When Will the Ice Melt off Marietta, Metro Atlanta Roads?

by Bob Pepalis (Editor)

Very little snow was needed to create havoc and gridlock on metro Atlanta roads. Once the melting snow turned to ice, roads were mostly impassable.

Now local residents want to know when the ice will melt so roads can be cleared. The National Weather Service extended the winter storm warning until 1 p.m. today, Jan. 29, not because of any additional snowfall, but because ice covered roads remain treacherous.

With the temperature forecast to only reach 29 degrees in Marietta today, plenty of ice will remain on local roads.

The temperature doesn't have to be above freezing for ice to melt with an assist from traffic and the wind. But motorists are being asked to stay off those roads so they can be treated.

The interstates and freeways in metro Atlanta continue to be extremely hazardous due to the ice and snow, the Ga. Department of Transportation reported on its 511ga.org traffic website.

"Travel on Wednesday is not recommended. If you must travel, be prepared with warm clothing, food and water, a full tank of gas, and a cell phone (fully charged)," the website post said.

Don't expect conditions to improve until midday Wednesday at the earliest. And it won't be until Thursday that the temperature is forecast to stay above freezing for any length of time, with with a high of 40.

It's hard to believe now with the temperature at 12, but on Friday the high will be 50 and on Saturday and Sunday it will rise above the mid-50s.

What snow and ice doesn't melt by Thursday should all be gone on Friday.

Today's Marietta forecast predicts a partly sunny sky, with a high near 29. A northwest wind around 10 mph will be accompanied by gusts as high as 20 mph.