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Days ahead
Forecast the rest of the week: * TODAY: High: 34/Low: 9, 20% chance of snow during the day, 30% chance of flurries at night * THURSDAY: High:22/Low: 11 * FRIDAY: High: 34/Low: 28,40% chance of snow during the day, 50% chance of snow at night * SATURDAY: High: 46/Low: 39, 60% chance of snow/rain during the day
A robin perches on an icy tree branch Tuesday on Signal Mountain.Read more
* Cold-related death roils homeless; shelter finds itself at heart of a tragedy (video)* Thousands still without power in Georgia, Tennessee* From the Gulf to New England, cold grips the U.S.
Wednesday school delays, closings
Athens City Schools - closedBledsoe County Schools - closedCatoosa County Schools - two hour delayChattooga 2 - hour delayChickamauga City Schools - closedDade County Schools - two hour delayHamilton County Schools - closedGrundy County Schools - closedMarion County Schools - closed McMinn County Schools - closedMeigs County - closedPolk County Schools - closedRhea County Schools - closedRichard Hardy Memorial School - closedSequatchie County Schools - closedWalker County Schools - two hour delay
Utilities ask consumers to turn down heat
EPB, TVA request everyone to lower thermostat
Most churches will not have a Wednesday evening service.
Athens City Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Bradley County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Bledsoe County Schools closed Thursday.
Chickamauga Schools will be on a two-hour delay on Thursday.
Cleveland City Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Catoosa County Schools will be on a two-hour delay.
Dade County Schools will be on a two-hour delay.
Fort Payne Schools will be on a two-hour delay.
Jackson County schools will start at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Grundy County Schools are closed Thursday.
Hamilton County Schools will be closed Thursday. School Age Child Care will be closed. Twelve month employees will report on a one hour delay and maintenance employees will report on regular schedule.
Marion County Schools will be closed Thursday.
McMinn County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Meigs County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Polk County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Rhea County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday.
Richard Hardy Memorial School will be closed Thursday.
Sequatchie County Schools closed Thursday.
Walker County Schools on a two-hour delay.
Report school closures to webeditor@timesfreepress.com.
COLD TEMPERATURES PREDICTED:
The Chattanooga area will likely see its second round of single-digit temperatures this week, with potential record lows.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a low of about 10 degrees in the Chattanooga metro area tonight into Thursday morning, with a wind chill between 0 and minus 10. Thursday night into Friday morning, the low is expected to be 11 degrees.
Andrew Pritchett, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said those temperatures will flirt with record lows for those dates.
"Thursday's record low was 3 degrees, set back in 1958," Pritchett said. "We're not likely to break that, but we're likely to tie or break Friday's record low, which is 12 degrees, also set in 1958."
Pritchett said the culprit responsible for the frigid temperatures is Arctic air.
"Anytime it gets this cold this far south, it's Arctic air, straight from the polar region," Pritchett said.
Pritchett said the temperature will get even lower in surrounding areas like Athens and Dayton, dipping anywhere between 5 and 10 degrees Thursday and Friday.
Snow and rain are also in the local forecast. There's a 30 percent chance of flurries tonight, and a 40 percent chance of snow Friday, though little if any accumulation is expected.
Pritchett said things should warm up by Saturday, when a warm front moves in that will bring daytime temperatures above freezing for several hours, providing a "well-needed thaw."
SPORTS AFFECTED BY WINTER WEATHER:
Due to inclement weather, both postseason basketball tournaments scheduled for Wednesday - District 6-AA at Red Bank and District 5-AAA at Ooltewah - have been postponed and will be played on Thursday. Game times for the boys' and girls' consolation games as well as each championship game remain the same as what was scheduled for today.
Thursday prep basketball schedule
District 6-AA tournament at Red Bank
Girls' consolation, East Ridge vs. Tyner, 3:30
Boys' consolation, Hixson vs. Red Bank, 5
Girls' championship, Central vs. Brainerd, 6:30
Boys' championship, Central vs. Brainerd, 8
District 5-AAA at Ooltewah
Girls' consolation, Soddy-Daisy vs. Cleveland, 3
Boys' consolation, Ooltewah vs. Soddy-Daisy, 4:30
Girls' championship, Bradley Central vs. Walker Valley, 6
Boys' championship, Bradley Central vs. Cleveland, 7:30
Cold weather car tips from AAA
1. Check anti-freeze to see that it protects the engine down to -30 F.2. If the battery is weak or more than three years old, consider replacing it.3. Put winter-blended windshield washer fluid in the reservoir so that the windshield can be cleaned at critical times without icing up.4. Fill the gas tank to help avoid fuel line freeze-up.5. If the tire pressures are low, fill them up today the extreme cold weather will make them dangerously underinflated tomorrow.6. If not possible to park the car in a garage, consider covering the windshield with a blanket or some other large cloth, anchoring it in the doors and under the windshield wipers. This can eliminate manually scraping ice off the windshield tomorrow, or waiting long times for the engine and defroster to clear the ice.7. Consider what to take inside from the car tonight: portable electronic items may be damaged by extreme cold and containers of water or other fluids may freeze and then burst when warmed up tomorrow.8. It will be tempting to start the engine tomorrow morning and let it idle to warm up the car. Some automotive experts approve of that, others don't, but in any case remember that other car systems suspension, braking, hydraulic, electronic, tires will not have warmed up when the car first starts moving. Travel at moderate speeds the first couple of miles to let the entire car warm up.9. If a motorist becomes stranded, there are no absolutely guaranteed ways to stay safe, but AAA recommends that it is best to stay with the vehicle. If the engine can be started, run it only long enough to keep warm. Make sure the exhaust pipe is snow-free. Always travel with a cell phone and car charger.
Cold-proofing home tips from State Farm
* Insulate pipes in the crawl spaces and attic * Heat tape or heat cables can be used to wrap pipes * Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located with caulk or insulation * Disconnect garden hoses * A trickle of both hot and cold water can keep pipes from freezing * Keep thermostat up at night, no lower than 55 degrees. * Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls * If pipes freeze, leave faucets turned on and call a plumber * If pipes burst, turn off water at main shutoff valve in the house, leave the water faucets turned on.