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Roads icing as winter storm passes through
Authorities clearing many wrecks; some roads closed
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Traffic was moving at 1 mph Tuesday afternoon on Ga. 400 north heading toward Cumming. - photo by Jim Dean

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For continuing coverage of the winter weather, check back at forsythnews.com or see the next edition of the Forsyth County News. And to share snow photos, email them to photos@forsythnews.com. See the photos here.

FORSYTH COUNTY — As winter weather makes its way across north Georgia, Forsyth County residents are being advised to stay home or use caution if they must be out in the icy conditions.

Doug Rainwater, spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, said snow and ice are accumulating on many county roads, causing many slick spots.

“We are working more than 30 different accidents related to the snow,” he said. “Two of those have injuries and five others are just property damage.”

Most of those wrecks are in south Forsyth, but Rainwater noted that road conditions are deteriorating all over the county.

“You can attribute that to the volume of cars that are on the road in the south end, but it seems like the weather is doing the same thing north and south,” he said.

According to Rainwater, bridges, overpasses and areas with a lot of tree cover are the first to freeze.

As of the evening commute, parts or all of several roads were closed. The closings included:

* Old Atlanta Road at Old Atlanta Estates

* Pilgrim Mill Road at Freedom Parkway

* Fowler Road at Mullinax

* Pooles Mill Road at Ward Road

* Sharon Road in front of Sharon Park

* McGinnis Ferry Road at Old Alpharetta Road

* East Maple at Main Street

* Ga. 369 at Wallace Tatum

* Bethany Road at McGinnis Ferry Road

Also, Atlanta Highway (Hwy. 9) at Liberty subdivision was down to one lane, while Trammel Road, Post Road and Ga. 400 at Exit 13 have reopened.

The Forsyth County school system released students early Tuesday ahead of the threat of winter weather and icy roads. And later in the day, officials announced there would be no school on Wednesday.

All after-school activities and athletics were called off for both days.

All four campuses of the University of North Georgia, including the Cumming site, closed at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. They will remain closed through Wednesday.

Due to the weather, non-essential county government offices closed at 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to an email from spokeswoman Jodi Gardner. City of Cumming offices closed at 2:30 p.m., officials said.

The closures included the Forsyth County Courthouse and all parks and recreation facilities. All programs and activities have been cancelled for the rest of the day.

Also called off were the county commission and planning board meetings scheduled for 2 and 6:30 p.m., respectively.

Planning board meeting cases will be heard at the next regular meeting on Feb. 25.

Advance voting at both Forsyth County Administrative Building and Midway Park Community Building is closed until 10 a.m. Wednesday, if weather conditions allow.

Rainwater advised travelers to use caution as they journey home from work or school.

“Just slow down and enjoy the snow,” he said. “Everyone should just take their time. Stay in, if you can stay in.”