Weather update for Thursday, Feb. 6

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  • The Chattahoochee River in Helen was raging earlier today. A flood warning has been issued until 7:45 p.m. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
    The Chattahoochee River in Helen was raging earlier today. A flood warning has been issued until 7:45 p.m. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
  • The sinkhole behind Anytime Fitness. (Photo courtesy of White County Public Safety)
    The sinkhole behind Anytime Fitness. (Photo courtesy of White County Public Safety)
  • Sandy Flatts Road was damaged on Thursday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy White County Public Safety)
    Sandy Flatts Road was damaged on Thursday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy White County Public Safety)
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Friday UPDATE: According to David Murphy, White County officials are continuing to assess the damages from flooding on Thursday, Feb. 6. The assessments will continue. All roads have reopened, except for Sandy Flats Road between Far Winds and the Lumpkin County line. This road will be closed for major repairs until further notice. 

"Other roadways may have places that will need repairs, however, they are passible. Caution is recommended if you are traveling a roadway with suspected damage," Murphy said.

Anytime Fitness, 1801 Hwy 129 South in Cleveland, was forced to close on Thursday due to a sinkhole that developed behind the building, Murphy said. He added there there were some damages to the outside of the building and to some utility support to the building. 


5 p.m. UPDATE: According to David Murphy, the following roads are still closed:

  • Charlie Thomas Rd @ Bridge
  • Sandy Flats Rd from Far Winds Rd to Lumpkin County Line
  • Bottoms Rd off SR17
  • Lynch Mountain Rd from House# 234 to Bridge
  • Roy Powers Road near Bridge

The following weather alerts are in effect:

  • Flash Flood Watch until Feb. 7, at 7 a.m.
  • Flood Warning until Feb. 6, at 7:45 p.m.

The following damage has been reported:

  • Sink Hole and wash out, AnyTime Fitness, 1801 US Hwy 129S, Cleveland
  • Residential fire reported 50 Eagle Ridge Trail. There was a kitchen fire that was quickly extinguished. 

In his report, Murphy said that some rain is expected to continue and that runoff will continue to causes issues for the next few hours. There are some roads that are damaged, but passible. Report any issues to 911 and do not drive over flooded roads. 


3:30 p.m. UPDATE: White County School System will be on a 2 hour delay tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 7, for both students and staff. If a student is normally picked up at 7 a.m., they will then get picked up at 9 a.m. instead. The decision came based on a recommendation from David Murphy since high winds are expected tomorrow morning and could cause unsafe road and travel conditions.


There are several road closures following the weather today, Thursday, Feb. 6.  

According to White County Public Safety Director David Murphy, flooding is the main threat at this time. The following road are closed or experiencing issues:

  • Rodney Nix Road,
  • Airport Road between Post and Allen Anderson,
  • Bean Creek Road between Gold Valley and 255 N is flooding
  • Hwy 115 West in the area of Long Mtn Road is flooding with reported damage to the roadway
  • Charlie Thomas at the bridge
  • Joe Franklin in the area of house # 880 is impassible
  • Smith Road, Sandy Flatts between Far Winds and County Line
  • Bottoms Road off Hwy 17,
  • Bean Creek between Gold Valley and Holbert
  • Ford at South Fern Cove off Skylake Rd. is flooded and unsafe to pass

All throughout the county flooding is being reported with travel hazards, including at Lynch Mountain Road in the area of 258 and Harkins Road off Kellum Valley at the forge. Murphy said to not cross Harkins Road due to 5-6 inches of fast moving water with debris.

Murphy said that as of 6 a.m., the following incidents have been reported:

  • multiple trees down across the county
  • three reported residential fires from lightning strikes, with no major damage to two of the structures.

He added that White County is continuing to monitor the weather conditions and that White County Fire Stations were manned until 2 p.m. There have been no additional fires reported and no major accident have occurred.

The White County School System and EMA have been in contact in regards to bus schedules and travel, Murphy said. 

Murphy said that agencies are continuing to respond to flooding across the county, with major impacts occurring northwest to northeast of Cleveland. The river flood gauge in Helen is out of service. Light to moderate is continuing. 

The rain is expected to continue, and runoff will continue to effect roadways and low lying areas. There are some roads that are damaged, but passible with caution, Murphy said. He also reminded people to not drive through flooded roadways, and to turn around, don't drown. 

Check out the Facebook live we did from the Chattahoochee River in Helen earlier today.