Snow, freezing drizzle accumulates in Nashville and Middle TN
Snow has begun to accumulate as another round of winter weather moves into Middle Tennessee, the National Weather Service reported.
Flurries were seen in Wilson County and across Nashville starting around 4 p.m. The NWS in Nashville tweeted that accumulation had begun at their offices in Mt. Juliet around 4:15 p.m.
THURSDAY UPDATES:Nashville, Middle TN awakens to more snow; winter storm warning continues
At 7 p.m. NWS shared a video to Twitter of heavy snow falling.
"The snow globe has arrived," the tweet said.
Three to four inches of snow are possible in Nashville and two to three inches are expected in other areas including Clarksville and Columbia. After reaching a high of 31 on Wednesday, temperatures will dip to 28 overnight.
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will continue throughout the night, but will switch mostly to snow on Thursday morning, forecasts show.
A winter storm warning has been issued through 6 p.m. Thursday. The NWS reported that the Wednesday night storm will likely compound travel issues and increase power outages.
With temperatures barely cresting freezing over the next few days, the snow and ice will likely not melt until Saturday.
COLD STRETCH:When will the snow and ice melt in Nashville?
People are being asked to avoid all non-essential travel Wednesday and Thursday. The warning comes on the heels of a winter storm that blew through the region Monday, pelting everything in its path with freezing rain, sleet and ice.
RELATED:How much snow, sleet and ice does Nashville, Middle Tennessee have so far?
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville remains activated, staffed to monitor weather, road conditions, and address any major safety needs. Meanwhile, a state of emergency remained.
Jack-knifed truck closes I-40 in Lebanon
A jack-knifed truck has closed Interstate 40 in Lebanon, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The wreck was reported around 7:45 p.m. near the 840 interchange and is expected to be cleared by 9:30 p.m. A Tennessee Department of Transportation map showed lanes were closed in both directions on I-40.
"Traffic is diverting off at the 236 exit and back down the ramp at the 236," the THP said. "Please use caution in the area."
Metro facilities, schools closed Thursday
All non-essential Metro Nashville-Davidson County facilities will be closed Thursday due to the weather. Dozens of Middle Tennessee schools also will be closed Thursday, including Metro Nashville Public Schools.
View the complete list of school closures here.
Nashville vaccination sites closed Thursday
The Davidson County COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Music City Center will be closed again Thursday due to the weather. The Metro Public Health Department said provided the following details on rescheduling:
- If you were scheduled to receive your first dose Feb. 16, 17, or 18 then you’ll be contacted to reschedule.
- If you were scheduled to receive you second does Feb. 16, 17 or 18 then come any day that we are open.
Gov. Lee closes state offices Thursday
Gov. Bill Lee closed dozens of state offices across West and Middle Tennessee on Thursday, citing hazardous weather and travel conditions. Closures include Cheatham, Davidson, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson County, among others.
MTSU closed rest of week
Middle Tennessee State University will be closed Thursday and Friday because of the weather.
TDOT crews use 20,000 tons of salt on Middle Tennessee roads
Tennessee Department of Transportation crews have logged over 117,000 miles clearing and treating roadways across 26 counties in Middle Tennessee, using 20,000 tons of salt.
Crews cleared most interstates and highways.
Biden offers federal assistance to Tennessee
President Joe Biden on Tuesday offered federal assistance to states dealing with severe winter weather, including Tennessee, The Associated Press reported.
He made the pledge to at least seven states while on a call with governors.
The White House says Biden told governors that he and his wife are praying for their citizens and pledged to deploy federal emergency resources as needed.
TEMA: 12,000 without power across state
TEMA reports that 12,000 people across Tennessee are without power due to the ongoing winter storms.
The following counties have significant power outages:
- 6,500 customers combined in Putnam, Overton and Jackson Counties
- 2,300 customers in Bedford County
- 1,300 customers in Coffee County
- 1,000 customers in Fentress County
- 500 customers in Moore County
TEMA reports fourth winter related death from storm
Early Wednesday afternoon, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday reported a fourth winter storm related fatality.
There have been two fatalities in Shelby County, one fatality in Maury County and one fatality in Williamson County.
Child dies in sledding accident
A 9-year-old child in Brentwood has died after a sledding accident Tuesday afternoon on Seward Road.
According to police, the child was being pulled on a tube by an ATV driven by their father, who slammed into a mailbox.
