Nashville, Middle TN winter storm causes outages amid frigid temps - Tennessean

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Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported a low-level authorities of exigency arsenic of Friday afternoon, according to the agency. Gov. Bill Lee had not publically issued a connection oregon enforcement bid connected the activation signifier arsenic of 12:30 p.m.

At a level three, the signifier TEMA reported its activation conscionable aft noon, the bureau tin instrumentality statewide exigency operations and nationalist warnings successful effect to a superior exigency oregon insignificant disaster.

Nashville had not declared a authorities of exigency arsenic of noon; Memphis did earlier successful the day.

Grid stabilized aft rolling blackouts ordered by TVA

Middle Tennessee powerfulness providers, including Nashville, were ordered to execute rolling 10- to 15-minute blackouts to stabilize the powerfulness grid opening astir 11 a.m. arsenic temperatures hover astatine 0°F.

Several electrical companies reported the bid was rescinded conscionable earlier noon, aft astatine slightest 1 circular of disruptions was performed successful Nashville.

The Tennessee Valley Authority directed each inferior powerfulness distributors successful the Tennessee Valley to driblet 5% of its energy load instantly connected Friday morning, Nashville Electric Service said.

NES customers were told to expect rotating, intermittent powerfulness outages successful astir 10-minute increments each 1.5 – 2 hours arsenic the determination powerfulness grid struggles with the subzero temperatures aft Thursday's wintertime storm.

Cold upwind and powerfulness outage tips:TVA has ordered rolling blackouts, here's what to bash to enactment harmless during a powerfulness outage successful wintertime weather

Dickson Electric System General Manager Darrell Gillespie described the powerfulness usage concern arsenic “very critical” for the utility’s 36,000 customers successful 5 counties, including Dickson, Hickman, Cheatham, Houston and Montgomery. The fig of outages successful the DES work was astir 2,500 astatine 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Critical loads, similar hospitals and h2o attraction plants are not beryllium included successful outages similar this, helium said.

"We are turning breakers disconnected for customers. Then, successful 15 minutes we crook them backmost on. But earlier we crook them on, we crook idiosyncratic other off," Gillespie said.

Gillespie said a imaginable further complication going guardant is the blackout could past longer than anticipated. 

"Unfortunately, with upwind astatine 0 and 1 degree, sometimes if you crook that powerfulness off, you can't get it to travel backmost on. We are experiencing that close present arsenic well.

"That's a existent situation for america to beryllium capable to bring those loads backmost on. But we person nary choice."  

More than 36,000 Nashville Electric Service customers were without powerfulness arsenic of 11:30 a.m. aft a crisp spike successful reported outages. The reports were dispersed retired successful bunches crossed the metro Nashville area.

Temperatures plummeted overnight turning rainfall into snowfall showers crossed Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Earlier successful the day, NES reported precipitation and precocious winds harm powerfulness poles and different instrumentality and energy lines crossed the work area. The National Weather Service reported the somesthesia astatine 0°F astatine 10 a.m.

Wind chill informing expires; frigid temperatures remain

Roads were slick and covered successful snowfall successful galore places, according to the NWS.

A melodramatic displacement astir 8 p.m. dropped temperatures 10 degrees successful astir 15 minutes, brought connected fierce winds and the archetypal snowfall of the winter.

The National Weather Service successful Nashville fto a upwind chill informing for astir of the country expire astatine noon Friday, but advised Tennesseans to enactment wrong and screen immoderate exposed tegument if they had to spell out.

A upwind chill informing is issued erstwhile the temperatures dip beneath -15 °F, the NWS told The Tennessean. Although the time had warmed capable to determination up from the chopped off, the bureau warned outdoor temps would inactive beryllium brutally cold, apt betwixt -5 to -15 °F connected Friday.

"The somesthesia astatine Nashville has dropped to -1°F. This is the archetypal clip we've been beneath zero since 2/5/1996," the NWS tweeted connected Friday morning.

Believe it oregon not, the bone-chilling temperatures won't interruption the grounds debased for Dec. 23 which was -8°F, acceptable successful 1989.

Look back: What was Nashville's coldest time connected record?

Nashville's wintry upwind continues time and done weekend

Wind chill temperatures are expected to stay beneath zero done Saturday morning, and perchance Sunday, the NWS said. Air temperatures volition stay astatine oregon beneath freezing done Monday.

In depth:What is upwind chill and what makes it dangerous?

Gusty winds up to 40 mph volition origin upwind chills to driblet arsenic debased arsenic 25 degrees beneath zero astatine times aboriginal this morning, NWS forecasters say.

Power outages, unsafe roads, canceled flights connected Friday morning

"Troopers are seeing improving roadworthy conditions however, determination are inactive icy spots connected immoderate interstates and authorities routes," The Tennessee Highway Patrol successful Nashville tweeted Friday morning.

The Nashville Department of Transportation said successful a tweet that each superior and secondary roads person been treated but frigid temperatures prevented them from clearing galore roads crossed the city.

"Such acold upwind chills could rapidly origin hypothermia, arsenic good arsenic origin frostbite connected exposed tegument successful arsenic small arsenic 30 minutes," a NWS connection said.

Dangerously acold temperatures volition proceed crossed Middle Tennessee done aboriginal Monday, with lows successful the azygous digits and precocious temperatures lone successful the 10s and 20s.

Nashville trafficIcy roads, interstate slowdowns but fewer injuries aft Nashville snow

"Stay disconnected roads if you can, usage utmost caution if you indispensable drive. Staff volition proceed monitoring conditions and crews volition beryllium retired treating roads passim the day," NDOT tweeted.

"Don't question if you don't person to. If you bash travel, battalion blankets, coats, and gloves successful lawsuit of an emergency," NWS said.

Nashville airdrome reported much than 30 canceled flights arsenic of 9 a.m., with respective others delayed owed to upwind concerns.

The airdrome urged customers to cheque with their airlines earlier heading out.

"BNA works diligently to support the airfield, gross areas, and airdrome roadways wide and operational," they said connected societal media.

Nashville country radar

Nashville upwind forecast

Friday: Partly sunny with a precocious adjacent 14 with upwind chill values arsenic debased arsenic -19. Low astir 6.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with a precocious adjacent 25 and upwind chill arsenic debased arsenic -8. Low astir 11.

Christmas Day: Sunny with a precocious adjacent 26, debased astir 15.

Monday: Mostly cloudy with a precocious adjacent 32, debased astir 21.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a precocious adjacent 40, debased astir 25.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a precocious adjacent 50, debased astir 37.