The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 14 fatalities related to the winter storm. Five people have died in Shelby County, two in Washington, and one each in Hickman, Madison, Carroll, Knox, Van Buren, Lauderdale and Henry counties.

Power problems

About 11,000 Tennesseans began their morning Wednesday without power. That includes 1,800 in Putnam County and about 600 in Maury County.

As the very cold temperatures continue to put a strain on the electric grid, the Tennessee Valley Authority is still encouraging people to conserve power where possible. That includes measures such as washing dishes by hand, postponing laundry, and preparing food in small appliances like toaster ovens, microwaves and air fryers. Keeping the thermostat set to a temperature between 65 and 68 degrees will also lessen the electric draw and lower the chance of your HVAC system switching into emergency heat mode, which makes a very high – and costly – power draw.

Record low temps

Rachel Iacovone WPLN News (File)

Snow blankets the area around the Nashville International Airport.

Frigid weather overnight set new temperature records for several Tennessee communities. The National Weather Service says Sparta, McMinville and Shelbyville all dropped to -11 F. That’s the coldest temperature in those locations since February 1996.

The official Nashville temp is measured at the airport. It dropped below zero to -1 F around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. That matches the coldest temperature during the pre-Christmas cold snap just over a year ago, and it’s only the second time BNA has fallen below zero in the last 28 years. 

Road concerns

Many major roads in Nashville have been cleared, but secondary roads and neighborhood streets are generally still covered and dangerous.

For that reason, Nashville’s Department of Transportation continues to ask residents to avoid driving if they can, especially at night. The agency says black ice will be a problem every night until temperatures go above freezing.  That will not happen until later in the week. All the snow and ice that becomes slushy during the day will re-freeze and harden in the evenings. 

We are receiving lots of reports of people riding ATVs on interstates and state routes.  ATVs are not allowed to be driven on interstates or state routes in Tennessee.

— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT) January 16, 2024

Some Tennesseans are taking things too far in the winter weather. A tweet from a Department of Transportation official in East Tennessee says there have been multiple reports of people riding ATVs on state highways. He says this poses a danger to the road crews, other vehicles, and the ATV drivers themselves. State law generally limits use of ATVs to private property and small streets — regardless of the weather.

Water issues

As of Wednesday morning, Metro Water had identified four active or possible water main breaks. Two are near Nolensville Road — on Old Hickory Boulevard and Cedarmont Drive. Another is on Polk Avenue, near Murfreesboro Road. And crews are working to repair a water main on Forrest Acres near Radnor Lake.

Metro Nashville Public Schools has received two reports of burst pipes at Maplewood High and Henry C. Maxwell Elementary School. Maintenance teams are responding to those reports and checking other schools for potential issues.  

Spokesperson Sean Braisted said the district has multiple ways of monitoring for burst pipes, including water flow alarms in some schools.

“That’s not something unusual when you get temperatures this cold, but we hope to see everything addressed and ready for school as soon as we get back in session,” he said.

The earliest students will return to classrooms is Monday. MNPS has cancelled classes through the end of the week.

Braisted said teachers are familiar with how to handle disruptions like the one caused by this week’s winter storm. However, he said that makes it all the more important that students get to school on time when classes resume.

Shelter and food

School is also a place many students rely on for meals. The district partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to distribute food boxes at five schools ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Schools have not been able to provide food assistance since then. Braisted said families in need of food should call the United Way’s helpline at 211.

The city will continue to operate the Extreme Cold Weather Overflow Shelter until at least Thursday morning. Since Saturday, Metro Police say they’ve checked on 173 unhoused people and that 18 of those people accepted rides to a shelter. Separately, the Office of Homeless Services is canvassing known encampments and distributing food to people who choose to stay.

Fun in the freeze

Blaise Gainey WPLN News

People try to build a snowman with powdery snow in Murfreesboro.

In Murfreesboro, one family was using the day off to enjoy the weather. The mother said she’s accustomed to the snow being from Michigan, but this sizable amount is new to her children.

“So, try to take them out and enjoy. Not for too long at a time because it can get a little cold for them especially when you don’t have great gloves and great boots,” she said, watching her two daughters make snow angels.

Her kids attempted to make snowballs, but the snow was too powdery. Their mom says if the next snow is stickier, she’ll be right there helping her kids build a snowman.

WPLN’s Blaise Gainey and Alexis Marshall contributed to this report.