Arctic temperatures combined with a wintry mix that passed through the region Monday will make traveling tough Tuesday and Wednesday with little chance for improvement as a deep freeze sets in until mid-week.
As the snowfall began just before 10 a.m. in downtown Chattanooga on Monday, Southeast Tennessee officials and residents started bracing for an arctic plunge before another system bringing a mix is expected before the weekend, according to forecasters.
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“A winter storm warning is in effect for most of the Tennessee Valley, with a winter weather advisory for our far southeastern counties through Tuesday morning,” Local 3 News meteorologist Cedric Haynes said Monday in his weather blog. “A winter storm warning means dangerous winter weather conditions are likely, and this will impact travel, power and could be potentially life-threatening.”
Heavier precipitation throughout the day Monday, mixed with sleet and freezing rain, was widespread in Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia and was expected to accumulate between 1-3 inches with some light ice, Haynes said. Up to 5 inches accumulated Monday north and west of Chattanooga — and 1-3 inches near Chattanooga and Cleveland — and it will linger.