Savanah Chatham Public Schools will continue with remote learning on Friday, January 24, 2025. Temperatures across the region will remain below freezing this evening and through mid to late morning on Friday. As a result, many roadways remain hazardous for travel with ice and snow that has melted and re-frozen over the last two days. This includes primary roads, secondary roads, bridges, and overpasses.
All facilities and District systems will be inspected throughout the weekend to include clearing school walkways, entrance areas, and parking lots. Staff also will be working to make sure all ice and snow is cleared from buses. In addition, all heating and mechanical systems are being inspected to ensure functionality for a planned return to in-person school on Monday, January 27th.
Once again, SCCPSS will continue with Remote-Learning for students on Friday, January 24th. The District continues to work closely with emergency management officials for the most current weather information. An operational update will be provided no later than 3:00pm on Sunday, January 26th, regarding operations on Monday.
Please continue to monitor the District’s official communication channels including our email and call notification system, website postings at sccpss.com, and the District’s Social Media Channels for updates.
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Hardeeville/Jasper County City offices will remain closed Friday and will resume regular business hours on Monday at 8:30am. Of course in the case of emergencies 911 is still operating. Please remember to stay off of the roads if possible. Melted snow and ice could possibly refreeze this evening after the temperatures drop.
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As of 1:30 p.m., today, January 23, 2025, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and our local enforcement partners continue to ask the public to remain at home unless travel is necessary.
Current conditions on roads in Beaufort County are as follows:
- Primary roads: Improving; however, hazards remain
- Secondary roads: Hazardous
- Rural and private roads: Hazardous
Primary roads are considered the main arteries (Ex. U.S. 278, U.S. 21, S.C. 170). Secondary roads serve to connect smaller areas or provide access to points off the primary routes (Ex. Parris Island Gateway, Bluffton Parkway).
Sunlight and warming temperatures are aiding in melting the ice, sleet, and snow on the roads. South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) continues to work on clearing and treating roads. Please keep in mind, that regardless of conditions improving on certain roads, shaded areas could potentially still be frozen. Before any travel, we encourage you to use the following resources to view current road conditions.
Travel and road condition resources:
- South Carolina Department of Transportation: www.scdot.org
- SCDOT 511: www.511sc.org (Real-time traffic information, as well as live camera views across South Carolina)
- Beaufort County Traffic Cameras: https://apps.beaufortcountysc.gov/traffic-cameras/ (Current traffic conditions in images from traffic cameras throughout Beaufort County)
Starting late this afternoon into evening, the National Weather Service forecasts temperatures to drop once again in the low to mid-20s. This will cause any melted water to refreeze creating black ice. Black ice is a thin coat of ice that can form on roads and bridges in multiple scenarios, and because it is transparent, it visually blends into the pavement, taking drivers by surprise.
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Highlights for the Coastal Empire:
➔ The combination of above-freezing temperatures and sunlight will lead to some melting today.
➔ Cold temperatures tonight and Friday night; black ice likely and possible Cold Weather Advisory
➔ Cold weather continues through this weekend.
Black Ice Tonight and Friday Night
● Most of the region received 2-4 inches of snow/sleet Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
● Partial melting will occur this afternoon and again Friday afternoon. Nighttime temps will fall to around 20 degrees. Any melted water on untreated surfaces will refreeze.
● Some freezing rain occurred Tuesday night.
Due to roadway conditions, Savannah’s administrative offices and facilities will remain closed on Friday. In response to forecasted conditions, the City expects to fully reopen on Monday, Jan. 27.
Thursday’s forecast indicates slightly higher temperatures but cloudy skies, according to the National Weather Service. Due to the low temperatures and limited sun, widespread significant melting is not expected. Overnight lows will again dip below freezing with wind chill forecasts in the teens, refreezing snow and ice accumulation.
Many roadways will remain hazardous for travel with compacted snow and black ice. Residents are strongly urged to limit all travel Thursday evening and Friday. Black ice can form following a thaw, refreeze pattern of accumulation on the ground. The thin coat of highly transparent ice is hard to distinguish from dry surfaces. The deceptive nature of black ice can create extremely hazardous conditions on roadways and walking paths.
The City’s Transportation Department fully mobilized on Thursday to clear primary roadways in the city. As assessments of the roadways are made throughout the day, staff will focus a strategic effort on specific hotspots to effectively utilize the supplies and tools available to clear roads.
If travel is necessary, use the WAZE App to find the latest road closures. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) alerts to receive the latest on road closures.
Sanitation routes will be affected by the closures this week. Due to roadway conditions, residential garbage collection, recycling collection, and yard waste collection services have suspended operations through Friday. Operations are expected to resume on Monday, Jan. 27 on a regular schedule. The Bacon Park transfer station and Dean Forest Landfill remain closed. An announcement will be made once the facilities are scheduled to reopen.
The City will reopen the Tompkins Regional Center as a warming center on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Additionally, the City will also open the John Delaware Center, at 7 p.m. Thursday night as a warming center. Both will close Friday morning at 10 a.m. Both centers will assist in providing shelter for the unhoused population in coordination with Chatham County and the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless.
The Cinema Savannah film screening scheduled for this evening at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center has been cancelled.
Live Oak Public Libraries will close all libraries on Friday, Jan. 24. Saturday operations are yet to be determined.
The City’s 311 call center is active. Residents are encouraged to submit requests for services by calling or using the 311SAV App. For emergencies, dial 911.
For winter weather safety tips and updates, visit //savannahga.gov/winterweather and follow the City’s official Facebook page facebook.com/cityofsavannah and Instagram page @cityofsavannah.