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Winter storm updates: Ground delay reported at Atlanta airport, Georgia power outages continue

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Winter storm updates: Ground delay reported at Atlanta airport, Georgia power outages continue


Georgia officials are telling residents to stay off the roads as counties begin reporting deteriorating road conditions across parts of the state due to the massive winter storm moving across the country.

An Ice Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Monday for portions of north central and northeast Georgia, according to the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City.

Crews began treating highways with brine after midnight Saturday, with 1,800 workers on 12-hour shifts, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said.

Before the storm hit the state, President Trump had approved a federal disaster declaration for parts of Georgia expected to be hit the hardest. This goes along with Gov. Brian Kemp’s previous State of Emergency, which remains in effect until Thursday at midnight.

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Ice covers trees in Gwinnett County during a lull in the winter storm on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

CBS News Atlanta


After earlier putting 500 National Guard members on standby, Kemp announced Saturday that he was deploying 120 of them to northeast Georgia “to further strengthen our response in the hardest hit areas.”On Sunday morning, the governor posted an update on his Facebook page, saying that response crews are working around the clock to catch up on areas that they are seeing ice.

“We’re about halfway through this event. I know that some people may be waking up and saying ‘There’s nothing out there,’ because we are in a little bit of a lull,” Kemp said. “There’s more coming. We do think things will deteriorate as the day goes on.”

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Even when the storm moves out of the area, officials are warning residents not to get on the roads, as below-freezing temperatures will likely keep travel dangerous.

Power outages leave Georgians in the dark

As of 11 a.m. on Sunday, over 30,000 Georgians were reported to be without power as the ice storm hit the state.

Most of the power outages have been reported in Rabun and White counties.

Georgia Power reported that over 10,000 personnel from the major utility, contract companies, and partners are “engaged and ready support the company’s response efforts.”

Once conditions have been deemed safe, teams will move through impacted areas to assess damage. Crews will then come in to clear fallen debris and make repairs.

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“Crews are prepared to work around the clock to restore power for customers safely and quickly as possible,” a spokesperson for Georgia Power wrote in a release.

Residents should watch for downed wires, avoid chain link fences or standing water, and not attempt to remove any tree branches from power lines.

Freezing rain and winds lead to dangerous roads

Officials across metro Atlanta have a simple message for Georgians during the storm: stay home.

In Henry County, the sheriff’s office said that residents should avoid all travel unless essential.

“Conditions can change quickly, and roads may become unsafe with little warning,” the agency wrote. If you choose to drive and get into an emergency, assistance might be delayed due to the weather, it emphasized.

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While roads can look safe, the lower temperatures combined with the rain can cause ice to form quickly, leading to slick spots that drivers can’t see easily.

Motorists who must travel are asked to give emergency responders and Georgia Department of Transportation crews space to let them quickly and safely work.

MARTA is currently operating on an inclement weather plan. Other transit authorities, such as the Xpress, have suspended operations for Monday.

Ground delay, cancellations at the Atlanta airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is reporting a ground delay of 117 minutes due to the weather. The Federal Aviation Authorities reports that the delay is in effect until 7 p.m. on Sunday.

More than 13,000 flights across the country have been canceled as airports manage the harsh conditions caused by the storm.

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Flight Aware reports that the Atlanta airport has canceled more than 500 flights in the past day and has had over 500 flights expected to land at the airport canceled as well.

Disruptions were also piling up at airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Nashville, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta reacts after major 285 shutdown postponed

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Atlanta reacts after major 285 shutdown postponed


 The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that a major weekend construction project, set to fully shut down two miles of I-285, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Atlantans are relieved, with many looking forward to more freedom to travel this Mothers’ Day weekend. Kim Leoffler has the story.



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Atlanta, GA

Spirit Airlines shutters: Atlanta mom’s 3 a.m. email revealed her job was gone

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Spirit Airlines shutters: Atlanta mom’s 3 a.m. email revealed her job was gone


An Atlanta flight attendant and mother of eight is among 17,000 Spirit Airlines workers struggling to find a new “destination” after the carrier suddenly shut down.

Spirit Airlines Atlanta impact

What we know:

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Spirit Airlines ended all operations on Saturday, grounding its entire fleet and ending employment for its 17,000-person workforce. Flight attendants and customers were stranded across the country, often forced to pay for their own travel home after the discount carrier ceased operations.

Kamille Carter, an Atlanta-based flight attendant of five years, said she received the termination email from the CEO at 3 a.m., despite earlier assurances from union representatives that the company was stable. The company immediately cut healthcare benefits and stopped payments for sick leave and vacation time for all staff members.

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Unpaid wages and benefits

What we don’t know:

It is unclear if Carter and her fellow employees will ever receive their final paychecks or if there is any legal recourse for the lost benefits. The company has not specified if any transition assistance will be provided to workers, some of whom had been with the airline since it launched in 1994.

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Employee reaction in Georgia

What they’re saying:

“This is a death because you have to mourn, you have to grieve, it’s a process,” Carter said of the sudden job loss. Despite the financial strain of supporting eight children, Carter is looking toward her passion for cooking as a potential new career. She noted that while being uncomfortable is difficult, it can “push you to your destiny.”

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Finding help in Atlanta

What you can do:

Community members looking to support Carter and other local workers affected by the shutdown can find more information on the FOX 5 Atlanta website. The station is collecting resources for those navigating the sudden loss of income and healthcare.

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The Source: The information in this story was gathered from an interview conducted by FOX 5 reporter Eric Perry, who spoke directly with former flight attendant Kamille Carter in Atlanta. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.

AtlantaNewsHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International AirportCOVID-19 and the EconomyBusinessPersonal Finance



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Missing Atlanta teen Benjamin Braithwaite found safe after more than a week, police say

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Missing Atlanta teen Benjamin Braithwaite found safe after more than a week, police say


The search for missing 16-year-old Benjamin Braithwaite is over. Atlanta police announced just before midnight Thursday that he had been located, more than a week after he vanished from his Regency Trace home.

The department shared the update on social media but did not release additional details about where he was found or the circumstances surrounding his recovery.

Braithwaite had been missing since the night of April 27, when he was last seen around 9 p.m. at his home in Atlanta. His family said they had no contact with him during the entire time he was gone.

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The disappearance of the KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School sophomore and basketball team member had galvanized the Atlanta community. His family, teammates, Atlanta police officers and neighbors gathered at the school last week to raise awareness about his disappearance. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where his mother works, joined the search effort — asking the public to watch for him at MARTA stops and fast food restaurants.

A $10,000 reward had been offered for credible information leading to his safe return.

“Even small details matter. Your awareness could make the difference,” the airport wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week. 



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