Six weather-related deaths reported by TEMA
A bit more snow is possible across Middle Tennessee Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
That added to the 1.5 to 2 inches of snow and sleet that already accumulated throughout the week, NWS Nashville meteorologist James LaRosa said.
Nashville saw between 2 and 3 inches, while areas further west and south saw 3 to 4. Waynesboro received between 4 and 6 inches, and Clarksville accumulated between 1 and 2.
Another round of winter weather may bring ice and up to an additional inch of snow, NWS said.
A winter weather advisory expired Thursday night.
DRIVING SAFE:Road conditions around Tennessee aren't great right now. If you have to drive, here are some tips
Officials urged caution if travel was absolutely essential, recommending keeping an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency. The latest road conditions can also be found by calling 511.
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?
MPHD clinics closed Friday
Metro Public Health Department clinics and facilities will be closed Friday. The coronavirus vaccination clinic at Music City Center will be closed, too.
TEMA: Six weather-related deaths reported
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reports that as of Thursday evening, six people have died across the state due to the weather.
The following deaths have occurred across the state:
- Two fatalities in Shelby County
- One fatality in Maury County
- One fatality in Williamson County
- One fatality in Dickson County
- One fatality in Overton County
In Brentwood, a 9-year-old boy died during a sledding accident. A 10-year-old boy died near Millington while trying to rescue his sister from an icy pond.
TEMA:12,000 without power
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reports that as of Thursday evening, 12,000 people across the state are without power.
Those who use Upper Cumberland Electrical Membership Corp. will be without power for at least two days, TEMA reported.
- 200 customers in Fentress County
- 2,800 customers in Bedford County (Duck River EMC)
- 650 customers in Coffee County (Duck River EMC)
- 150 customers in Moore County (Duck River EMC)
- 5,000 customers in Putnam County (Upper Cumberland EMC)
- 1,800 customers in Overton County (Upper Cumberland EMC)
- 1,500 customers in Jackson County (Upper Cumberland EMC)
I-65 closed in two places for wrecks
Northbound lanes of I-65 were shut down near Saturn Parkway due to another wrecked tractor-trailer as of 10:15 a.m., the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said.
Further north, northbound lanes on I-65 were also closed in Robertson County near the 257/Bethel Road exit. The wreck was reported around 10:30 a.m.
It was not immediately clear when those two stretches of I-65 would reopen.
A jack-knifed truck and "extreme ice" shut down Interstate 65 near the Interstate 840 exchange in Williamson County for several hours early Thursday morning. Southbound lanes are now reopened, according to WCSO.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported icy conditions and a vehicle that slid off the road near Joe Jackson Parkway in I-24 in Rutherford County around 8:30 a.m. Several wrecks were also reported near the Main Street exit in Cross Plains in Robertson County, THP said. Bridges in the area were reportedly icy, according to THP.
"Please use caution as Troopers work to clear the crashes," the THP said in a tweet.
Several other weather-related wrecks were reported across Davidson, Rutherford and Robertson County as of 11 a.m. as crews worked to clear scenes
NFD: 12 rescued off boats after dock roof collapse
The Nashville Fire Department reported that 12 people, including children, were rescued off boats at Old Hickory Lake after the roof of a dock collapsed. Overnight temperatures dipped to a low of 28. Nobody was injured and the Coast Guard will be on the scene to conduct an investigation later today, according to NFD spokesperson Kendra Loney.
Road conditions 'passable,' but may be slick
The Tennessee Highway Patrol warned that roads were still very slick around Nashville and Middle Tennessee on Thursday.
"If you have to be out, please use extreme caution," the THP said in a tweet.
Around 6:20 a.m. the Tennessee Department of Transportation said that most interstates were "passable" with at least one or two lanes open.
"Crews will be working on clearing interstate ramps and then move to secondary routes," TDOT spokesperson Kathryn Schulte said in a tweet.
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.
Nashville three main drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites are also closed through the week and expected to reopen for their regular hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday.
Nashville three-day forecast
Thursday: Chance of snow and freezing rain before throughout the day. Cloudy. High: 33; Low: 17
Friday: Mostly cloudy, gradually becoming sunny. High: 32; Low: 12
Saturday: Sunny. High: 39; Low: 22
Nashville-area radar
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.
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 as of Wednesday.
Crews cleared most interstates and highways.
Metro applies 6,000 tons of salt
Teams with Metro’s Office of Emergency Management continued their evening patrols Wednesday to distribute cold-weather supplies and transport people to shelter. So far, they’ve distributed more than 200 blankets.
Metro Public Works crews also continued to work in 12-hour shifts, assisting emergency response vehicles and plowing and salting 1,800 lane miles of roadway across Nashville. As of Wednesday night, Metro Public Works had used an estimated 6,000 tons of salt, with nearly 3,000 tons left.
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.
Child dies in sledding accident
A 9-year-old child in Brentwood 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.