Winter storm causes wrecks, gridlock in the South

ATLANTA (AP):

THE MAD rush began at the first sight of snow: Across the Atlanta area, schools let out early and commuters left for home after lunch, instantly creating gridlock so severe that security guards and doormen took to the streets to direct cars amid a cacophony of blaring horns.

Highways surrounding the city that rarely sees snow were converted into treacherous paths of ice Tuesday, causing hundreds of cars to slide off the road, slam into each other, or crawl bumper to bumper in gridlock. Children were stranded at schools with their teachers, while Governor Nathan Deal made a late-night announcement that he would send state troopers to rescue them.

rescue efforts

Deal said state and local officials also would try to rescue those stranded along highways that were at a standstill even close to midnight.

The rare Southern winter storm dropped more than three inches of snow in some areas of north Georgia, while 2.3 inches were recorded at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport after hours of snowfall Tuesday afternoon and evening, said National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Willis.