Snow — as much as 4 inches in some pockets — blanketed Middle Tennessee overnight, and residents woke to a wind chill around zero degrees on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A winter storm warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
NWS Meteorologist Sam Shamburger says the snow will stick around for a few days, making travel difficult.
“Any snow that falls will probably not melt until Wednesday and Thursday because of the cold temperatures, and on top of all this going on, we’re seeing indications that more snow could arrive late Thursday into early Friday,” he said.
Monday’s high is expected to be around 20 degrees, with wind chills near or below zero. It’s unlikely we’ll have temperatures above freezing at any point before Wednesday afternoon.
Among the storm impacts developing on Monday morning:
- roads are snow-packed, making travel difficult
- more than a dozen WeGo bus routes are on their snow detours
- the Natchez Trace Parkway is closed between Nashville and Mississippi
- many school districts around Middle Tennessee are already announcing closures for Tuesday, including: Metro Nashville, Cheatham, Dickson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, and Wilson counties
- and MLK Day marches in both Nashville and Murfreesboro have been called off
Tony Gonzalez WPLN News (File)A Metro plow turns onto James Robertson Parkway on Monday. Roads were sloshy and snow-packed after more than 2 inches fell overnight.
The weather service said that, as the snow would be falling into a very cold air mass, it would likely result in a “fluffier” type of snow than Middle Tennessee is used to seeing. The snowfall so far has been dry and powdery, so NWS says it’s unlikely to cause major power outages, though it will impact roads. That is the case as of early Monday.
Snow is expected to continue until Tuesday morning, with accumulations up to 4 inches in Nashville, and up to 8 inches in areas like Smithville and Crossville. It will likely stick around for a few days, until the clouds clear on Wednesday.
Here is a look at the latest timing loop of the snow. #TNwx pic.twitter.com/mKQ6xSGqB4
— NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) January 14, 2024
Along with the snow, freezing temperatures will also stick around most of the week, with the most dangerous cold occurring Monday and Tuesday. According to NWS, this will be the coldest weather the Nashville area has seen since the Christmas cold snap more than a year ago.
On Sunday, the official snowfall measurement at Nashville International Airport was 1.3 inches, which was near (but below) an all-time record for Jan. 14.
Useful information in case of a freeze
As snow and ice makes roads dangerous, the WeGo bus system has dropped more than a dozen of its routes to their snow detours, which are detailed here.
Several Middle Tennessee communities offer emergency shelter when temperatures are dangerously frigid. Metro Nashville opens its extreme weather shelter on Brick Church Pike. The National Weather Service recommends that shelters extend their hours, given that the frigid temperatures are continuing into the daytime.
Tony Gonzalez WPLN NewsUp to 4 inches of snow fell overnight in Nashville, prompting numerous cancellations.
Rutherford County also offers cold weather shelters at several Murfreesboro churches, divided according to gender, with separate facilities for people with children.
In past cold weather events, the city of Clarksville has partnered with nonprofits to offer similar shelter space.
Tennessee offers assistance to those needing help affording their heating costs in cold weather, through a program known as LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). A list of local agencies administering the assistance program can be found here.
In Nashville, those needing help with energy bills should contact the Metropolitan Action Commission.
Freeze preparation at home
There are several precautions around the house that can be taken to protect the structure and garden.
Freezing temperatures can lead to frozen pipes. Opening the doors of cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks allows more warm air to circulate around those pipes. Leaving faucets on a slight drip keeps water moving, so that it is less likely to freeze.
Some things to do today to prep for the extreme cold…
✅Make sure the animals under your care have access to appropriate shelter/warmth/non-frozen drinking water, etc.
✅Disconnect garden hoses from spigots. Cover spigots, particularly those that are not frost-proof spigots.…
— NashSevereWx (@NashSevereWx) January 13, 2024
Outside, wrap outdoor faucets and drain hoses and rain barrels before the freeze sets in.
Covering plants and shrubs with cloth (not plastic, which can damage foliage) offers a degree of protection. Well-watered soil and thick mulch offer more effective help by insulating root systems.
This post was last updated Monday at 11:00 a.m.
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