As of Monday evening, Troup County remained just outside of winter weather advisories for Tuesday, but officials are monitoring the forecast just in case it changes, and schools are releasing early in anticipation of overnight temperatures that may result in ice on roadways.

According to Nikole Listemaa, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, no snow accumulation is expected in Troup County. Temperatures aren’t expected to be cold enough as precipitation moves through the state to cause any substantial snowfall.

“We may end up having to add Troup to the weather advisory, but right now you guys are not in the weather advisory,” Listemaa said. “The current forecast calls for you guys to drop to below freezing around 10 p.m., well after the end of the precipitation. You may see a few flakes mixed in with rain, but for the most part, no accumulations because your temperatures stay above freezing while the precipitation is occurring.”

Listemaa said Troup County and surrounding counties will have the potential for black ice on Tuesday night from any lingering moisture on the roadways. Listemaa said black ice will most likely be formed in sheltered or protected areas on the roads, since the forecast also calls for winds.

“Drive slowly because black ice is very difficult to see at night, and be very careful in areas where the roadways are not dry or haven’t dried overnight,” Listemaa said.

James Emery, Troup County director of engineering and development, said his department is watching the forecast carefully and will respond to whatever hazards the weather brings.

“We’re certainly preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” Emery said. “We’re watching the forecast carefully.”

The City of LaGrange is also preparing for wintery weather.

“We have trucks ready and material on site. We have a supply of salt on hand if needed and our staff is on  standby if they are needed,” said Chris Prather, the City of LaGrange public works manager.

The Troup County School System announced Monday afternoon that it will be dismissing middle and high school students at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Elementary school students will be released at their regular time, but all after school activities including ACE, the after-school care program, will be cancelled.

Lafayette Christian School will dismiss middle and high school students at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Elementary school and early learning center students will be dismissed at 2 p.m. All after school activities and after care are canceled. LaGrange Academy had not made a decision to dismiss early as of Monday evening.

Northern portions of Georgia may receive several inches of snow, prompting Gov. Brian Kemp to close government offices in most northern counties. A winter storm warning has been issued for several northwest counties, while Atlanta and western portions of Georgia remain under a winter storm advisory.

According to a Georgia Department of Transportation press release, maintenance crews brined interstates and state routes in west central Georgia on Monday night, and at 7 a.m. Tuesday, they will begin spreading rock salt on the district’s overpasses and bridges

For updates on local weather, visit The LaGrange Daily News on Facebook or at Lagrangenews.com.