Will shops be open if it snows? (Atlanta: how much, train)

[LionT]

We are planning a trip to Atlanta. The weather forecasts says that it will snow through the weekend.
It doesn't snow all that much here (I am in Alabama). So I am wondering - does a snow day close roads and shops, or it would be just like any other ordinary day in Atlanta?

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by LionT

We are planning a trip to Atlanta. The weather forecasts says that it will snow through the weekend.
It doesn't snow all that much here (I am in Alabama). So I am wondering - does a snow day close roads and shops, or it would be just like any other ordinary day in Atlanta?

It should be an ordinary day. Contrary to popular belief, unless there is heavy snow things will continue to operate, and this storm is looking like it'll only be an inch or two maybe. If your spending your time in the city, ditch your car and take the train

[LionT]

Great! I'm looking forward to it

[neil0311]

There isn't really any snow expected in the Atlanta area itself. There may be some winter precip south of the city and in South Georgia, but nothing beyond flurries here in the metro. I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by neil0311

There isn't really any snow expected in the Atlanta area itself. There may be some winter precip south of the city and in South Georgia, but nothing beyond flurries here in the metro. I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

Ah, I see you were listening to Ken Cook last night.

As a side hobby of mine, based on my obsession with snow as an native Atlanta, I keep track of a lot of weather related info. There were some models yesterday that predicted that nothing would happen in Georgia, but they reversed themselves again last night.

The national weather service is still expecting snow. The only question now is how much:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Atlanta, GA
4:34 am EST, Thu., Feb. 11, 2010

... WINTRY WEATHER EXPECTED FRIDAY ACROSS NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA...

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL BEGIN TO SPREAD PRECIPITATION INTO PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTH GEORGIA EARLY FRIDAY... CONTINUING INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. AT THIS TIME... IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL BE COLD ENOUGH FOR THIS PRECIPITATION TO FALL AS SNOW OR A MIXTURE OF RAIN AND SNOW OVER CENTRAL AND NORTH GEORGIA FRIDAY... BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT AS THE PRECIPITATION ENDS. LATEST INDICATIONS ARE THAT SOME AREAS COULD SEE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IN THE 1 TO 2 INCH RANGE... MAINLY FROM THE ATLANTA AND ATHENS AREAS SOUTHWARD... BEFORE THE SNOW TAPERS OFF TO FLURRIES BY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.

THIS SYSTEM IS STILL DEVELOPING AND THE EXACT TRACK IS UNCERTAIN. IF THE STORM TRACKS JUST A LITTLE FARTHER NORTH THAN CURRENTLY EXPECTED THE SNOW FALL AMOUNTS MAY BE HEAVIER AND SPREAD FARTHER NORTH ACROSS THE STATE.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

Ah, I see you were listening to Ken Cook last night.

No, actually I'm a private pilot and will be taking an airline flight to Florida today and returning tomorrow night. I was reviewing the outlook forecast with flight services and looking at the current TAF's. Things may change, but in general, I wouldn't expect much in the Atlanta area.

I mean let's face facts...1 or 2 inches is piddly anyway. People in the south get all worked up, but the reality is that storms like what's been pounding the mid-Atlantic and northeast are what I get wound up about, and I've been through many.

[sweetheart1311]

I think it only supposed to maybe snow tomorrow (Friday)? Sat and Sun look pretty warm and sunny (according to weather.com).
And since the temperature is supposed to be above freezing on Fri, I don't think it will be a big deal, either. As long as there is no ice, we should be OK.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by neil0311

No, actually I'm a private pilot and will be taking an airline flight to Florida today and returning tomorrow night. I was reviewing the outlook forecast with flight services and looking at the current TAF's. Things may change, but in general, I wouldn't expect much in the Atlanta area.

I mean let's face facts...1 or 2 inches is piddly anyway. People in the south get all worked up, but the reality is that storms like what's been pounding the mid-Atlantic and northeast are what I get wound up about, and I've been through many.

No one is saying it's going to be blizzard or talking about how people handle snow up north.

The models right now are trending for either 1 to 2 inches or maybe as high as 7 if that low pushes farther north. That's different from what you originally said about there being nothing. If it's on the higher end, the OP would have cause for concern due to the lack of plows and salt trucks. If it's on the lower end then he gets a pretty snow covered ATL holiday.

[wxjay]

Winter Storm Watches up now for most of Metro Atlanta for 1-3".

For the OP - what part of AL are you coming from? There are winter storm warnings out for most of AL except for the far northern part of the state...

[jln69]

Originally Posted by wxjay

Winter Storm Watches up now for most of Metro Atlanta for 1-3".

For the OP - what part of AL are you coming from? There are winter storm warnings out for most of AL except for the far northern part of the state...

Yes. I heard that some parts of Alabama are going to much more than we are here. I even heard the Fl Panhandle too.