Augusta-area authorities asks motorists to stay off snowy, icy roads

Augusta-area residents who woke up to a blanket of snow Sunday are being asked to stay off the dangerously icy roads while temperatures are expected to rise slowly above freezing.

Mayor Garnett Johnson declared a curfew Saturday night until noon Sunday, calling for nonessential businesses to close, including bars and nightspots.

Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Chief Lewis Blanchard said Saturday evening that several roads will be closed.

“Current issues include multiple vehicles in ditches on Deans Bridge Road at Church Street due to driving conditions,” he said in a statement. “Highway 1 and Highway 25 at the county line both have slush and ice present, and traffic issues are already developing and expected to increase as temperatures continue to fall.”

• Augusta’s Emergency Management Agency has issued a list of closed roads:
• John C. Calhoun Expressway
• Barton Chapel Road at Old McDuffie Road
• Gordon Highway at Haynes Station Drive
• Richmond Hill between Lumpkin Road and Windsor Spring Road
• Wrightsboro Road at Heard Avenue

Live Updates: Winter storm in Georgia. School, church closings in GA

Here’s the forecast from the National Weather Service for the Augusta area:

• Sunday: Sunny with a high near 37. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Sunday night, mostly clear with a low around 17. West wind 3 to 6 mph.
• Monday: Sunny with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Monday night, mostly clear with a low around 26. Calm wind.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Tuesday night has a chance of rain after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are possible.
• Wednesday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation 60%. Wednesday night calls for a chance of rain before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation 30%.
• Thursday: Partly sunny with a high near 48. Thursday night, mostly clear with a low around 29.
• Friday: Sunny with a high near 56. Friday night, mostly clear with a low around 38.
• Saturday: Sunny with a high near 56.

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