Schools, daycares and offices closed ahead of the storm and governors once again declared states of emergency. The most intense part of the storm stretched from north Texas eastward to North Carolina and Virginia. Snow accumulations could be 6 to 8 inches or higher in some places.
North Georgia is expected to get 4 to 6 inches with a Winter Storm Warning still in place from the mountains to the south metro Atlanta area.
In Gainesville, the snow started about mid-afternoon and by nightfall had covered the ground in most places and was beginning to accumulate on some roads.
Some kids, out of school all day and waiting patiently for the white stuff to start falling, wasted no time once there was a coating on the nearest hill in dusting off their sleds.
Gov. Nathan Deal said he was very confident in the state's preparations.
Following a January 2014 ice storm that crippled metro Atlanta, Deal convened a task force to make recommendations of how to better prepare. He said at a news conference Wednesday state agencies have ably handled three weather situations in the last 10 days.
"I believe the lesson we are learning even of this morning as we noted the smaller volume of traffic on the interstates is that the public is willing to be a participating partner," he said.
Winter weather has led to flight delays at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Federal Aviation Administration officials say a ground delay is in effect at Atlanta's airport Wednesday evening as snow and rain continue moving through north Georgia.
FAA officials say a ground delay means flights that have been held because of severe weather may not depart from Atlanta until they're given clearance. Officials say the delay times are calculated to ensure a steady flow of air traffic.
FAA air traffic control command center officials say some flights arriving to Atlanta have been delayed by an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes. A ground stop had been implemented at the airport Wednesday afternoon, which could impact schedules for flights departing from Atlanta.
Georgia lawmakers were working on a shortened schedule Wednesday at the Capitol in Atlanta. House Speaker David Ralston urged long-winded members to "disincline yourself" ahead of the ice or snow.
"The key word is going to be `with dispatch,'" Ralston said, referring to legislators speaking quickly and effectively.
Georgia delayed the execution of its only female death row inmate because of the approaching winter weather. Kelly Renee Gissendaner, 46, had been scheduled to die at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Gissendaner was convicted of murder in the February 1997 slaying of her husband. Prosecutors said she plotted with her boyfriend in the killing.
The execution has been rescheduled for Monday.
The impact of the storm that was bringing all the snow to Georgia was being felt elsewhere in the South and up the Eastern Seabord.
ABSENT TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says he gave advance approval for his transportation secretary to travel out of state for a book tour ahead of a deadly snow storm.
Transportation Secretary Tony Tata flew out Monday evening to Chicago to attend an event to promote his latest thriller novel. McCrory said Tata had scheduled the day off and was still available by phone to help coordinate the response effort.
Tata was back in North Carolina on Wednesday.
Tuesday's snow began to fall hours earlier than what forecasters predicted and DOT crews had not yet treated many interstates and highways with salt. Two people died in separate accidents.
SLEET FALLS ON ALABAMA
About 55 miles northeast of Birmingham in Etowah County, Josie Hicks fretted about the safety of her 3-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son.
Hicks said the pipes already were frozen at the family's apartment in Attalla, and she was worried the power could go out. So with sleet already bouncing off car hoods outside, Nicks made a quick trip to Walmart for milk, bread and other food that didn't have to be cooked, and 1-gallon jugs of water.
"I wouldn't mind having some snow for the babies to play in but I don't want them to be freezing," said Hicks. "I'm worried about my babies being warm."
ARE YOU DELIVERING?
The manager of a sandwich shop in Shreveport, Louisiana, says it's been delivering more food this week because of the bad weather.
"The first question asked when you answer the phone is `Are you delivering?'" according to Alli Walsh, who manages a Jimmy John's in Shreveport.
Walsh said she has up to six delivery workers who are running multiple orders at a time. Shreveport could get up to 3 inches of snow.
TRAFFIC PILEUP
Near Bangor, Maine, 75 vehicles got tangled up in a series of chain-reaction pileups on a snowy stretch of Interstate 95, injuring at least 17 people.
The crashes started stacking up about 7:30 a.m. and involved several cars, a school bus and a tractor-trailer. At least 50 vehicles had to be towed from the scene, and state police said it was the largest crash in more than 15 years.
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