Winter Storm Gianna has brought major travel issues to the South, including in North Carolina, where a massive pileup has left vehicles stranded on Interstate 85 while the National Guard responds to assist those trapped.
Local reports said the pileup involved as many as 100 vehicles and it wasn't immediately known how many injuries there were. The collision occurred in the northbound lanes of the interstate near Kannapolis, North Carolina, where at least 14.5 inches of snow have fallen Saturday during Winter Storm Gianna.
You can find all of Saturday's updates on the winter storm below:
(MORE:Winter Storm Gianna's Latest Forecast|Maps Tracker Page)
(03:05 p.m. EST) Updated Forecast For Winter Storm
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Winter Storm Gianna continues to impact the Carolinas, Virginia and eastern portions of Tennessee and Georgia.
The highest snowfall totals of around 9 inches have been reported in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
Snowfall will continue across parts of Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia through the overnight hours. Widespread snowfall storm totals of 6-12 inches are expected, with isolated totals across North Carolina potentially exceeding a foot.
Winter storm warnings will begin to expire early Sunday morning as the storm heads away from the area. The storm could still graze eastern Massachusetts with snowfall, but the main impact to the Northeast will be gusty winds and coastal flooding.
(02:55 p.m. EST) Flurries Found In Florida
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Although there are not expected to be significant impacts, flurries are falling as far south as northern Florida.
(02:47 p.m. EST) Over 2,000 Flight Cancellations Across The US Related To Gianna
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
According toFlightAware, more than 2,000 flights have been canceled in association with Winter Storm Gianna.
Over 800 flights have been canceled into and out of Charlotte, where parts of the city have seen over 4 inches of snow so far.
Atlanta has seen over 500 flights canceled into and out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as snowfall continues to fall in the city.
(02:39 p.m. EST) Gwinnett County DOT Warns Atlanta Drivers To Stay Off Roads
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Snow is sticking across some of the roads in eastern Atlanta as the storm continues to make the Southeast a winter wonderland.
The Gwinnett County Department of Transportation warns that multiple crashes have been reported in its jurisdiction. Conditions will continue to deteriorate across the metro Atlanta area with bands of snowfall shifting to the south and east through the day.
Winter storm warnings will last into very early Sunday as the center of the storm continues to move along the East Coast.
(02:29 p.m. EST) Beaver Stadium Does Hockey The Right Way
Penn State and Michigan State are facing off at historic Beaver Stadium for an outdoor hockey game, and the setup is absolutely perfect. This is what outdoor hockey is supposed to look like. You can't recreate this atmosphere indoors. A hockey purist's dream.
(02:15 p.m. EST) Interstate 85 Closed By Wreck In Spartanburg County, South Carolina
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Heavy snow continues to blanket parts of South Carolina, causing hazardous driving conditions and reduced visibility.
Unfortunately, these conditions have caused a major wreck.
Snowfall continues to fall at around 1 inch per hour in this area, so driving is not recommended.
(02:00 p.m. EST) Nascar Race Postponed
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
The Cook Out Clash has been postponed to Monday at 6 p.m. EST due to lingering winter weather in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, NASCAR announced. Snowfall hit the Piedmont region hard Saturday, creating difficult travel conditions throughout the weekend. Look at Bowman Gray Stadium — completely snowed in.
(01:40 p.m. EST) Atlanta Snow Day Done Right
From Content Writer Toby Adeyemi:
This is how you enjoy a snow day! Always have to keep a sled handy in case of a winter storm. Atlanta doesn't get snow often, but when it does, you make it count and this family nailed the assignment.
(01:20 p.m. EST) Good Snow Day Etiquette
From Content Writer Toby Adeyemi:
We all need to be a little more considerate during these cold times. Shoveling snow is hard work. Don't steal shoveled spaces or you might end up like this guy! Let's all practice good snow day etiquette.
(01:00 p.m. EST) Snow Piling Up Fast in Charlotte Metro
From Content Writer Toby Adeyemi:
Parts of the Charlotte metro have seen 4 inches of snow so far and road conditions will deteriorate through the day with much more snow on the way.
(12:45 p.m. EST) Parts Of Atlanta Stuck Out Of Snowfall
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
While Atlanta is beginning to see snowfall, it's not great for everyone in the city — including me.
I am one of the millions who are residing in a slot of dry, stable air that is delaying the snowfall. It is frustrating, but those of us across the eastern parts of the city should see snowfall in the coming hours.
(12:30 p.m. EST) Visibility Dropping Across Southeast
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
As snow falls and winds blow, visibility has dropped substantially across parts of the Southeast.
