Record lows possible as arctic air moves into Chattanooga area

Weather conditions vary across the region, and a majority of schools continue to cancel classes due to low temperatures. Power outages still plague many across the tri-state area, as more than 67,000 people were without power in Georgia Wednesday morning, and more than 59,000 outages were reported in Tennessee Tuesday night. Meanwhile, wind chills in the higher elevations of Tennessee have reached as low as minus 10 and minus 20 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Though the snow-apocalypse some predicted was largely avoided, Tennessee remains in a state of emergency as more snow, subfreezing temperatures and slick roads are anticipated to continue through Friday, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

As another arctic air mass sweeps into the Tennessee Valley, thermostats are expected to show temperatures 10 degrees colder than those predicted in Anchorage, according to the National Weather Service.

WRCB-Channel 3 Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys said the local high today may reach 20 degrees, but will feel like the single digits.

These low temperatures are "way below normal" for this time of year and extremely close to record lows, Barys said.

"It's dangerously cold," he said. "People need to take precautions."

Already, six weather-related deaths have been confirmed in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

In Chattanooga, Douglas King, 63, was found dead near the Chattanooga Community Kitchen on 11th Street on Tuesday morning. King was homeless, and is believed to have died of hypothermia.

The Mayo Clinic says hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when a person's body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and is often caused by exposure to cold weather.

Prolonged exposure to any environment colder than your body temperature can lead to hypothermia if a person is not dressed appropriately, the Mayo says.

Cold weather is also the common cause of frostbite, which the Mayo warns can happen when people do not protect their skin against cold, windy or wet weather.

Mary Black, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn., said anyone going outside in the next couple of days should make sure their entire body is protected from the wind, as hypothermia and frostbite are always concerns when temperatures are this low.

"These could be devastatingly cold temperatures across the area in the next 36 to 48 hours," she said.

While the air remains cold, power companies are asking consumers to avoid using nonessential power, especially during peak power use times.

John Pless, spokesman for EPB, said in a written statement, "If possible, people are encouraged to lower thermostats a degree or two, reduce usage of major appliances during peak demand in the early evening and morning hours, and turn off all nonessential lighting."

By Friday afternoon, temperatures are predicted to rebound, and early-morning flurries will turn into sleet and freezing rain, Barys said.

He predicts that this ice storm will be different than last year's, as this time the freezing rain and snow will be followed by rain and weekend temperatures in the 40s.

"This is much better," he said. "The freezing rain will turn into rain and everything will melt."

The Georgia Department of Labor's Blue Ridge Career Center will delay opening until 10 a.m. today because of icy conditions in the area.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.