the higher elevations above 2000 feet.
* WHEN…From 5 AM Thursday to 1 AM EST Friday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Patchy black ice following the snow Thursday night could create especially hazardous driving conditions.
NWS expects little accumulation of snow through this afternoon and tonight.
Third Flash Flood Watch within a week for north Georgia
Community, weather February 12, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – In this saga of continuous rain, the National Weather Service (NWS) has released yet another Flash Flood Watch for Union and the surrounding counties.
At 9:56 a.m., NWS’s office out of Peachtree City issued this advisement:
“…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON… The Flash Flood Watch continues for * Portions of north central Georgia…northeast Georgia and northwest Georgia…including the following areas…in north central Georgia…Cherokee…Dawson…Fannin…Gilmer… Lumpkin…Pickens and Union. In northeast Georgia…Towns and White. In northwest Georgia…Bartow…Catoosa…Chattooga… Dade…Floyd…Gordon…Murray…Polk…Walker and Whitfield.
* From 7 PM EST this evening through Thursday afternoon * A cold front will push through Georgia tonight through Thursday. This front will bring another round of locally heavy rainfall to much of north Georgia. Rainfall amounts of one to two inches will be likely, with locally higher amounts possible. Soils remain saturated and several rivers, creeks and streams remain near or in flood, so any additional rainfall will only create run off and exacerbate ongoing flooding conditions. * Flash flooding and minor to moderate flooding of larger creeks and rivers is expected. This will close some roads and could flood homes and businesses in flood-prone areas. Along larger creeks and rivers, flooding could last for several days.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.”
NWS’s expected rainfall for the next 24 hours.