Oak Ridge Today

More snow falls in Oak Ridge, Anderson County

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Anderson County Snowfall

Light snow continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday morning, and there was close to two inches on the ground in Oak Ridge and Anderson County. The picture above was taken on Oliver Springs Highway near Marlow Circle.

Light snow continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday morning, and there was close to two inches on the ground in Oak Ridge and Anderson County.

The temperature was above freezing and many roads were wet and slushy, but a few patches of snow remained, including on bridges.

It was the second day of snow in Oak Ridge, and the two days produced the first significant accumulation of snow in the Secret City this winter.

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Saturday morning flurries dump an inch or more of snow

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South Illinois Avenue Accident

A furniture truck and a sedan crashed Saturday morning on slippery, snow-covered South Illinois Avenue. There didn’t appear to be any injuries, but the northbound lanes were closed for more than an hour.

The last time it snowed in Oak Ridge, some residents were disappointed that it didn’t stick.

This time was different. Saturday morning flurries quickly dumped an inch of snow or more on Oak Ridge, covering roadways and making driving treacherous.

There appeared to be at least several minor accidents, including on Oak Ridge Turnpike, Lafayette Drive, and South Illinois Avenue.

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Tornado watch, wind advisory issued for Anderson, Roane

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A tornado watch has been issued for 33 Tennessee counties, including Anderson, Campbell, Loudon, Knox, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. The tornado watch remains in effect through 1 p.m. today.

The National Weather Service in Morristown has also issued a wind advisory through 9 p.m. today. The advisory said strong to damaging winds are possible across the southern Appalachians, including in Anderson, Knox, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. Damaging winds of more than 60 mph are possible.

Forecasters said severe thunderstorms are moving into the area ahead of a cold front this morning, with widespread damaging winds and isolated tornadoes possible. Widespread wind damage and tornadoes have been reported across western and middle Tennessee.

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City offices close, crews treat roads, up to 1/2 inch of ice possible

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Ice on Car

Ice coats a car in Oak Ridge on Friday. The National Weather Service in Morristown said there could be a total of 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice in areas subjected to several hours of freezing rain.

Oak Ridge municipal offices were originally scheduled to open at noon today, but they will remain closed all day, a city official said.

City workers urged residents to avoid driving, or even walking outside, if possible. A sheet of ice has coated many homes, driveways, and sidewalks.

With government offices, schools, and many businesses closed or opening late, some roads appeared deserted. Oak Ridge Police Department Lt. Robin Smith said a few vehicles have slid off roads, but not much else has happened.

“It’s been very quiet, which is the way we like it,” Smith said. “It’s been good so far.”

Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said the city spent about 12 hours Thursday treating about 100 miles of streets. Workers used two trucks to spread a brine solution, a “super salty” liquid.

“Every road we pre-treated with brine is in really good shape,” Cinder said. “It’s wet. It’s passable.”

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County Courthouse, schools closed; DOE Oak Ridge Office opens late

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Originally scheduled to open two hours late, the Anderson County Courthouse is closed today due to the winter storm that dropped a sheet of ice on local homes, driveways, and roads Thursday night.

Schools in Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Anderson and Roane counties are closed. The Y-12 National Security Complex has restricted access to essential employees, and Oak Ridge municipal offices are scheduled to open at noon.

The U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office announced that it had delayed its opening until 10 a.m. for employees of the Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Site Office, Oak Ridge Environmental Management Site Office, Oak Ridge Nuclear Energy Site Office, and Office of Scientific and Technical Information.

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Oak Ridge schools closed, Anderson Courthouse opens late Friday

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Oak Ridge Schools will be closed Friday, and the Anderson County Courthouse will open two hours late due to the threat of a major winter storm with freezing rain and ice.

Anderson County officials said they would continue to monitor the weather along with local emergency officials and make changes as necessary.

