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The first winter storm of 2024 began its sweep through the state Sunday into Monday morning, bringing mounting precipitation and hazardous conditions.
Temperatures across the area remain in “dangerous” lows, according to the Nashville Weather Service’s statement on social media, and are not expected to climb above freezing until Thursday.
National Weather Service meteorologists say colder temperatures mean the snow will not melt until the region gets sunshine on Wednesday, and Thursday when temperatures rise above freezing.
Snow will gradually end Monday afternoon and evening, giving snow plows opportunities to clear roadways for motorists.
Wind chills are expected to dip to minus 2 degrees Monday night in Nashville while values will be near or below zero Tuesday and Wednesday night, according to NWS forecasts.
The Nashville Weather Service’s winter storm warning will continue until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Additional snow is possible Thursday night into Friday with little to no accumulation.
More:First snow of 2024 blankets Nashville area as frigid weather settles in across Middle Tennessee
Dickson County Schools to remain closed all week
Dickson County Schools announced that schools would remain closed through the rest of this week in a phone call to parents late Monday.
The district is the first to cancel classes for the whole week. Most districts have announced closures for Tuesday and Wednesday.
In a message earlier Monday, Robertson County Schools said officials would continue to assess the situation and would make decisions about future closures at a later time.
Ground stop issued for Nashville International Airport
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for Nashville International Airport because of the weather.
“For ongoing flight updates, please check with your respective airline on your flight status,” the airport said.
The stop lifted at 5:15 p.m.
Community assistance helps hundreds of unhoused people in Nashville
Nearly 300 people and five pets were housed Sunday at Nashville’s community shelters.
More than 300 free WeGo bus passes were given to those at shelters, including Nashville Rescue Mission, Room in the Inn and the extreme cold weather overflow shelter.
Emergency Management field responders and emergency services responded to 35 vedhicle assists, 20 citizen assists and checked 9 camps for unhoused people, spokesperson Joseph Pleasant said.
While out Sunday and Monday, responders handed out 205 blankets, 185 pairs of gloves and 185 hats, Pleasant said.
Snow accumulations mount as more snow falls
Updated snowfall totals from the National Weather Service in Nashville show some areas reporting as much as eight inches of snow on the ground as the flakes continue to fall Monday afternoon.
Here are some of the most noteworthy totals as of 2 p.m. Monday:
- Nashville International Airport: 5 inches
- Metro Nashville: 4-6 inches depending on location
- Hendersonville: 3.8-7.5 inches, depending on location
- Antioch: 6.7 inches
- Berry Hill: 4.5 inches
- Lawrenceburg: 5 inches
- Hermitage: 5.7 inches
- Franklin: 3 inches
- Belle Meade: 5.5 inches
- Lebanon: 5 inches
- Dickson: up to 8 inches in Northeast Dickson.
More traffic woes amid snow, freezing temps
Interstate 65 South was closed between Millersville and White House with traffic backing up past the White House area due to an earlier overturned vehicle in Sumner County, according to the Tennessee Department of Transporation.
Disabled cars and trucks are continuing to pile up on roads and interstates, creating traffic snarls across the region.
Motorists are urged to stay home if they don’t have to be out.
Legislature postpones work for the week
The Tennessee General Assembly, which already canceled work on Tuesday, will remain out for the rest of the week, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, said in a joint statement.
“Due to the extreme weather, dangerous temperatures and resulting treacherous road conditions, we have decided to close the Cordell Hull Building and cancel all official legislative meetings for the rest of this week,” the two legislative leaders said.
Over 100 inbound, outbound flights canceled, delayed at Nashville International Airport
The constant snowfall is beginning to have an impact on flights at Nashville International Airport.
The National Weather Service said about 5 inches of snow had fallen at the airport as of noon on Monday.
More than 40 arriving flights showed as canceled with another 20 delayed, according to the airport.
About 40 departing flights are marked delayed while 41 are noted as canceled, according to the airport.
To keep up with flight statuses, check individual airlines and BNA’s website at flynashville.com.
Power outages increase
In a leap from early morning reports, Nashville Electric Service said about 830 customers are now without power.
