Expecting snow, Augusta suspends bus service, closes recreation spots

Steady snow started blanketing the Augusta area late Saturday morning, with the National Weather Service predicting that much of the snow will fall before 4 p.m.

A winter storm warning still is in effect until 10 a.m. Sunday. An extreme cold warning begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, ending 10 a.m. Sunday.

Public school districts in Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken counties have canceled all weekend school-related activities, waiting to see how much snow accumulates before deciding to change next week’s school schedule.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has announced that as of 6 p.m. Friday it had completed 85% of its planned brining of major Augusta-area roads. Crews treated all lane miles of Interstate 20 and Interstate 520/Bobby Jones Expressway.

Augusta’s public transit and its parks and recreation department are shutting down on Saturday.

The city of Augusta is maintaining a warming center at May Park Community Center, 622 Fourth St., from 5 to 9 p.m. daily.

Live Updates: Winter storm begins in Georgia. How much snow will fall?

National Weather Service forecast for the Augusta area

• Saturday: Snow. High near 32. North wind 8 to 14 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches is possible.
• Saturday night: Snow likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing with a low around 14. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch is possible.
• Sunday: Sunny with a high near 37. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph. Evening mostly clear with a low around 17. Calm wind.
• Monday: Sunny with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the morning. Evening mostly clear with a low around 27.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny with a high near 55. Evening mostly cloudy with a low around 41.
• Wednesday: Rain likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. The chance of precipitation is 60% through the evening with a low of about 37.
• Thursday: Chance of rain. Partly sunny with a high near 46. The chance of precipitation is 30%. Evening, partly cloudy with a low around 29.
• Friday: Sunny with a high near 53.

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