Motorists could encounter patches of black ice during their morning travels through the region today because of freezing overnight temperatures and roads still wet from weekend rain.
Otherwise, the tri-state area is in line for favorable weather leading up to Christmas - as long as you weren't hoping for Christmas to be white.
Low temperatures were expected to be in the 20s overnight Sunday and tonight, prompting the Tennessee Department of Transportation to lightly salt mountain routes in the area as a precaution, according to TDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn.
Some roads on Dayton Mountain in Rhea County were slick Sunday, a dispatcher there confirmed, and National Weather Service meteorologist Sam Roberts said area motorists should drive cautiously at bridges and overpasses this morning.
"It all depends on how much water is left on the roadways," Roberts said. "It's going to freeze everywhere in Southeast Tennessee tonight [Sunday night]."
Morning black ice is also possible for parts of North Georgia and more likely in higher elevations, WRCB-TV chief meteorologist Paul Barys said.
Cherokee County Schools in North Carolina's southwestern corner were scheduled to open on a two-hour delay Monday, due to potentially dangerous driving conditions.
"Please encourage your teenage drivers to exercise caution regardless of their departure time," a Facebook post from the school system said.
Today's high is expected to reach 43 degrees and temperatures around the area are likely to rise throughout the week, with Christmas Day featuring an expected high temperature of 54 degrees.
"It should be pretty nice, depending on what you like" Roberts said. "If you want it warmer, it might be pretty nice for you."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.