The majority of those without power are in West Nashville and downtown off Division Street, according to NES.
Cumberland Electric and Middle Tennessee Electric each only reported one customer without power in their service areas.
Metro Nashville Police: ‘Thank you, Nashville, for staying put’
As snow showers continue, Metro Nashville Police are asking everyone to continue to stay off the roads.
“Thank you, Nashville, for staying put and traveling if only a necessity,” they said.
While snow plows remain on the roads, they’ve largely focused on major routes while neighborhood roads remain slippery.
“From 6 a.m. – noon, we’ve had 3 injury crash calls and 21 non-injury,” the department said.
Yearly average of snow falls on Nashville in one day
Nashville will get its yearly average of snow in less than 24 hours.
The National Weather Service reported that Nashville has had upwards of 6 inches of snow.
The average yearly snowfall from 1991 to 2020 was 4.7 inches, according to the weather service. From 1871 to now, the average is 8.1 inches.
While Nashville has not yet hit that overall average, more snow is to come, the weather service said.
As the snow piles up, so do the cars
Several lane closures have been reported on Middle Tennessee roads since snow blanketed the region Monday morning, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s SmartWay traffic map.
In Bellevue near the Ford Ice Center, a single vehicle crash was reported at 10:52 a.m. near mile marker 196 on I-40. The eastbound left lane and left shoulder are blocked.
Just before 11 a.m., an overturned vehicle was reported at mile marker 103 in Sumner County between Millersville and White House. Both the right southbound lane and shoulder are blocked.
Several disabled vehicles were reported on Interstate 24 and I-40, traveling eastbound, just before noon on Monday, resulting in lane and exit ramp closures.
A snowy welcome to Texas transplants
Chris and Lesli Weeks, 56 and 53, respectively, were walking along Watsonwood Drive in Nashville a little after 11 a.m. Monday. They moved here from Fort Worth, Texas, in September. They’d get some snow there, but “not the accumulation like this,” Chris Weeks said.
“This is really neat, because you don’t see this as much when you’re in South like this, right?” he said.
Lesli Weeks joked that her husband, who is originally from Boston, considers this “real snow.”
The couple said they went sledding for a few minutes before handing it off to “the experts, the young kids down the street.”
‘We’re stuck stuck’: A lesson on driving in the Tennessee snow
In Bellevue, more than 20 cars could be seen lining the steep entry of an apartment complex as drivers abandoned their vehicles following numerous unsuccessful attempts to climb up the snow-covered hillside.
Some vehicles had been left overnight, with residents making the trek to their apartments on foot, while more cars joined the chaotic pile up every minute.
Elijah Clark, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he left his Honda Civic in the center of the road, told The Tennessean he’d “only gone out for a few minutes.”
“We’re stuck stuck,” he laughed. “I left this morning and went to a friend’s house to drop off a guitar. The drive there was easy, and I came back hoping I could make it up the hill—front wheel drive and all that—and it did not work out. It did not work out at all.”
A Belmont Hillsboro sledding adventure
Chris Nonn was sledding with his wife and their five kids around 11 a.m. Monday. They live on Ashwood Avenue in the Belmont Hillsboro neighborhood.
Nonn is accustomed to the snow, being from outside Madison, Wisconsin. His twins — turning three in March — not so much.
The family took a few trips down the hill on Ashwood, which was blocked off by a combination of orange traffic cones and homemade signs placed there by neighbors. A few other families mingled there, marching slowly up the hill between trips down.
“Not much changes for us this week,” said Nonn, who works from home. The family moved to the neighborhood in August. “We’re just happy to get out and enjoy the snow.”
National Weather Service: Sub-freezing windchill coming, more snow in Nashville
The coldest temperatures are yet to come, the National Weather Service said.
As snow continues to fall, temperatures are expected to hit single digits Monday and Tuesday evening with sub-freezing windchills.
Before noon, the weather service said Nashville had reports of six inches of snow in places.
NWS also predicts between an additional one and two inches of snow through Monday evening in Nashville while areas like the Cumberland Plateau could see upwards of six inches.
