Expect some sleet, freezing rain tonight

Published 11:37 pm Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A cold front expected to pass through the area has students — and some snow-starved parents — crossing their fingers for a snow day on Thursday.

But the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Peachtree City didn’t have much hope to offer as of its 8:30 p.m. forecast on Tuesday. Though temperatures are expected to hover around the freezing point tonight, and a rain/sleet mix should hit, no accumulation is expected.

“It looks like it will be more of a threat east of you, toward Gainesville and Blairsville,” said meteorologist Frank Taylor of the NWS. “You should see sleet, rain and freezing rain with lows in the lower 30s, but you’re on the borderline where the temperature is right close to freezing.”

Taylor said the lower the temperature drops, the bigger the threat of severe weather. He said drivers should keep an eye on bridges and overpasses, where ice is more likely to accumulate.

“It bears watching,” he advised.

Today’s forecast calls for a partly cloudy start and a 40 percent chance of rain after 1 p.m., with a high near 47. A calm east wind will give way tonight to occasional rain and sleet. The chance of precipitation is near 100 percent, but little or no snow accumulation is expected.

Another slight chance of rain and snow showers is slated for Friday night, as temperatures dip to around 27 degrees. But the chance of precipitation then is only 20 percent.

Saturday night’s low is expected to be a cool 22 degrees, but the front will have moved on by then, leaving clear skies. Daytime highs remain in the 40s.

Area schools will first announce any weather-related schedule adjustments on their Web sites: Dalton Public Schools, www.DaltonPublicSchools.com; Murray County Schools, www.Murray.k12.ga.us; Whitfield County Schools, www.Whitfield.k12.ga.us.