Bartow, Cartersville Schools Make Decisions About Classes

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- In light of the Winter Storm Warning issued early Friday for much of northwest Georgia, the Bartow County and Cartersville City school systems have announced it will conduct early releases for its students.

Due to changing weather conditions in Bartow County, the school system said it's now releasing students and staff at all elementary, middle, and high schools.

"All bus routes have now stopped," the system added. "We ask that parents pick up their children at this time. Again, this applies to all elementary, middle, and high schools. Thank you for your patience, as we work with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to keep all our children and faculty members safe."

The system also said all after-school care and activities are canceled for Friday as well as Saturday, Dec. 9.

The Cartersville City School System said it will release primary and elementary school students at 10:30 a.m. and middle and high school students at 11:30 a.m. Students who drive to school have already been dismissed, spokesperson Cheree Dye told Patch.

Cartersville, Bartow and other surrounding counties have been added to the Winter Storm Warning through 7 a.m. Saturday. Meteorologists are predicting rain will change over to mixed snow across much of north Georgia early this morning.

The rain/snow mix will continue through today and then change over to all snow this evening. Rain will become mixed with snow across the western parts of central Georgia tonight, mainly west of a line from Monticello to Forsyth to Americus.

"It is important to note that although your temperature may be in the upper 30's, as snow begins falling, temperatures will drop into the lower to mid 30's," NWS added in its bulletin.

Areas within the winter storm warning can expect about two inches, with 3 to 4 inches in the northeast Georgia mountains.

The advisory areas can get up to 1 inch of snow. Up to a half inch is possible tonight across the western parts of central Georgia. Temperatures for Friday evening will fall into the mid 20s to the lower 30s across much of north Georgia. Please note that any moisture remaining on the roads could produce black ice.

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