Very light snow flurries briefly returned to the Smyrna-Vinings area Tuesday afternoon as outside-the-home productivity continues to be crippled by the winter storm.

Temperatures did creep just above the freezing mark and major streets in the area have become more passable with the formation of more defined lanes to travel in. But smaller and side streets, as well as bridges, remain icy slick and local safety officials continue to urge citizens to refrain from driving unless absolutely necessary.

“The ice is deceiving,’’ said Smyrna Deputy Fire Chief Roy Acree. “People see South Cobb Drive and there may be a clear area, but everywhere else it’s not. The major thoroughfares are getting better, but the other roads are still solid ice.

“It’s day three, day two and people get a little stir crazy and want to get in their car. They think the roads are better; then there’s an accident and we get overwhelmed with calls.’’

While much of the metro Atlanta remains shut down on Tuesday, Smyrna’s Emergency Operations Center has been fully staffed since Sunday afternoon and will remain so at least until Wednesday afternoon according to Acree.

Georgia Department of Transportation workers continue to lay salt on major roads and the hope is that warming temperatures Tuesday will help improve the transportation issue. That’s because colder temperatures are set to blow in again.

It will be breezy tonight with lows near 20 degrees and it’s not expected to reach freezing on Wednesday. Thursday’s predicted high will be just 32 with a low of 12.

Not all storm-related news was bad as ice damage was very limited and locally no one has lost power as of Tuesday afternoon.

“Thankfully we dodged a bullet with the ice,’’ Acree said. “We didn’t get any on the trees or power lines.’’

But the area does still have its share of abandoned vehicles, and plenty of those from all ages who haven’t tired yet of sledding and sliding on the ice. That is unless you fell accidently and it appears there were several of those falls.

Smyrna and Cobb County government offices along with all local schools were closed Tuesday for a second straight day. Check back with Smyrna Patch throughout Tuesday to learn of Wednesday’s closings.

Most local businesses were closed on Monday, while many restaurants did not have their doors open for Monday night’s BCS National Championship Game. More establishments were opening Tuesday with the Smyrna Target on Cobb Parkway open until at least 4 p.m.

A quick survey in Vinings revealed businesses open including New York Pizza Exchange, Einstein Bros Bagels, Subway, Rite Aid and the QuickTrip. In the Smyrna Market Village, Atkins Park is open after being closed Monday.

Still, the Smyrna Best Buy was closed Tuesday and eateries such as Noche Vinings and South City Kitchen did not open for business for a second straight day. Tonight’s Campbell High basketball games against visiting Harrison High will be made up at a later date.

From home, several locals tweeted and facebooked their frustrations concerning being cooped up inside another day with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Still, there were others who ventured outside and were making the best of the day.

“I’m from Michigan, so I love this,’’ beamed Pamela Pimpleton at the intersection of Cumberland Parkway and Paces Ferry Rd. “This is great.’’

At the nearby Publix, many of the shelves, especially in the milk and produce sections were empty or thinning. But James Etienne, a four-year worker at the store and six-year Publix employee, was big smiles as he replenished the eggs.

“It’s my birthday,’’ the 29-year-old Etienne said. “It gets crazy in here sometimes, but today it’s all good.’’