Winter weather wreak havoc in Midwest, disrupting post-holiday travel
Snowstorms dumped over a foot of snow in the Midwest, causing flight cancellations and dangerous road conditions.
- A winter weather advisory is in effect for most West Tennessee counties Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning.
- Snow and sleet accumulations are expected to be less than one inch, with minimal ice accumulation.
- Drivers are advised to prepare for possible delays and hazardous conditions during the Tuesday morning commute.
This year, December is kicking off the holiday season by bringing winter weather to Tennessee.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a wintry mix of weather for the Mid-South on the evening of Dec. 1 and continuing into Dec. 2.
By Dec. 2, roads and sidewalks in the affected areas will likely have a light glaze of ice, making for a potentially hazardous morning commute. The weather service is advising drivers to prepare for delays and to give extra space between vehicles in the morning.
A winter weather advisory will be issued this afternoon for West Tennessee counties.
Here is what to expect from the upcoming weather system.
Mid-South winter weather advisory
Starting at 3 p.m. Dec. 1, the National Weather Service will be issuing a winter weather advisory for areas primarily north of I-40. Shelby County is not part of the advisory area, but the northern part of the county could see a mix of wintry weather.
“To put things plainly for mid-morning Monday through early Tuesday morning, the forecast is messy,” the National Weather Service wrote. “Greatest confidence for any winter weather related impacts would generally be for locations across northeast Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, and far northwest Tennessee.”
Affected Tennessee counties include Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, Obion, Tipton, and Weakly.
How much snow will Memphis get?
Though the overnight weather will be cold and frosty, there won’t be much winter weather accumulation in West Tennessee.
“Total snow and sleet accumulations will likely remain less than one inch with ice accumulations less than one tenth of an inch in the Winter Weather Advisory area,” the weather service wrote in the forecaster’s discussion.
Memphis forecast
Memphis will remain in cooler temperatures for the week following Monday night’s freeze. The weather service forecasts that dry conditions will resume by Tuesday afternoon, and precipitation chances will return by Friday.
Monday will have a high of 38 degrees, followed by a low of 28 degrees. Showers are likely after 5 p.m. and before 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. Precipitation amounts are expected to range from a quarter of an inch to a half of an inch.
Tuesday will have a high of 38 degrees and a low of 26 degrees. Skies will be between mostly cloudy and mostly clear. There is no precipitation forecasted.
Wednesday will have a high of 46 degrees and a low of 34 degrees. Skies will be sunny and mostly clear.
Thursday will have a high near 41 degrees and a low around 33 degrees. Showers will resume after midnight with a 60% chance of precipitation.
Friday has a 50% chance of showers during the day, with a high near 43 degrees. There is a 20% chance of showers in the evening, with a low near 34 degrees.
West Tennessee school closures
No schools in West Tennessee have announced weather-related closures as of 10 a.m. Monday morning. Students returned to classes on Monday, Dec. 1, following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected].
