Winter freeze hits Tennessee

From AP, staff reports
Frigid temperatures and some snow greeted Tennessee residents this morning and the forecast held more of the same.
High temperatures were expected to be near freezing. And there’s a frigid forecast for the next 24 hours.
“Tomorrow’s temperature will probably be the coldest of the year so far — 10 to 20 degrees across the Mid-South,” said Douglas Vogelsang, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Memphis office.
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement across the Cumberland Plateau and into the Tennessee Valley and a snow advisory for northeastern counties.
A winter storm warning was posted for the mountains along the eastern border of the state.
High temperatures were expected to remain below freezing in the Smokies and the Ober Gatlinburg ski resort planned to make snow with ideal temperatures in place.
An inch or two of natural snow was possible in the eastern Tennessee Valley and into the mountains today.
Vogelsang attributes the wintry blast to a high pressure system from the north and west that combined with a movement of cold arctic air across the plains states.
“There’s a little wind chill today, but the winds will lighten up tonight. The high pressure system will slide east of the region by late tomorrow afternoon or evening, with winds from the South,” he said. “Once we get a south wind, it’ll bring warmer temperatures.
“Basically, it’s just get through the cold temperatures of today and (Thursday) morning. For (Thursday), temps might get up to 35 or 40 degrees in (northwest Tennessee). It’s still going to be cool, but getting significantly warmer. You can look for temps in the upper 50s, lower 60s, this weekend. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain Saturday and a 30 percent Sunday.
“But tonight, for northwest Tennessee, look for temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees with dry air and no precipitation expected. There might be a few morning snow flurries, but nothing significant.”
Published in The Messenger 1.2.08

Print