Oak Ridge city offices open late, Y-12 access restricted Friday

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Winter Storm WatchOak Ridge municipal offices will open at noon Friday and access to the Y-12 National Security Complex will be restricted to essential employees due to the wintry, icy weather that is forecast to begin tonight in the southern Appalachians.

A winter storm watch is in effect through Friday evening across the region, including in Anderson and Roane counties, and the National Weather Service in Morristown said significant icing is possible across the East Tennessee Valley.

In a press release Thursday, the city of Oak Ridge said it is preparing for possible disruptions to city services, including widespread and extended power outages.

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Winter storm watch issued for Anderson, Roane, other counties

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A winter storm could affect the southern Appalachians starting tonight and continuing through Friday night, and significant icing is possible across much of the East Tennessee Valley, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said subfreezing surface temperatures and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will result in a wintry mix of precipitation across the area.

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Chance of snow 100 percent today, black ice possible Friday

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Winter Storm Snow Forecast

Forecasters say air moving into the southern Appalachians will turn rain into snow by this afternoon. (Image courtesy of National Weather Service in Morristown.)

There is a 100 percent chance of snow in the Oak Ridge area today as cold air moves into the southern Appalachians, turning rain showers into snow by this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The rain will start turning to snow by about 2 to 3 p.m., and the precipitation should be all snow by about 4 to 5 p.m., said Derek Eisentrout, spokesperson for the National Weather Service in Morristown. He said the snow should start tapering off by 7 or 8 p.m.

The Weather Service doesn’t expect a lot of snow in the Oak Ridge area, forecasting about a one-inch accumulation.

A major concern for forecasters is the black ice  that could be on roads tomorrow morning as temperatures plunge into the 20s overnight.

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Rain, flooding through Thursday; Anderson County schools, roads closed

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Irwin Mill Road Flooding

Water rushes over Irwin Mill Road off Sinking Springs Road northeast of downtown Clinton on Wednesday, burying a one-lane bridge on a narrow, winding road under what appears to be several feet of water.

Anderson County schools closed today, and weather forecasters say a stationary storm system could continue dumping light to moderate rain on the region through Thursday, possibly creating more flooding along some waterways and other low-lying areas.

Ten Anderson County roads are closed, impassable, or affected by flooding, authorities said. Among the closed roads are Batley Road at Airport Road and the 300 block of Bush Road in Marlow, Midway Drive and Airport Road in Oliver Springs, Irwin Mill Road in Clinton, and the bridge on Pumpkin Hollow Road at Brooks Gap Road near Interstate 75.

Anderson County dispatchers said Lower Clear Creek Road and Dairy Pond Road in Norris are impassable, and Brooks Gap Road and the 400 block of Old Dutch Valley Road have a lot of water over them.

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Strong, damaging winds possible through this afternoon

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A strong low pressure system moving northeast through East Tennessee and southwest North Carolina and Virginia could produce damaging winds through this afternoon along the foothills and eastern mountains, and some snowfall is possible in the region, forecasters said.

The system could produce strong southerly winds between 25 and 40 mph, and gusts over 70 mph are possible, the National Weather Service in Morristown said.

“As a cold front moves through the region today, cold air will rush in behind it, changing the rain to snow late this afternoon, with some snow showers persisting across the area tonight,” an NWS hazardous weather outlook said. “Light snowfall is possible, especially across the higher elevations of southwest Virginia and far East Tennessee mountains Wednesday night into Thursday.”

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Snow possible today, but not likely on Christmas, forecasters say

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There is a slight chance of snow this morning and again this evening, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The NWS says the chance of precipitation is 20 percent, and that could mean snow before 1 p.m., rain this afternoon, and snow and rain after 5 p.m.

There were very light snow flurries in Oak Ridge  at about 3:30 a.m. today (Friday).

Forecasters do not expect snow on Christmas. The forecast now calls for a 30 percent chance of showers on Christmas Day, with a high near 52.

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