Charlotte's visibility has dropped to just a quarter of a mile. Other notable visibilities are listed below:
Greenville, South Carolina: 0.5 miles
Knoxville, Tennessee: 0.5 miles
Morristown, Tennessee: 1.0 miles
Columbia, South Carolina: 2.5 miles
Traveling on roads is not recommended as visibility drops can lead to dangerous pileups. Low visibility will likely further lead to more flight delays and cancellations.
(12:15 p.m. EST) Snow Has Landed Across Atlanta
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
Snowfall has officially started in Atlanta. Residents across the metro are reporting flurries, and some areas are seeing a bit more than that. The cold temperatures aren't going anywhere through the weekend, so here's the play: Stay warm and stay home unless you absolutely have to leave.
(11:48 a.m. EST) Heavy Snowfall Expected For Carolina Piedmont Vicinity
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
The conditions across parts of the Carolinas could see a spike in heavy snowfall as conditions are becoming more favorable for intense snow bands.
The Weather Prediction Center warns that heavy snowfall rates over 1 inch per hour are expected in the Piedmont Vicinity between 1-4 p.m. EST.
(11:31 a.m. EST) Peep This Nearly Frozen River
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
One of the best things about when the temperatures drop are the sights it creates. Take a look at the Genesee River in New York — something straight out of a movie.
(11:10 a.m. EST) Don't Try This At Home
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
Yes, the frigid temperatures do allow for liquids to freeze, but it might not be the smartest experiment to try out. A new trend on social media shows people tossing boiling water outside in hopes of creating a mist effect for a picture. Unfortunately, like this person had to learn, not everywhere is cold enough for this experiment and you can risk serious burns.
(10:44 a.m. EST) Updated Snowfall Totals
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
As snowfall continues to pile up across the Southeast, snowfall totals continue to increase. Below are the latest:
Balsam, North Carolina: 9.0 inches
Maggie Valley, North Carolina: 9.0 inches
Cosby, Tennessee: 8.0 inches
Jonesborough, Tennessee: 8.0 inches
Galax City, Virginia: 6.0 inches
(10:30 a.m. EST) Braves Fest Has Been Canceled
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
The first major Atlanta event to be a casualty of this winter storm is Braves Fest, which is officially canceled. Over 75,000 people had tickets to meet players, get autographs and basically live out their baseball fan dreams this weekend. But the Braves weren't interested in getting news alerts about fans sliding across Interstate 285 trying to get a picture with Ronald Acuna Jr. Smart call — fan safety over everything.
(10:05 a.m. EST) In Tennessee, Snow Is Adding Up Again
This is just one area that's facing a major winter storm for two weekends in a row.
Do you have a photo of the winter storm today to share with other readers?Send me an emailand we may include it on the live blog today.
(09:45 a.m. EST) Travel Conditions Deteriorating Near Columbia, South Carolina
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Travel conditions are being impacted along I-77 north, I-26 west and I-20 east traveling out of Columbia.
The city is under a winter storm warning until Sunday morning, where 5-9 inches of snowfall is possible.
Snowfall is accumulating on bridges and overpasses due to bridges freezing first in cold conditions.
(09:25 a.m. EST) How To Shovel Snow Safely
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
A lot of people getting snowfall this week probably aren't used to having to shovel snow. We have you covered with a few safety tips.
Get it done early. Freshly fallen snow is light and fluffy — way easier to move than that half-melted, refrozen snow that shows up later.
Layer up smart. Multiple layers, but skip cotton as your base since it soaks up sweat and leaves you cold and damp.
Hydrate like it's July. You might not feel thirsty in the cold, but your body's still working — drink water or a sports drink.
Watch for ice. When temps drop back down, that melted snow refreezes into black ice you may not see, so step carefully.
Bottom line: Work smart, stay warm, stay safe.
Use a leafblower. Yes, they aren't just for leaves in this instance! Your back will definitely thank you.
(08:55 a.m. EST) Talk Of A Dry Slot, Two Bull's-eyes?
From senior digital meteorologistJonathan Belles:
If you're trying to look for who will get the most snow, Gianna brings an extra challenge. They may actually be two distinct areas with heavy snow: one near the coast in eastern North Carolina and another one between upstate South Carolina and the southern Appalachians. Of course, mountains being in play always amps the totals there, but there is some meteorology in play, too.
See, winter storms like this one aren't two-dimensional. They're more like ogres with layers.
On the Outer Banks, we'll be watching Gianna's low-pressure system crank by Sunday morning, with heavy snow and strong winds. But before that, we'll be watching another low-pressure system some 20,000-30,000 feet up, creating its own snow today, closer to the Smoky Mountains.
