While Cherokee County was covered in snow on Tuesday, forecasters expected the wintry weather to be gone by today.

Today's forecast by the National Weather Service calls for partly sunny skies with highs in the mid-40s. By Saturday, highs should reach into more spring-like temperatures in the 60s.

"I don't think you can completely rule out flurries (for today), but flurries are not considered significant. All the significant stuff will end (Tuesday night)," said Brian Lynn, a meteorologist for the weather service. The weather service does not issue forecasts beyond seven days out.

The snow forced an early shut down of schools and government offices across the county.

Cherokee County School District elementary and intermediate schools were closed by 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, and middle and high schools were closed an hour later.

Chattahoochee Technical College's campus in Woodstock and Reinhardt College in Waleska were both closed by noon.

Government offices, courts and centers for Cherokee County and the cities of Canton, Holly Springs, Waleska and Woodstock all closed by noon.

The Sequoyah Regional Library System closed all of its branches at 11 a.m., and the Cherokee County Health Department clinics closed at 11:30 a.m.

Icy and sludgy roads were reported throughout the county, especially in the northeastern section, on Tuesday morning, said Lt. Jay Baker, public information officer for the Cherokee Sheriff's Office.

From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, there were 37 accidents reported throughout the entire county.

"We would have about 10 at this time on a day with normal weather," Baker said.

Snow in the month of March is not common in Cherokee, but it's also not a new phenomenon, he said.

The county received a sprinkling of snow at the beginning of the month last year.

In 1993, the county was buried because of a blizzard from March 12 to 14 that covered most of the region.

Baker said while the weather is expected to warm up today, roads could still be icy early this morning as a result of overnight freezing temperatures.

Along with the snowstorm, came a flurry of shoppers to local stores to stock up on supplies.

David Stone, an executive team leader for the SuperTarget in Canton, said the essentials, such as bread, milk and canned goods, were in big demand on Tuesday.

"We have seen additional foot traffic, especially on the grocery side," he said.