Flash Report #1 - Winter Weather

Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 05:32pm

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville activated at a Level 3- State of Emergency to respond to the winter weather.
  • On Jan. 24, Governor Bill Lee announced that President Donald J. Trump has granted an Emergency Declaration.
  • The entire state is being impacted by winter weather.
  • On Jan. 22, Gov. Bill Lee issued a State of Emergency.
  • Crisis Cleanup was activated to assist residents with free property cleanup as a result of winter weather impacts. To request assistance, call: 844-965-1386.
  • Emergency Service Coordinators (ESCs) from TDOT, TDEC, TDCI, TDH, THP, TN Department of Human Services, and more are monitoring the situation and standing by to provide assistance to local jurisdictions. 

 

CURRENT SITUATION

An impactful winter storm is ongoing across the state, producing snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Areas south of the I-40 corridor have already transitioned from snow to sleet, and this transition zone will continue moving north throughout the day. Freezing rain is expected to develop later this evening.

The highest ice accumulations are forecast across the southern portions of the West and Middle Regions, where totals may exceed 0.50 inches. Much of the remainder of the state is expected to receive at least 0.25 inches of ice. Overnight, areas east of I-65 are expected to transition to rain as surface temperatures rise slightly above freezing. Very cold conditions are expected to persist beyond the weekend, with many locations not reaching above freezing again until mid-week.

While impacts may appear to be easing, the threat is not over. Winter weather is expected to continue into Tennessee over the next 24 hours, bringing the potential for worsening hazardous conditions. Tennesseans are urged not to let their guard down, remain weather-aware, and continue to take precautions to stay safe as conditions may change quickly.

Today, Jan. 24, Governor Bill Lee announced that President Donald J. Trump has granted an Emergency Declaration to support Tennessee’s ongoing response to the winter weather event that is impacting all 95 counties across the state. The request was submitted to the White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, ahead of the forecasted winter storm. The Emergency Declaration provides Tennessee the ability to access federal operational assistance to protect lives and protect public health and safety.

In addition to the Emergency Declaration, Governor Bill Lee declared a State of Emergency on Jan. 22 to be able to take preparedness steps ahead of the significant winter storm, with impacts expected over the weekend into next week because of below-normal temperatures.

Crisis Cleanup was activated to assist residents with free property cleanup as a result of winter weather impacts. To request assistance, call: 844-965-1386. Please note, all services are provided by volunteer organizations, but service is not guaranteed due to what may be an overwhelming need. Volunteers work free of charge and provide the tools and equipment necessary to complete the work. 

TEMA continues to work with local, regional, and state partners to support readiness actions and any requests for resources. The state remains at a Level 3, State of Emergency, to be able to respond to the winter weather.

 

 POWER OUTAGES & UTILITIES

  • The current extreme cold is increasing the power demand across Tennessee. Conserve energy by staying indoors, lowering your thermostat, and reducing non-essential electricity use if health allows to prevent temporary power interruptions. More energy saving tips can be found on the TVA website.
  • TVA has crew staged throughout our service area to respond to any outages on the TVA system and/or in corporation with local power providers. 
  • As of 2 p.m. on Jan. 24, there are less than 500 reports of power outages statewide. This number is normal day-to-day levels.

 

WARMING CENTERS

With dangerously cold temperatures and conditions expected, please seek shelter if you need a warm place to stay. Warming centers are run by local officials. TEMA maintains an interactive map of centers operating throughout the state. Please check the notes section on the map for each shelter, as hours of operation and other information may vary between locations. If you need assistance or have questions about shelters for your area, please contact your local Emergency Management Agency.

 

TDOT

  • Crews are continuing to support communities with winter weather impacts. 
  • In the last 24 hours, TDOT has utilized*:

        o   6.48K equipment hours

        o   8.33K labor hours

        o   150.75 tons of salt

        o   1.26 million gallons of brine

* The numbers will update tonight at 11:30 p.m.

  •  It is suggested to avoid driving if possible. If not, you can check road conditions on the TDOT Smartway website.

 

THP

  • THP continues to provide assistance with traffic control and other law enforcement responsibilities.

  

PROTECTIVE ACTIONS/KEY MESSAGES

  • Monitor local news for updates on weather forecasts.
  • Limit time outdoors when possible. Extreme cold temperatures are dangerous and can result in hypothermia or frostbite.
  • Turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or lower to reduce energy consumption. 
  • Don’t plug your generators into your home. 
  • Report price gouging to the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs. To learn more, visit their website.
  • Contact your local emergency management agency if you need immediate assistance.