The incident marked the second reported sledding accident to occur in Williamson County. A 3-year-old in Franklin plunged into the Harpeth River Tuesday while sledding and was rescued by their mother.
Weather forces Nashville schools to push back some students' return to classroom
The weather is forcing Metro Nashville Public Schools to delay some middle and high school students' return to the classroom.
Students in grades 5 and 9 were set to return to schools in-person on Thursday for the first time since last March, but this week's winter storm has schools closed.
Schools and all child care programs will remain closed on Thursday. After-school activities and sporting events are also canceled.
Metro Schools will then shift to virtual learning for all grades on Friday with schools that were open before the storm expected to reopen in-person on Monday.
Slick road conditions, wrecks across Nashville, Middle TN
Hundreds of wrecks have taken place across Middle Tennessee over the last 72 hours, according to information from Nashville police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
As if 10:30 a.m., Nashville police and Nashville Fire Department crews were responding to about a half-dozen injury and property damage crashes in Nashville.
Meanwhile, a jack-knifed tractor trailer had State Route 265 closed in both directions in Wilson County near Gailynn Marie Drive. It was not immediately known when the roadway would reopen.
Earlier, about 6 a.m., crews responded to a flipped vehicle on Interstate 65 north just south of Briley Parkway, the Tennessee Department of Transportation reported.
It was not immediately known if anyone was hurt.
SAFETY TIPS:Road conditions around Tennessee aren't great right now. If you have to drive, here are some tips
On Tuesday crashes shut down portions of the interstate system including a single-vehicle crash that took place Tuesday on Interstate 24 near the Haywood Lane.
Nashville police reported a person was critically injured in the crash.
Motorist were being asked to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel on Wednesday and Thursday.
Winter storm warning issued
A new winter storm warning is in effect for areas including Nashville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Dickson and Waverly from 6 p.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Thursday.
Previously a winter storm watch was slated to start at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
A winter storm warning indicates that heavy snow of at least 6 inches in 12 hours, or at least 8 inches in 24 hours, is expected. It can also be issued if sleet accumulation will be at least half an inch.
Power outages reported across region
Thousands of people have lost power across Middle Tennessee over the past several days.
As of Wednesday morning, power had been restored to most customers with the Nashville Electric Service, Middle Tennessee Electric and the Cumberland Electric Membership Company and no new major outages had been reported.
Metro Health closures including COVID-19 testing, vaccination locations
All COVID-19 Community Assessment Centers operated by Meharry Medical College, including at Nissan Stadium, will remain closed this week, said Nashville Fire Department and Nashville Office of Emergency Management spokesman Joseph Pleasant.
The Metro Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at the Music City Center is also closed Wednesday.
"The vaccine is being stored, is safe and none is going to waste," Pleasant said. "People who had an appointment February 16 or 17 will be called to reschedule."
Those who had an appointment for their second dose should come back any day when the vaccine clinic is open, he said.
All MPHD clinics will be closed and Metro Animal Care and Control will be operating on call for emergencies.
Davidson County facilities, schools closed
All non-essential Metro Nashville-Davidson County facilities will be closed Wednesday due to the weather.
Dozens of Middle Tennessee schools also will be closed Wednesday including Metro Nashville Public Schools.
WeGo to begin Wednesday with limited routes
WeGo Public Transit will begin the service day on Wednesday at 4:06 a.m., and staff will assess road conditions for opportunities to add additional service throughout the day.
For more information follow WeGo Public Transit on social media (@WeGoTransit), and visit WeGoTransit.com’s snow route schedule page for continuous updates.
Customers can also check one of the mobile real-time information tools such as Google Transit or the Transit App, or all WeGo Customer Care at 615-862-5950 for detailed information and service updates.
State legislature halts session
The winter weather has also put a halt on Tennessee’s legislative session.
The in-person session is canceled for the remainder of the week, and the Cordell Hull Building will be closed, according to a Twitter announcement from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.
Lawmakers and staff members are encouraged to work from home, he said.
Nashville weather radar
Nashville three-day forecast
Wednesday: Snow expected mainly after 3 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 32. Overnight low: 28.
Thursday: Snow and freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Overnight low: 17
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Overnight low: 11
The Associated Press contributed.
Natalie Neysa Alund is based in Nashville at The Tennessean and covers breaking news across the south for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.