In between the two, there is expected to be a band of drier air that will limit snowfall, likely in the area of the North Carolina Triangle. You can see it in yellow in the satellite image below.
(08:30 a.m. EST) Snow Has Made It To Charlotte
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
Charlotte, North Carolina, is looking like a winter wonderland with their snowfall. It started around 6 a.m. and it's not going anywhere fast! Charlotte can expect up to 8 inches of snow today.
(08:12 a.m. EST) When Will Artemis II Launch?
From managing editorSean Breslin:
With temperatures plunging in Florida this weekend, that has put the launch of NASA's Artemis II rocket in question.
"NASA is targeting Monday, Feb. 2, as the tanking day for the upcoming Artemis II wet dress rehearsal at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida,as a result of weather," according to a release. "With this change, the first potential opportunity to launch is no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 8."
The timeline was changed due to the arctic cold outbreak that could affect hardware capabilities as engineers make final preparations for the launch. Temperatures at Cape Canaveral, Florida, are expected to dip to freezing or colderin each of the next two nights.
When Artemis II launches, it will be the first crewed mission to the moon in more than a half-century.
(07:46 a.m. EST) A Live Camera To Keep An Eye On
From producerCarmen Molina:
Do you want to see Winter Storm Gianna moving through the Carolinas? You can watch it live through the lens of a high-definition live streaming camera in Brevard, North Carolina. The camera can be found atExploreBrevard.com.
(07:31 a.m. EST) See The Snow In North Georgia
From writer Toby Adeyemi:
Blairsville, Georgia, has seen noticeable snowfall since the early morning hours and it's quite the sight. It's also starting to stick to the roads, so if you are leaving your home, please be careful. Snow is expected to continue throughout the day and push southward in the state, including into metro Atlanta.
(07:11 a.m. EST) Snowfall Spreading To North Georgia
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Snowfall has begun to move into north Georgia and will continue to spread south into metro Atlanta through the day.
Winter storm warnings are expected to remain until early Sunday for the majority of Georgia. The heaviest snowfall is expected across northeastern Georgia, where widespread totals of 3-6 inches are expected. Isolated totals could even exceed 6 inches.
Gusty winds could make travel very dangerous, so travel is not recommended.
(06:52 a.m. EST) 'Travel Is Not Advised' In Pigeon Forge
There's nothing that screams "Pigeon Forge" more than a Dollywood sign. But this morning, roads in the East Tennessee town were covered in snow, and that's bound to cause problems today.
"Travel is not advised at this time so crewscan safely treat area roads," said the Pigeon Forge Police Department in a Facebook post. "Many roads are slick and unsafe."
The department urged everyone to stay home today if possible. Nearby Gatlinburg has already reported 2.5 inches of snow.
(06:31 a.m. EST) Here's Who Has The Most Snow So Far
According to snow observations from the National Weather Service, several locations in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina saw more than 5 inches of snow yesterday into this morning.
- Near Faust, North Carolina: 6.8 inches
- Bristol, Tennessee: 5.3 inches
- Near Surgoinsville, Tennessee: 5.3 inches
- Liberty, Tennessee: 5 inches
(06:06 a.m. EST) Cold Alerts Map Lit Up Like A Christmas Tree Again ...
... and this doesn't even include the winter storm advisories and warnings. Luckily, meteorologistCaitlin Kaisercompiled everything in a way that makes sense — head over to ourmaps tracker pageto see everything related to this winter storm and cold outbreak.
(05:52 a.m. EST) Gianna Brings A Mess To A Region Already In Bad Shape
This weekend's winter storm will track across some of the same areas hit hard by last weekend's Winter Storm Fern. But luckily, in most of the states hit hardest by Fern — Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana specifically — additional impacts aren't expected from Gianna. That trio of states still has more than 150,000 homes and businesses without power this morning, according toPowerOutage.us.
It has been a very cold, frustrating week for those customers, and a long week for crews who have worked around the clock to restore power and clear tree damage caused by last weekend's ice storm.
(05:30 a.m. EST) Cancellations Mounting At Southern Airports
As we start the morning's coverage, there are already hundreds of flight cancellations at two major hubs in the South. According to the flight-tracking websiteFlightAware, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International and Charlotte Douglas International are No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation with more than 500 flights canceled into and out of each airport today.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a distant third with 120 flights canceled so far. Earlier this week, Hartsfieldled the country in cancellationsdue in part to the ice brought by Winter Storm Fern.
