Winter storm updates: Officials urge caution with dropping temperatures, Georgia power outages continue

Georgia officials are telling residents to stay off the roads as counties begin reporting deteriorating road conditions across parts of the state due to the massive winter storm moving across the country. At a 3 pm press conference, leaders from GEMA, GDOT, and the Department of Public Safety warned of hazardous travel tonight and into tomorrow due to ongoing precipitation and the threat of a refreeze.

An Ice Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Monday for portions of north central and northeast Georgia, according to the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City. 

Crews are working 12-hour shifts, with all hands on deck until conditions improve. 

Freezing rain and sleet are falling in many areas, particularly in the so-called "wedge" region—northeast of Atlanta—where additional ice accumulation is expected. Officials stress that even if roads appear clear this afternoon, black ice is likely to form overnight and into the morning. Drivers are urged not to assume roads will be safe and to avoid travel unless necessary.

Road treatment operations are underway, with brine and salt mixtures being applied, but authorities say efforts will continue throughout the night and into tomorrow. A significant drop in temperatures is expected, further increasing the risk of ice. 

GDOT and Public Safety officials ask motorists to stay home, noting that reduced traffic—down 70% to 80% from a typical Sunday—has already helped their efforts.

For those who must drive, safety officials remind drivers to slow down, avoid cruise control, and maintain extra distance between vehicles. Special caution is requested around work crews and public safety vehicles, after a brine truck and an enforcement vehicle were struck last night, temporarily halting road treatment operations.

The Georgia National Guard has deployed 120 personnel to assist in the hardest-hit areas, particularly in Stephens, Rabun, and White counties. Up to 500 guardsmen have been authorized to respond as needed. Their focus includes clearing roadways for first responders and assisting with power restoration efforts.

As of this afternoon, nearly 80,000 power outages have been reported statewide, with most problems concentrated along the I-400 and I-85 corridors and north of I-20. 

Downed trees and power lines are widespread across North Georgia due to both ice and high winds—gusts of 20 to 30 miles per hour are expected to continue overnight, creating ongoing risks even in areas where ice accumulation is limited.

Officials say it's too early to estimate the total cost of the storm, as the situation is still evolving. They advise everyone to continue monitoring updates and to stay home until authorities confirm that roads and conditions are safe for travel. For now, safety remains the top priority for both the public and the many crews working around the clock across the state.

Before the storm hit the state, President Trump had approved a federal disaster declaration for parts of Georgia expected to be hit the hardest. This goes along with Gov. Brian Kemp's previous State of Emergency, which remains in effect until Thursday at midnight.

After earlier putting 500 National Guard members on standby, Kemp announced Saturday that he was deploying 120 of them to northeast Georgia "to further strengthen our response in the hardest hit areas."On Sunday morning, the governor posted an update on his Facebook page, saying that response crews are working around the clock to catch up on areas that they are seeing ice.

"We're about halfway through this event. I know that some people may be waking up and saying 'There's nothing out there,' because we are in a little bit of a lull," Kemp said. "There's more coming. We do think things will deteriorate as the day goes on."

In Rabun County, one of the hardest hit parts of Georgia, officials say they've had fallen trees and downed powerlines, with roadways around the country icy and hazardous.

Even when the storm moves out of the area, officials are warning residents not to get on the roads, as below-freezing temperatures will make ice reform and travel dangerous.

Power outages leave Georgians in the dark

As of 2 p.m. on Sunday, over 53,000 Georgians were reported to be without power as the ice storm hit the state.

In Rabun and White counties, the number of reported outages total nearly 20,000.

Georgia Power reported that over 10,000 personnel from the major utility, contract companies, and partners are "engaged and ready support the company's response efforts."

Once conditions have been deemed safe, teams will move through impacted areas to assess damage. Crews will then come in to clear fallen debris and make repairs.

"Crews are prepared to work around the clock to restore power for customers safely and quickly as possible," a spokesperson for Georgia Power wrote in a release.

Residents should watch for downed wires, avoid chain link fences or standing water, and not attempt to remove any tree branches from power lines.

Freezing rain and winds lead to dangerous roads

Officials across metro Atlanta have a simple message for Georgians during the storm: stay home.

In Henry County, the sheriff's office said that residents should avoid all travel unless essential.

"Conditions can change quickly, and roads may become unsafe with little warning," the agency wrote. If you choose to drive and get into an emergency, assistance might be delayed due to the weather, it emphasized.

While roads can look safe, the lower temperatures combined with the rain can cause ice to form quickly, leading to slick spots that drivers can't see easily.

"We need no morning commute to be quite honest. Because of the temperatures we're going to see in the overnight hours we are really going to need people to stay off the road," Georgia Department of Transportation Natalie Dale spokeswoman said. "I think there's a false sense of security right now because this first band has come in. People may think that's it. That is not it."

Dale said that the added rain and ice accumulation is going to make things dangerous when the sun comes up on Monday.

"For everyone's safety we need everyone to remain off the road as we work on them," she said.

Motorists who must travel are asked to give emergency responders and GDOT crews space to let them quickly and safely work.

Ground delay, cancellations at the Atlanta airport

A ground delay at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport caused by the weather has been lifted. The delays was estimated to last until 7 p.m. on Sunday.

CBS News Atlanta can confirm that as of Sunday afternoon there have been approximately 1,166 cancellations at Hartsfield in the past day. More than 13,000 flights across the country have been canceled as airports manage the harsh conditions caused by the storm.

Disruptions were also piling up at airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Nashville, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

MARTA running with reduced service

Because of the severe weather, MARTA will operate limited bus routes and reduced rail service on Sunday and Monday. 

Trains are expected to arrive every 20 minutes on select lines.

Mobility services will operate within three-quarters of mile of MARTA rail stations. The agency plans to honor all pre-booked medically necessary trips as long as it is safe to travel.

Officials say services may be reduced further or suspend entirely if conditions worsen.

You can see the full rail service plan here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.