Light ice accumulations are expected Monday morning across the Chattanooga area, the National Weather Service reported.
On Sunday, several counties were under a winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service until 11 a.m. Monday, and many area schools and businesses are closed Monday or have delayed opening.
A winter weather advisory means periods of freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. People should slow down and be prepared for slippery roads while driving.
An approaching low-pressure system will spread light rain across the area, and as temperatures stay below freezing, it will cause freezing rain to develop until temperatures warm up later Monday.
Freezing rain can result in patchy ice on sidewalks, roads and bridges, especially during the morning commute.
In preparation, Hamilton County Highway Department road crews have been spreading brine on Hamilton County's main roads. As conditions change, crews are prepared to switch to salt and sand if necessary, according to a Hamilton County Mayor's Office news release.
Hamilton County schools will be closed Monday, according to a news release. The decision was made late Sunday evening to avoid having school buses on the road during peak times for ice and sleet.
"With the safety of children as our top priority, we just can't take the chance to have buses on the roads with children aboard in that situation," Superintendent Bryan Johnson said in a statement. "We have worked closely with weather experts and public safety officials to make the best decision for children."
Because of the threat of icy road conditions, UTC will delay opening until noon Monday. Staff should report to where they would normally be at noon and faculty members and students should report to classes, and lab sections if applicable, starting at noon. Crossroads will be open at 9 a.m. and all other food service locations will open at noon. The University Center, the library and the Aquatic Recreation Center will also open at noon.
On the other side of the state line, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced non-essential state offices will remain closed Monday, because of the advisory.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are closing non-essential agencies to ensure our employees' safety as well as ensure the Georgia Department of Transportation's ability to maintain and treat our roads," Deal said in a statement. "This closure will run from Columbus across to Augusta and northward. The capitol will remain open, however, so that the legislature may gavel in to the 2018 session as constitutionally required."
Walker Transit Service will be delayed until 10 a.m. and Walker County Government offices will delay opening until 11 a.m. Monday. Catoosa County Government offices will also delay opening until 11 a.m. Monday.
Georgia's Calhoun, Chatsworth and Dalton public libraries will be closed Monday because of the threat of inclement weather.
Here's a list of area school closings and delays:
TENNESSEE
- Abba's House Academy: Opening at 10 a.m. Monday
- Baylor School: Opening at 10 a.m. Monday
- Bledsoe County Schools: Closed Monday
- Bradley County Schools: Closed Monday
- Brainerd Baptist School: Delayed two hours Monday
- Bright School: Delayed two hours; no morning buses Monday
- Bryan College: Delayed two hours Monday
- Calvary Christian - Brainerd: Closed Monday
- Candies Creek Academy: Delayed two hours Monday
- Chattanooga Charter: Closed Monday
- Chattanooga Christian: Delayed two hours Monday
- Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy: Closed Monday
- Chattanooga College EG and NG: Delayed 10 hours, 30 minutes
- Chattanooga State: Delaying opening of all campuses until 12 p.m. Monday
- Christ's Legacy Academy: Delayed two hours Monday
- Cleveland Christian School: Closed Monday
- Cleveland City Schools: Delayed two hours Monday
- Cleveland State-all sites: Opening at 10 a.m. Monday
- Collegedale Academy - all: Closed Monday
- Dayton City School: Closed Monday
- Etowah City School: Closed Monday
- Girls Preparatory School: Delayed two hours Monday
- Grace Baptist Academy: Delayed two hours Monday
- Grundy County Schools: Closed Monday
- Hamilton County Schools: Closed Monday; child care also closed
- Hickory Valley Christian: Closed Monday
- Marion County Schools: Closed Monday
- McMinn County Schools: Closed Monday
- Meigs County Schools: Closed Monday
- Mission Preschool: Closed Monday
- Notre Dame: Delayed two hours Monday
- OLPH: Delayed two hours Monday
- Orange Grove Center: No bus service Monday; school program closed
- Polk County Schools: Delayed two hours Monday
- Rhea County Schools: Closed Monday
- Richard Hardy School: Closed Monday
- RKSM: Delayed two hours Monday
- Sequatchie County Schools: Closed Monday
- Signal Mountain Christian: Closed Monday
- Silverdale Bapt Academy: Closed Monday
- Skyuka Hall: Delayed two hours Monday
- Southern Adventist University: Delaying opening until 12 p.m. Monday
- St Jude Catholic School: Delayed two hours Monday
- St. Peter's Episcopal School: Delayed two hours Monday; no morning care
- Standifer Gap SDA School: Closed Monday
- UTC: Delaying opening until 12 p.m. Monday
GEORGIA
- Catoosa County Schools: Closed Monday
- Chickamauga City Schools: Closed Monday
- Christian Heritage - Dalton: Closed Monday
- Covenant College: Delayed two hours Monday
- Dade County Schools: Closed Monday
- Dalton Public Schools: Closed Monday; staff report at 10 a.m. if safe to do so
- Dalton State College: Delaying opening until 12 p.m. Monday
- Genesis Career College Dalton: Closed Monday
- Georgia Northwestern Technical College: Closed Monday
- Fannin County Schools: Closed Monday; 12 month employees report at 12 p.m.
- Learning Tree Elementary: Closed Monday
- Murray County Schools: Closed Monday
- North Georgia Tech Blairsville: All 3 campuses closed day and evening Monday
- Oakwood Christian Academy: Closed Monday
- Trion City Schools: Staff report at 10 a.m.
- Walker County Schools: Closed Monday
- Whitfield County Schools: Closed Monday
ALABAMA
- Cornerstone Christian: Delayed three hours Monday
- DeKalb County Schools: Delayed three hours Monday
- Fort Payne City Schools: Delayed three hours Monday
- Jackson County Schools: Delayed three hours Monday
Area day care closings:
TENNESSEE
- Good Shepherd School: Opening at 10:30 a.m. Monday
- Grace Children's Center: Delayed two hours Monday
- Hixson First Baptist CDC: Opening at 8 a.m. Monday
- Little Miss Mag ELC: Delayed two hours Monday
- Ridgedale Baptist CDC: Early morning staff report 9 a.m. Monday
- Siskin Children's Institute: Opening at 10:30 a.m. Monday
GEORGIA
- Academy for Little People, Chickamauga: Opening at 9 a.m. Monday
- Academy for Little People, Trion: Open at 9 a.m. Monday
- Applebrook Country Day School: Delayed two hours Monday
- First Baptist CLD Dalton: Closed Monday
- Flintstone CDC: Delayed two hours Monday
- Friendship House Daycare: Closed Monday; no staff report
- Mill Creek Child Care: Closed Monday
- Wee Teach Acad. Pre-K: Georgia Pre-K is closed Monday, but the daycare is open
- Whitfield Dalton DC: Closed Monday; staff report at 10 a.m. if safe to do so
Tennessee counties under winter weather advisory:
- Bledsoe
- Bradley
- Grundy
- Hamilton
- Marion
- McMinn
- Meigs
- Rhea
- Sequatchie
- West Polk
Georgia counties under winter weather advisory:
- Catoosa
- Dade
- Murray
- Walker
- Whitfield
North Carolina counties under winter weather advisory:
- Cherokee