Black Ice Threat Prompts Road Closures, Power Outages in Georgia

First responders in Georgia are urging motorists to stay home on Saturday as freezing temperatures threaten to create dangerous black ice conditions. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until Saturday morning, with officials warning of treacherous road conditions and widespread power outages across the state.

On Friday evening, both westbound and eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 at Highway 138 in Rockdale County were closed for nearly two hours after a motor vehicle accident brought down power lines across the roadway. The crash occurred just after 7 p.m., prompting Conyers Police and power line crews to shut down the affected lanes as they worked to assess the damage and remove the fallen wires. The lanes reopened shortly before 9 p.m.

Black ice, a nearly invisible layer of ice that forms on roads, sidewalks, and driveways in freezing conditions, poses a significant risk to drivers and pedestrians. Bridges, in particular, are prone to freezing faster due to air circulating above and below the structure. In nearby Conyers, officials temporarily blocked off a bridge as a precautionary measure.

A local tow truck driver, who had been assisting motorists throughout the day, noted that most residents heeded warnings to stay off the roads. “We’ve been out here since around 5 o’clock this morning, and we barely saw anybody on the road,” he said. “Now that the weather has stopped snowing just a little, most people have started coming out, but the majority still stayed in.”

As of late Friday night, more than 101,500 power outages were reported across Georgia, with Georgia Power and Georgia EMCs working to restore service. Freezing rain, icy roads, and falling trees have hampered progress, and officials warn that the situation could worsen as winds intensify overnight. Georgia Power acknowledged the challenges, stating, “As our crews anticipated based on the forecast, additional freezing rain and falling trees have caused power outages as the sun has gone down. We understand how important power is, especially in this cold.”

Flight disruptions have also been widespread, with 297 flights canceled and 37 delayed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as of early Saturday morning. DoorDash suspended operations in metro Atlanta due to the storm, citing heavy snowfall and low visibility as a serious threat to the community.

Officials continue to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing that black ice can be difficult to spot and often mistaken for wet roads. Dunwoody Police reported that while most roadways are passable, icy patches remain a significant hazard. “If travel is unavoidable, proceed with extreme caution,” they advised.

The Georgia Department of Transportation and law enforcement agencies across metro Atlanta have asked Georgians to remain off the roads as much as possible until at least midday on Saturday. With temperatures expected to remain below freezing overnight, the risk of black ice and additional power outages remains high.