Winter weather advisory issued for Middle Tennessee
A winter weather advisory has been issued for Middle Tennessee for early Wednesday when a storm system is expected to bring a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the area.
National Weather Service forecasters say the Midstate could see up to an inch of snow and at least one tenth of an inch of ice accumulation. Major impact to travel is expected Wednesday morning and commuters are encouraged to remain weather aware and be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibility.
The winter weather advisory will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday. Forecasters say periods of snow, sleet or freezing rain will cause travel difficulties and may prompt a winter storm warning.
As of 7 a.m. the temperature was 13 degrees in Nashville. The windchill was 5 degrees.
But the weather is expected to start heating up a tad mid morning, NWS Meteorologist Matt Reagan said.
The high expected Tuesday is 29 degrees in Nashville.
The storm system comes after an artic airmass has settled over the region, keeping temperatures below freezing through Wednesday night. Areas closer to the Cumberland Plateau will see the brunt of this system, with 1 to 3 inches of snow possible.
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Temperatures will rise above freezing Wednesday afternoon, reaching a highs in the mid-thirties, which should doom any ice accumulation.
Snow could be possible later in the week though. Starting as rain Thursday, the National Weather Service says cold air will turn that precipitation into snow by Friday morning. Forecasters say snow accumulations will be possible.
Metro Nashville Public Schools posted on social media that it will make a decision whether to close schools for the day by 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.
If a closure is announced, the district will do it for the entire 553-square-mile district. The district can’t close by cluster due to the number of students going to school outside their cluster, said Fred Carr, chief operations officer.
“About 25 percent of our kids go outside their zone,” he said.
