Coastal Georgia residents could be in for a weather phenomenon that hasn’t taken place in several years.
The National Weather Service’s forecast for early next week calls for a chance of snow on Tuesday, and some freezing precipitation could come as early as Monday, said a meteorologist with the NWS’ office in Charleston, S.C.
“It will be unseasonably cold next week, particularly beginning on Monday,” said meteorologist Jonathan Lamb. “As far as the potential for wintry precipitation, there is a decent chance we could see some snow or freezing rain next week.”
Lamb said Monday night through Tuesday night is the window with the most chance for snow or freezing rain, though some forecast models also call for precipitation at the end of next week.
There hasn’t been snow in Hinesville since 2018 and longtime residents may remember the “White Christmas” of 1989. The last measurable snow in Hinesville occurred January 3, 2018, according to the NWS.
According to the National Weather Service’s forecast, there is a chance of snow Tuesday before 1 p.m., followed by a chance of rain between 1 and 4 p.m., with a chance of rain and snow after 4 p.m. Snow is likely Tuesday evening after 7 p.m., and temperatures overnight will drop into the low 20s.
There is also a 20% chance of snow Wednesday.
But snow and freezing rain also bring dangers, especially to the roads. Bridges and elevated roads also run the risk of icing over.
“In the Southeast, we’re not accustomed to a lot of wintry precipitation,” Lamb said. “People overestimate their capabilities for driving. They kind of assume the roads are completely cleared. But there are so many places where patches of ice can form. If you hit one patch of ice and are braking or turning, you could completely lose control. Our number one advice is to stay off the roads if you absolutely can.”
The state Department of Transportation urges drivers to follow safety precautions during hazardous weather, such as freezing rain or snow. Even melting snow can refreeze overnight and lead to a condition known as “black ice” on roads.
The Georgia DOT recommends drivers do the following:
• Beware of black ice (especially on bridges and overpasses) and watch for fallen trees or power lines
• Avoid driving unless absolutely necessary or postpone until daylight when road conditions, such as black ice, may be visible
• Do not pass a GDOT dump truck spreading salt/gravel; gravel may kick up and could break car windows. Follow at least 100 feet behind these vehicles
• Be aware of GDOT work crews who clear snow and ice from interstates and state routes
• Slow down to at least half of the normal speed limit and drive in low gear
• Treat a non-working traffic signal as a four-way stop
GDOT also prioritizes achieving and maintaining passable road conditions during winter weather. According to a GDOT spokesperson, among the priorities are keeping roads safe for emergency vehicles and has a goal of maintaining all lanes as passable unless the storm’s severity dictates otherwise.
GDOT crews will focus first on interstates, then on the most heavily-traveled state routes and then to lesser-traveled state routes. Crews also will pretreat bridges and overpasses prior to snow and ice conditions and consistently monitor those spans.