Chattanooga forecast trends from snow toward ice as winter storm nears

Mother Nature may be about to put your weekend plans on ice.

It all depends on where the snow-ice line ends up this weekend as an arctic front sweeps into the South, dropping a wintry mix on Tennessee.

Too far south, the winter storm system could act like a snow machine capable of dumping 4 inches or more in some parts of the Chattanooga region, causing travel problems and downed power lines.

Too far north, precipitation around Chattanooga could fall in the form of freezing rain, sleet and ice, coating trees and power lines so heavily they collapse, triggering days-long power outages and dicey travel across the region.

Top it off with a dip into the deep freeze forecast for Monday night — 5 degrees, below zero at higher elevations — and the frozen mess could last into next week with Tuesday’s high predicted to just reach 36 degrees.

(READ MORE: ‘Significant icing,’ at least 4 inches of snow forecast for Chattanooga area weekend as winter storm closes in)

A winter storm watch has been issued for East Tennessee from 1 a.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, and forecasters are growing more certain.

“We’re seeing potential for some very significant ice accumulations,” weather service meteorologist Brandon Wesolewski said Wednesday by phone. “It could be anywhere from a quarter to maybe a half inch of ice.”

Some forecast models also show a better than 50% chance in Chattanooga of 4 inches or more of snow, he said, turning toward ice.

“This could be worse than what we’ve seen there in at least 10 or 20 years with these ice accumulations,” Wesolewski said.

A weather phenomenon called a “warm nose” — a layer of warmer air situated above a colder, ground-level layer — could play a role in when the precipitation turns fully to a frozen form Saturday and Sunday, Wesolewski said. Falling rain could help conditions initially, but plummeting temperatures will turn what falls into ice.

“If we do get the warm nose further north, it’ll come down as rain,” he said, “but the temperatures at the surface are still going to be cold enough to where it would be freezing.”

Icy conditions are even more likely on the Southern Cumberland Plateau, Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain, he said. But if the colder system develops across the region, Chattanooga could get at least a few inches of snow.

“Right now, we’ve officially got Chattanooga in that 2- to 3-inch range,” Wesolewski said, “then for ice, anywhere from a quarter- to more than a half-inch.”

Wesolewski wasn’t sure what historical records show on ice accumulations because all forms of frozen precipitation are often grouped together, but ice can be disastrous.

“You won’t be able to go anywhere, ” he said, “and there are widespread power outages anytime you get a quarter-inch of ice or more.”

Snowier conditions are expected in the northern half of the state, along the Kentucky state line, where some forecasts call for up to 10 inches of snow, he said. Some areas of Kentucky and Virginia could get total double-digit snowfall.

EPB RAMPS UP PREP

EPB has called in 86 additional crews, arriving Friday to be available when the storm hits, according to spokesperson Sophie Moore.

“We will stage crews across our service area to respond as quickly as possible and work until all customers are restored,” Moore said via email. “In most circumstances, when an outage occurs, the automated grid reroutes power to minimize the number of affected customers. We maintain the automated grid and other equipment year-round to ensure they are prepared for extreme circumstances.”

The MyEPB app is the best and fastest way to report and monitor outages, Moore said. If a customer experiences an outage, the app will notify them of the estimated time of restoration and other updates.

DOG DEAL

Chattanooga’s McKamey Animal Center is offering free dog adoptions through Friday to help get canines into warm homes before the storm arrives, McKamey Director of Advancement Mary Klinghard said. Like the weather, there’s a phenomenon at McKamey known as a “warm nose,” but it comes attached to a wagging tail in search of a warm bed.

“It’s just an opportunity to give a dog a home, even a temporary home for a week or so during the snowstorm and take some of the pressure off of us,” Klinghard said in a phone interview. “Just come talk to our adoption staff. You can let them know if you have pets at home or what you’re looking for. Do you want high energy, low energy? Just fill out the paperwork, and we’ll send you on your way.”

Temporary adopters are asked to be flexible in case the shelter is closed for a few days due to the weather, she said.

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“They can keep them for as long as they want, just understanding that we might be closed a little bit longer than we’re expecting,” Klinghard said. “It’s a great way for people to see how a dog fits into their lifestyle. And if they decide to adopt, they can leave the dog at home and just come and fill out adoption paperwork with us.”

ROAD READY

Salt supplies have been replenished in all 95 counties in preparation for the winter season, and crews have readied snowplows and brine trucks for the incoming winter storm, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Motorists are encouraged to stay off the roads.

“Maintaining safe, reliable roadways is our core mission, and winter operations are something we engineer well in advance,” agency Commissioner Will Reid said in a press release. “Supplies are stocked, equipment is ready and our crews are staged to deploy as soon as conditions warrant.

“Rapid clearance of our highways isn’t just a goal — it’s essential to protecting drivers and keeping Tennessee’s transportation network moving,” Reid said. “Please allow our crews the room they need to operate safely and stay off the roads.”

(READ MORE: Forecasters warn of a ‘potentially catastrophic’ storm from Texas to the Carolinas)

Tennessee’s statewide 2026 winter weather budget is $30.3 million and includes salt, salt brine, overtime for employees and equipment maintenance, the agency said.

The department has three salt vendors to refill salt bins as needed across the state. The agency has about 231,000 tons of salt and more than 1.3 million gallons of salt brine, a mixture of salt and water, ready for use. Salt brine is used to pretreat roads before a winter storm or to melt snow on roadways when temperatures hover around freezing. Salt is applied to roads once snow accumulates.

The state’s ice and snow removal teams focus first on clearing interstates and heavily traveled state routes, specifically targeting areas vulnerable to freezing, such as hills, curves, ramps, bridges and interchanges, officials said. During prolonged weather events, crews may need to repeatedly clear roadways.

WEEKEND LOOK

The Chattanooga forecast for Friday night calls for a 50% chance of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow showers continuing into Saturday, while temperatures remain at freezing or below, according to the weather service. The chance for precipitation Saturday is 90%, increasing to a 100% chance Saturday night.

Sunday morning, snow showers and freezing rain are likely, possibly mixed with sleet, rain and snow Sunday afternoon, with a high reaching 36. After 4 p.m., there’s a chance of snow showers. Chance of precipitation is 60%, falling to 20% Sunday night as temperatures dip to around 16.

Monday will be sunny with a high near 33, then the temperature will nosedive to 5 degrees going into Tuesday morning. Weather service meteorologists urge people to check the latest forecast for the latest information in the coming days.

Staff writer Daniel Dassow contributed to this report.

Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.