Public Building Authority workers clean the sidewalks along Gay St. in Knoxville on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. NASHVILLE — A state of emergency has been declared as a winter storm making its way across Tennessee has led to poor road conditions and major traffic problems.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency issued the declaration at 9 p.m. Monday.
The agency said in a statement posted online that the declaration came as motorists were backed up on Interstate 40 and part of I-24 was closed due to an earlier backup.
TEMA has requested that the state National Guard deploy a 10-person crew with Humvees for motorist wellness checks.
Weather forecasters earlier urged motorists to stay off the roads. A wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain was expected to create up to a half-inch of ice on roads in parts of Middle Tennessee, and three-quarters of an inch in parts of West Tennessee.