ATLANTA – The winter storm that hit large parts of Georgia Tuesday is over, but state Department of Transportation crews were continuing to treat and plow roads Wednesday in areas that haven’t seen significant snow in decades.

Travel conditions Wednesday morning south of Interstate 20 and south and east of I-85 were hazardous to very dangerous.

“Georgia DOT asks for the public’s patience right now,” state Commissioner of Transportation Russell McMurry said. “This is a highly unusual winter weather event impacting nearly three-quarters of the state, and our crews cannot be everywhere at once. Georgia DOT will need time, ability to access the roads to treat and plow, and warmer temperatures working in our favor to help restore and maintain passable conditions.”

While snow in Georgia typically occurs in the northern mountains south into metro Atlanta, Tuesday’s storm stretched from portions of the metro region south into Middle, South, and Coastal Georgia. Numerous vehicle crashes were reported in those areas, particularly on sections of I-75 south of Atlanta and around the I-16/I-95 interchange in Chatham County.

Schools were closed in the affected areas Wednesday, and the state Capitol complex in downtown Atlanta was closed for the second day in a row.

Motorists were advised to drive with extreme caution and to stay off the roads if possible. Those who do drive were advised to stay at least 100 feet behind DOT trucks treating and plowing the roads.

Temperatures aren’t expected to warm up enough to begin melting the snow and ice until Thursday.