2011 January 9-11 - Southeast Winter Storm

This storm has to be one of the best winter storms in recent memory for north Georgia, and especially for the metro area. 

Preface

Morning of the 10th

An upper level disturbance tracked across the northern Gulf of Mexico, drawing abundant moisture into the Southeastern U.S. Prior to the arrival of the moisture, a large, cool area of high pressure was entrenched over the southern United States. This helped set the stage for one of the more significant winter weather events in years. Warm, moist air transported north by the low pressure system overrode the cool, dry air at the surface Sunday night.

As mid-level rain and snow fell into the cold surface air, it evaporated and caused the surface temperatures to cool even further. By late Sunday evening, the precipitation reached the surface, appearing as a mix of rain, sleet and snow across central Georgia, with accumulations of up to two inches. In north Georgia, where the cold air was deeper, precipitation fell in the form of mostly snow with some sleet. Between 10 p.m. and midnight on Sunday, an area of intense snow developed along and just north of the I-20 corridor, contributing to a narrow band of 6”- 8.5” total snowfall amounts in Eastern Georgia. To the north of I-20, the airmass was sufficiently cold and moist to produce widespread snowfall amounts greater than 6”. In the northernmost counties of Georgia, and especially at higher elevations, snowfall amounts of 8” to 10” were common.

The heavier snow and sleet accumulations began tapering off by mid-day Monday (January 10), but temperatures hovered at or below freezing throughout the day. Persistent freezing drizzle and light freezing rain across much of central and northern Georgia on Monday helped extend the winter event into the afternoon. Reports of ice accumulations from 0.1” to 0.5” were received on Monday – mainly across central Georgia. More information on the snow, ice and sleet accumulations can be found in the Public Information Statement toward the bottom of this page.

Here in Dacula, the precipitation initially began as sleet but only for a few minutes. Heavy snow began falling at 9:35 pm and by midnight we had 5" of accumulation. The snow continued throughout the night and by morning we recorded 7.5" of snow, 0.55" of water equivalent for a 13.6 - 1 snow/liquid ratio. Snow tapered off by early morning and despite the fact the temperatures remained at 25-26 degrees all day long, the precipitation changed over to all freezing rain for the rest of the day on the 10th. Accumulations of ice compacted and locked in the snow into what appeared to be a solid sheet of ice. From 6:45 am Monday until 6:45 am Tuesday, we recorded .33" of additional precipitation that fell as sleet and freezing rain. The additional ice sealed in the snow to the point that metro Atlanta schools were closed for 5 straight days. Here's the view in my backyard on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th, 5 and 6 days after the snowfall, and still 4" of snow and ice:

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January 14th, 5 days after

January 15th, 6 days after

Backyard view after 6 days

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Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

7 Day Front Yard View

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Weather Prediction Center Storm Summaries

• Storm Summary 14 issued at 09Z Thursday January 13, 2011
• Storm Summary 13 issued at 03Z Thursday January 13, 2011
• Storm Summary 12 issued at 21Z Wednesday January 12, 2011
• Storm Summary 11 issued at 15Z Wednesday January 12, 2011
• Storm Summary 10 issued at 09Z Wednesday January 12, 2011
• Storm Summary 9 issued at 03Z Wednesday January 12, 2011
• Storm Summary 8 issued at 21Z Tuesday January 11, 2011
• Storm Summary 7 issued at 15Z Tuesday January 11, 2011
• Storm Summary 6 issued at 09Z Tuesday January 11, 2011
• Storm Summary 5 issued at 03Z Tuesday January 11, 2011
• Storm Summary 4 issued at 21Z Monday January 10, 2011
• Storm Summary 3 issued at 15Z Monday January 10, 2011
• Storm Summary 2 issued at 09Z Monday January 10, 2011
• Storm Summary 1 issued at 03Z Monday January 10, 2011

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Snow and Ice Totals

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Slideshow of Storm Images

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Videos from the Winter Storm

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Public Information Statement

000
NOUS42 KFFC 110451 AAA
PNSFFC
GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086-
089>098-102>113-111200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
1100 PM EST MON JAN 10 2011

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE RECENT
SNOW/SLEET/ICE STORM. IN GENERAL...PRECIPITATION NORTH OF I-20 WAS
NEARLY ALL SNOW...SOUTH OF I-20 TO LA GRANGE...BARNESVILLE...AND
WARRENTON...MOSTLY SLEET WITH SOME FREEZING RAIN...AND SOUTH OF
THIS LINE TO AMERICUS AND SWAINSBORO...MOSTLY FREEZING RAIN.
SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE...1/2 TO 1 INCH...WERE REPORTED
FROM SOME CENTRAL GEORGIA COUNTIES. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS POWER
OUTAGES WERE NOTED FROM CRISP...EMANUEL...AND JOHNSON COUNTIES.

APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO EMERGENCY MANAGERS...COUNTY 911
OPERATORS...COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND THE MEDIA
FOR THESE REPORTS. THIS SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE
AT WEATHER.GOV/ATLANTA.

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL           OF
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

...BALDWIN COUNTY...      1.0   700 PM  1/10  SLEET
                          0.2   700 PM  1/10  FREEZING RAIN

...BANKS COUNTY...
   HOMER                  6.0  1130 AM 1/10
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...BARROW COUNTY...
   WINDER                 6.5   843 AM 1/10
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...BARTOW COUNTY...
   CARTERSVILLE           6.0   108 PM 1/10
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...BIBB COUNTY...
   MACON                  0.5   550 AM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...BLECKLEY COUNTY...
                          1.0   700 PM 1/10   SLEET
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...BUTTS COUNTY...
   JENKINSBURG 1 NW       0.10  615 AM 1/10   SLEET.
                          0.50  700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...CARROLL COUNTY...
   CARROLLTON 5.0 SE      4.1   715 AM 1/10
   CARROLLTON             4.0  1053 AM 1/10   COOP
                          0.10  700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...CATOOSA COUNTY...
   RINGGOLD 1 S           7.0  1011 AM 1/10
   FORT OGLETHORPE        6.0  1043 AM 1/10

...CHEROKEE COUNTY...
   CANTON 1 S             6.0   322 AM 1/10
   HICKORY FLAT           4.8  1257 PM 1/10
   WALESKA                7.0  1128 AM 1/10

...CLARKE COUNTY...
   ATHENS                 6.2  1132 AM 1/10
   WINTERVILLE            5.0   109 AM 1/10
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
   ATL AIRPORT            4.0   400 PM 1/10
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...COBB COUNTY...
   SMYRNA                 5.0   911 AM 1/10
   KENNESAW               4.8   928 AM 1/10

...COWETA COUNTY...
   NEWNAN                 2.5  1118 AM 1/10
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
   ROBERTA                0.75  710 AM 1/10   SLEET.
   FORT VALLEY 3 NW       0.50  501 AM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...CRISP COUNTY...
   CORDELE                0.5  1053 AM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...DADE COUNTY...
   TRENTON 1 E            7.5  1003 AM 1/10

...DAWSON COUNTY...
   DAWSONVILLE            4.8  1101 AM 1/10

...DEKALB COUNTY...
   DECATUR                4.0   812 AM 1/10
   DUNWOODY               4.5  1230 PM 1/10
   DORAVILLE              4.3   923 AM 1/10
   STONE MOUNTAIN         4.5   927 AM 1/10

...DOUGLAS COUNTY...
   FAIRPLAY               4.5  1051 AM 1/10

...DOOLY COUNTY...
                          0.5   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN
...EMANUEL COUNTY...
   MIDVILLE 2 S           0.25  700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...FANNIN COUNTY...
   MINERAL BLUFF          9.0  1044 AM 1/10   PUBLIC REPORT
   EPWORTH                8.0  1039 AM 1/10

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
   FAYETTEVILLE           1.0  1126 AM 1/10
   WFO FFC               0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...FLOYD COUNTY...
   ROME                   5.0   100 AM 1/10

...FORSYTH COUNTY...
   CUMMING                6.0  1100 AM 1/10

...FULTON COUNTY...
   ROSWELL                4.5   840 AM 1/10
   ATLANTA                3.0   931 AM 1/10

...GORDON COUNTY...
   CALHOUN 7 SE           5.0  1126 AM 1/10
   FAIRMOUNT              5.0  1241 PM 1/10

...GWINNETT COUNTY...
   BUFORD                 8.0   930 AM 1/10

...HALL COUNTY...
   GAINESVILLE            3.2  1044 AM 1/10   UP TO 5 INCHES TO THE NORTH.