“Remember the 4 P’s,” NWS said. “People: Check on the most vulnerable such as the elderly, children and those without heat. Pets: Bring them inside. Plants: Cover sensitive plants that must remain outside. Pipes: Drip your faucets.”
The winter Storm Warning will remain in place until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
“Be prepared for significant impacts,” NWS said.
Nashville Electric Service to suspend disconnections
Nashville Electric Service announced no one’s power will be cut off for nonpayment through Wednesday.
“We will continue to monitor the forecast through the end of this week and provide updates as needed,” NES said.
Hot Chocolate: Coming soon to Lebanon’s Spence Creek neighborhood
Jeremy Malais in Lebanon’s Spence Creek neighborhood was putting wood into a firepit with his kids with plans to set up a hot chocolate stand for the neighborhood.
“It’s just like a special day with the kids. They are enjoying it and want to kind of make it memorable for them and just give back to the community,” Malais said.
Children dotted the street, taking advantage of the winter wonderland.
“I love the snow, it just needs to be a little more sticky,” said Aiden Rexroat, 13, as he was involved in sledding and trying to pack a snowball.
Metro Nashville Schools announce closure, others extend snow days
Metro Nashville Public Schools announced Monday morning that they’d be closed Tuesday and Wednesday amid snow and frigid temperatures.
Nearly a dozen districts across Middle Tennessee have closed school Tuesday. Bedford County and Maury County schools also announced Wednesday closures.
Full list of School closures:School closings: Middle Tennessee schools closing Tuesday, Wednesday due to winter storm
Tennessee Valley Authority: Lower thermostats to conserve, avoid overloading power grid
Winter weather puts a strain on power demand. And with frigid temperatures expected through Thursday, Middle Tennesseans are adding layers and turning up the heat to stay warm.
Tennessee Valley Authority short-term load planning specialist Nick Austin said power demand is expected to spike Tuesday and Wednesday as temperatures stay below freezing.
Austin said on a typical winter day, TVA sees two peaks. The first is in the morning, around sunrise, before a drop off, especially when the sun is shining and keeping things warmer.
Early evening brings another peak for TVA power usage as residents come back from work and are turning on lights.
To help conserve energy, Austin said users can drop their thermostat down three or four degrees before they leave for the morning.
Having a heat specialist check your system once per year is recommended to ensure it is working properly.
A snow day for Lily and Violet
Fluffy, white snow filled the tops of their boots as they trudged up the hill, to the top of their neighbor’s yard.
In the frigid, 12-degree weather Monday morning, 13-year-old Lily and 9-year-old Violet Buntin were out sledding down one of the many steep hills in their Cheatham County neighborhood.
They screamed and giggled as they careened down the slope, tumbling into the snow-covered, slushy road below.
With one slick, green sled between them, one waited and watched from the top of the slope as the other plunged down into the bank.
Metro Water: Pipes holding up, trash collection suspended Tuesday
Middle Tennesseans should monitor for burst pipes in the coming days as the region continues to experience frigid temperatures and what could be another round of accumulating snow later in the week.
Sonia Allman, a spokesperson with Metro Water, said there were no reports of burst pipes in Nashville Monday morning. If residents experience water service interruptions, they are asked to check the MWS outage map before calling 615-862-4600 to keep lines free.
Allman said water main breaks are possible, but likely after frigid temperatures break and the pipes begin the thaw.
Trash and recycling collections will be suspended Tuesday and assessed in the coming hours before a decision is made for Wednesday, Allman said.
Convenience centers will be closed Tuesday and recycling centers will not be open.
Preliminary snowfall totals in Middle Tennessee
As snow continues to fall across Middle Tennessee, it is still too early to say exactly how much has fallen, according to the National Weather Service
Here are some preliminary totals as of 8 a.m. Monday.
- Antioch: 3.8 inches
- Columbia: 2.3 inches
- Franklin: 3 inches
- Hendersonville: 3.8 – 5 inches, depending on location
- Nashville: 4-6 inches
- Portland: 4.5 inches
‘All hands on deck’: Snow plows out clearing Nashville, Middle Tennessee highways
Big LePlowski, Snowlene, Brinestone Cowboy and Sleetwood Mac are among the snow plows clearing roadways in Middle Tennessee as snowfall continued Monday.
