Two years ago, Atlanta officials were criticized for a decision to keep schools and government offices open ahead of a light snowstorm that left thousands of commuters stranded on roads and highways for 12 hours and longer.

In its statements ahead of Friday’s storm, Georgia’s Department of Transportation emphasized the changes it had made in the wake of that episode.

The state said it had 54,030 tons of salt and 65,460 tons of gravel on hand, as well as 450,000 gallons of brine — a salt and water mixture used to treat roads — and more than 380 pieces of snow removal equipment.

In Kentucky, The Associated Press reported that one man had died when his pickup truck slid off a snow-covered road on Thursday.

In North Carolina, Governor Cooper urged people on Friday to stay off the roads during what he called “a significant snow event.” His inaugural activities, scheduled for the weekend, were canceled because of the storm.

The forecast varied widely across the state, where an inch was expected in Lumbarton, and up to nine inches in Durham and Raleigh.