10 a.m. SUNDAY. JAN. 16 UPDATE: The National Weather Service forecast for Pickens and Dawson counties calls for a Winter Storm Warning through midnight with heavy mixed precipitation; snow accumulations of two to five inches, with up to eight inches possible at elevations above 2,500 feet; ice accumulations of up to two-tenths of an inch; and wind gusting over 35 m.p.h. in the valleys and over 50 m.p.h. on ridgetops and at elevations 2,500 feet and above till about 2 p.m. today.
“Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the strong winds, heavy snow and ice. Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the NWS announced.
Although every Big Canoe road was brined on Friday, the POA strongly urges everyone to stay home and off the road at least through Monday, and possibly Tuesday, depending on the weather conditions and your elevation.
Many streets are currently impassable and the dangerous combination of ice accumulations and 35 to 50 m.p.h. wind gusts will make Big Canoe’s winding, steep roads even more dangerous.
To provide access for emergency vehicles, POA plows this morning cleared a single lane and applied a salt-and-grit mixture from the Main Gate to the North Gate. The Public Works vehicles have begun plowing from the higher elevations and are working their way down toward lower elevations.
Please stay off the roads as driving in Big Canoe in these conditions unnecessarily puts both travelers and POA employees at risk.
As always, call 911 in case of emergency.
As a result of the weather, all amenities are closed on Sunday and Monday.
Keep up with the latest weather developments on the National Weather Service website.
Utilities Inc. of Georgia, the water utility that services Big Canoe and is not operated by the POA, is recommending that “Big Canoe residents should be prepared for potential water outages, especially those who live in the higher elevations. A supply of bottled water is recommended, and it is also a good idea to capture water in a bathtub or other large container when possible.” UIG, which suggests preparing as far in advance as possible, will communicate information on any pending outage.
If you have any UIG or water-related questions, call 706-268-3400 or email bigcanoe@uiwater.com.
Through the weekend, the POA will continue to provide weather updates via email and through the Big Canoe Events and Happenings Facebook page.
The post Winter Storm Warning for Big Canoe in effect until midnight Sunday, Jan. 16 appeared first on Inside the Gates.