...HARALSON COUNTY...
   TALLAPOOSA             5.0   117 PM 1/10

...HARRIS COUNTY...
                         0.88   700 PM 1/10   SLEET
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...HEARD COUNTY...
                          2.0   700 PM 1/10   SLEET
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...HOUSTON COUNTY...
                          1.0   700 PM 1/10   SLEET
   CENTERVILLE            0.5   639 AM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...HENRY COUNTY...
   MCDONOUGH              4.0  1010 AM 1/10

...JOHNSON COUNTY...      0.5   700 PM 1/10   SLEET
                          1.0   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...LAURENS COUNTY...
   DUBLIN                 0.5  1121 AM 1/10   SNOW AND SLEET
                          0.5   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...LUMPKIN COUNTY...
   DAHLONEGA              6.0  1032 AM 1/10
                          0.5   700 PM 1/10   SLEET

...JACKSON COUNTY...
   HOSCHTON               5.0  1115 AM 1/10

...JOHNSON COUNTY...
   WRIGHTSVILLE           0.5   615 AM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...MACON COUNTY...
                          0.75  700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...MADISON COUNTY...
                         10.0   700 PM 1/10

...MARION COUNTY...
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   SLEET
                         0.50   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...MERIWETHER COUNTY...  0.50   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN
                         2.00   700 PM 1/10   SLEET/FREEZING RAIN MIX

...MONROE COUNTY...
   FORSYTH                1.0   724 AM 1/10
                          0.5   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...MORGAN COUNTY...
   MADISON                4.0   821 AM 1/10
   BOSTWICK               3.5  1103 AM 1/10
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...MUSCOGEE COUNTY...
   COLUMBUS               T     345 PM 1/10   SLEET

...PAULDING COUNTY...
   DALLAS 7 NE            5.0  1000 AM 1/10
   DALLAS 4 S             6.2   940 AM 1/10

...PEACH COUNTY...
   BYRON                  2.50  710 AM 1/10   SLEET/FREEZING RAIN MIX
                          0.25  700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...PICKENS COUNTY...
   JASPER 4 S             6.5   133 PM 1/10

...PIKE COUNTY...
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...POLK COUNTY...
   FISH CREEK             5.5   112 PM 1/10

...PULASKI COUNTY...      0.5   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...PUTNAM COUNTY...
   EATONTON               4.0  1115 AM 1/10

...NEWTON COUNTY...
   COVINGTON              3.5   730 AM 1/10

...OCONEE COUNTY...
   WATKINSVILLE           6.2  1123 AM 1/10
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...ROCKDALE COUNTY...
   CONYERS                2.0   917 AM 1/10

...SCHLEY COUNTY...
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...SPALDING COUNTY...
   GRIFFIN                1.0   515 AM 1/10   SLEET

...STEWART COUNTY...
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...SUMTER COUNTY...
                         0.50   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...TALBOT COUNTY...
                         1.00   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN/SLEET MIX

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
                         0.50   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...TELFAIR COUNTY...
                         0.10   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...TOOMBS COUNTY...
                         0.10   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...TREUTLEN COUNTY...
                         0.10   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...TROUP COUNTY...
   HOGANSVILLE 6 W         T    559 PM 1/09   SLEET
   HOGANSVILLE            0.12  438 AM 1/09   FREEZING RAIN

...TWIGGS COUNTY...
   JEFFERSONVILLE         0.6  1119 AM 1/10
                          0.1   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...UPSON COUNTY...
                          1.0   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN/SLEET MIX

...WALKER COUNTY...
   CHICKAMAUGA            8.0  1003 AM 1/10
   LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN       7.0   345 AM 1/10

...WALTON COUNTY...
   BOLD SPRINGS           5.5   530 AM 1/10

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
   SANDERSVILLE           4.0   745 AM 1/10

...WEBSTER COUNTY...
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...WHITE COUNTY...
   CLEVELAND              6.0   800 AM 1/10

...WHITFIELD COUNTY...
   DALTON                 7.5  1015 AM 1/10

...WILCOX COUNTY...
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

...WILKINSON COUNTY...
   IRWINTON               1.0   649 AM 1/10   SLEET
                         0.25   700 PM 1/10   FREEZING RAIN

$$

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