A bigger than expected snowfall walloped North Georgia on Friday, transforming its roads into treacherous Slip ‘N Slides, knocking out power to thousands of homes and triggering flashbacks of “Snowpocalypse” from 2014 when Atlanta was paralyzed for days.
Less than an inch of snow was predicted in Atlanta, but 3.5 inches fell in downtown, according to unofficial reports to the National Weather Service. Up to 2 inches were expected in the surrounding metro area, but 3.5 inches fell in places, including Peachtree City. It’s the most snow the metro area has seen since January 2018.
Actual snowfall totals ended up tracking closer to what was initially predicted earlier this week before forecasts were adjusted downward.
Snow blankets metro Atlanta: Live updates
By 10 a.m., Georgia’s Highway Emergency Response Operators, or HEROs, had responded to 220 road incidents, including motorists who spun out and became stranded. One crash involving eight tractor-trailers — one of them jackknifed — shut down the I-75 southbound ramp at I-285…