UPDATE: Snow begins, Winter Weather Advisory remains in place; plunging temps ahead

Snow began falling across northwest Georgia before sunrise Wednesday morning as expected.

“Big snowflakes are falling in Dade County this morning & the snow is starting to stick on grassy surfaces,” the National Weather Service (NWS) reported about 7:00. “For the most part roads are wet, but slick spots could develop on bridges & overpasses. The snow will spread (eastward) to other parts of north Georgia this morning.” By 7:45, snow was already being reported as far east as Blairsville.

A Winter Weather Advisory for areas north of a line from Gainesville to Rome remains in effect. Temperatures at 7:00 in north Georgia ranged from 45 in Atlanta to 32 in Dalton.

Some schools in the affected area announced Tuesday they would be closed today, have a delayed opening, or a “learn from home” day.

As far as temperatures go, the mild weather will be ending for a couple of days beginning tonight when the low in Gainesville is expected to reach 24, while bottoming out tomorrow night at 19, with a high of only 36 during the day.