Though there are no road closures, conditions remain dangerous and are only getting worse as snow continues to fall, TDOT community relations director Beth Emmons said, noting that TDOT’s priority is clearing interstates in Middle Tennessee. They are encouraging everyone to stay home.
“It’s all hands on deck,” Emmons said of road crews working. “Our Traffic Management Centers are fully staffed … we’ve been salting and plowing all night.”
But in freezing temperatures, Emmons said salt becomes ineffective.
Snow plows hampered by consistant snowfall
With no break in snowfall, roads are getting covered quickly after they are plowed, Nashville Department of Transportation spokesperson Cortnye Stone said. Extreme temperatures are causing a hard freeze and icy road conditions, she said.
Stone said they are encouraging everyone to avoid driving if they can.
“We will continue to run all crews on primary routes 24/7 until they’re cleared, and then move on to secondary routes,” Stone said.
Power outages remain low
Very few power outages were reported across Middle Tennessee by 8 a.m.
Nashville Electric Service reported about 140 customers out predominantly in East Nashville.
Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation and Middle Tennessee Electric reported just two and three customers without power, respectively.
Cumberland Electric and Middle Tennessee Electric each reported just one outage in their service areas.
Nashville wakes up to multiple inches of snow
So far, the Nashville area has seen anywhere from 3-5 inches and another inch is expected before the day is over, according to Meteorologist Mark Rose.
“We’ve gotten most of what we’re going to get, but not all,” Rose said, noting that the weather station in Old Hickory was recording 2.75 inches as of 6 a.m. on Monday. “We’ll see more snow throughout the day. It will linger into the evening. There’ll be light snow and flurries before it ends entirely.”
And the snow on the ground is expected to stick around. The majority of Middle Tennessee won’t see above freezing temperatures until Thursday, though Rose said Nashville and some areas along the Tennessee River could see a high of 33 degrees on Wednesday.
Middle Tennessee as a whole won’t see temperatures that far above freezing on Thursday, with highs forecast in the mid-to-upper 30’s. Then, there will be another chance of snow Thursday night into Friday, Rose said.
“We’re not forecasting amounts with that system yet,” he said.
But, during any snow or cold event, people should limit their time outside and use common sense, Rose said.
“We’re going to be in the teens all day.” he added. “If you don’t have to be out, then don’t be out in it.”
Road conditions hazardous
The Tennessee Department of Transportation urged drivers to stay home if possible as their crews salted and plowed roads Monday morning.
School closures across the state
Schools were closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, and numerous districts announced they would also be closed on Tuesday.
So far, Cheatham County Schools, Lebanon Special School District, Robertson County Schools, Rutherford County Schools, Sumner County Schools and Wilson County Schools have announced closures for Tuesday.
Keep up with the latest closures here.
Flights canceled at BNA
Dozens of flights were canceled or delayed at Nashville Interational Airport on Monday.
“Winter weather prep is underway at BNA!” the airport posted on X on Sunday. “We are applying deicing fluid to the runways, taxiways, and terminal ramps.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Day march canceled
Nashville’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day march was canceled. The convocation will take place virtually on the organizers’ Facebook page.
Legislative offices closed
Offices will be closed at the Tennessee General Assembly on Tuesday following the Monday holiday.
The legislature, which began its session last week, had several committee meetings on the schedule but announced its closure Sunday afternoon as the winter storm threat advanced. The General Assembly told employees to await further instructions on Wednesday’s schedule.
Need assistance?
Metro Nashville will be extending the hours of operation for its cold weather overflow shelter as the storm impacts those who are unhoused.
The shelter, which opened 7 p.m. Sunday, will remain open until Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. and is located at 3230 Brick Church Pike in Nashville.
Couples and pets are welcome, and pets must be crated.
Metro Social Services will continue monitoring the weather to determine if a further extension is needed and asks that those in need of shelter first go to the Nashville Rescue Mission, located at 639 Lafayette St., and Room In The Inn, located at 705 Drexel St.
