Snow, Accumulations Possible Thursday

Johns Creek could get its first glimpse this winter of the white stuff as rain across north Georgia may turn to snow with the arrival of a deep cold air mass.

Johns Creek and North Georgia could get the first snow of the winter and 2013 on Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service. A strong low pressure system and ample Gulf moisture will meet, resulting in widespread rain and an associated deep cold air mass that will begin to spread across north and central Georgia on Thursday afternoon and evening, meteorologists say in a special weather statement. As a result, rain could change over to snow across parts of north Georgia. Despite recent unseasonably warm temps, residents could see some light accumulations of snow across parts of north Georgia by mid to late Thursday afternoon or evening, mainly on elevated and grassy surfaces. While folks as far south as a LaGrange-to-Athens …

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A Year Ago ... Snow!

Do you miss the January 2011 snowstorm? Check out our slideshow of last year's wintry weather. Then take our poll and let us know how you feel about the frozen stuff.

  A year ago today, metro Atlantans were battling a bear of a snowstorm. The storm dumped a half a foot or more of snow on the ground, closing schools for a week, disrupting some government services and leaving many of us in hibernation until the frozen stuff finally thawed. We may have temps in the 60s this week, but Patch wanted to share some cool images from last year's storm, shot by our editors, correspondents and readers. Enjoy.

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A Week of Winter Wonderland

It may have taken a week and it may have been inconvenient, but the winter storm made us all slow down and enjoy the snow - and even display a little creativity.

As the sun beams down, melting the last of the snow dumped on the area over the last week, people in and around Johns Creek are beginning to get back into their routines; running weekend errands, getting the kids to and from Scout meetings and family events or preparing for church after a Sunday missed. But for the better part of the second week of January, Johns Creek looked more like a town in northern Ohio than northern Georgia. It was more snow at one time than most people can recall in recent memory – and it made for a lot of inconvenience, innovation and inspiration. “We were open every day,” said Katherine Lawson, shift manager at the Starbucks at The Village at Park Ridge on Old Milton Parkway. The head barista said the coffee shop…

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Citizen Watch

Johns Creek Should be Commended for Weather Response

City reported few traffic accidents, assessed trouble spots early.

Below-freezing temperatures kept metro-Atlanta drivers crawling on the city’s major roads after a historic snowstorm hit the Southeast Sunday night into Monday. Many people are understandably frustrated with the Georgia Department of Transportation and its response to clearing major roads and highways quickly. Wednesday, GDOT officials, who have come under blistering criticism, said 99 percent of all state roads were passable, with at least one lane open on every interstate route, but the outrage by many is still being heard. On Day 4 of what many are calling a "Snowmageddon," many metro-Atlanta residents are shaking their heads in disbelief and asking if GDOT was prepared for this mess. On the flip side, cities like Johns Creek that had a…

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Janet Shan

10:01 pm on Friday, January 14, 2011

Lee, thanks for your comments. Atlanta dropped the ball and it is quite obvious they didn't pre-plan for a worse-case scenario as Johns Creek, Suwanee and Canton did. GDOT also dropped the ball. For once the meteorologists were correct in their predictions. It seems Mayor Kaseem Reed, GDOT commissioner Vance Smith and their advisors didn't take this seriously. I echo your sentiment, kudos to …   more ›

Editor's Notebook

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 13

What's going on in Johns Creek? Click on links for more details.

1. Winter weather update. Skies will be sunny but temperatures will once againg struggle to reach above freezing. 2. City offices open. Johns Creek City Hall and Municipal Court open at 10 a.m. 3. Another snow day for the kids. Fulton County students and teachers have a fourth day off from school. 4. After Hours event canceled. The Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event has been canceled due to inclement weather and will resume Feb. 3 at Abbott's Bar & Grill. 5. Road watch. Northbound lane of Johns Creek Parkway south of McGinnis-Ferry will be closed all day through Jan. 14 due to discovery of an unmarked, paved-over manhole. Expect delays.

Here Comes the Sun: More People Venturing Out, City Offices Open

Johns Creek has seen little in the way of weather-related traffic incidents.

As more people have emerged on the roads with Wednesday’s appearance of the sun, Johns Creek, which has seen little in the way of weather-related accidents since the storm began, has reported five accidents today. However, according to Doug Nurse, the city’s communications manager, police typically respond to five and six accidents on a normal day.  “We still have [Public Works] crews going 24-7,” he said, adding that 450 tons of sand and salt mixture have been spread. “Anecdotally, I would say more people are out on the roads today, but it’s still about half the normal amount.”

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'People Are Staying Home': Winter Storm Update

No weather-related accidents in Johns Creek have been reported since start of winter storm on Sunday.

"People are staying home," said Doug Nurse, Johns Creek's communications manager, explaining why no weather-related incidents had been responded to as of 1 p.m. Tuesday since the start of the winter blast. He also gave credit to the city's Public Works Department, whose staff are working 12-hour shifts salting and sanding key points and major thoroughfares. "We brought out a couple of road graders today, and they seem to be working to good effect," said Nurse, who was stationed in the city's Emergency Operations Center. He said city officials are concerned that residents will start to get cabin fever or run out of supplies and venture out as temperatures drop and ice begins forming again. But so far, "people are heeding the warnings." …

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