Oak Ridge Today

Mail carrier shaken up, but not injured, when tree falls on delivery truck

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USPS-Mail-Truck-Damage-Jan-22-2016

A mail carrier was shaken up but not injured when a tree fell on her delivery truck in west Oak Ridge on Friday morning, Jan. 22, 2016, officials said. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A mail carrier was shaken up but not injured when a large tree fell on her delivery truck in west Oak Ridge on Friday morning, officials said.

The mail carrier was in her vehicle delivering mail on Mohawk Road when the tree fell on it at about 10:10 a.m. Friday, said David Walton, spokesman for the Tennessee district of the United States Postal Service.

The carrier was able to get out of the vehicle, but the tree had to be cut before the truck could be moved, Walton said.

The delivery vehicle was towed back to the Post Office, where the mail was unloaded onto another vehicle. Another carrier then finished the route. [Read more…]

Winter storm warning issued; 3 to 5 inches of snow possible

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Snowfall-Amounts-Friday-Saturday-Jan-21-2016

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:54 p.m.

A winter storm warning has been issued for Anderson, Knox, Roane, and other counties starting Friday afternoon, and three to five inches of snow is possible in the area, forecasters said.

The winter storm warning goes into effect at 1 p.m. Friday and continues through 7 p.m. Saturday. It’s been upgraded from a winter weather advisory.

A strong winter storm is expected to affect the region starting late Thursday night (January 21) and continuing through early Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The winter storm warning also applies to Loudon, northwest Blount, and north Sevier counties, among other counties, and it includes the cities of Clinton, Kingston, Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Lenoir City, Maryville, and Sevierville. (See the winter storm warning here.) [Read more…]

National Weather Service: Snow, ice-covered roads through Thursday morning

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Pennsylvania-Avenue-Snow-Jan-20-2016

Pennsylvania Avenue west of New York Avenue is pictured above late Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:07 a.m.

There had been some improvement on main roads in Oak Ridge late Wednesday afternoon but many side streets remained snow-covered and slippery, and the National Weather Service said snow and ice-covered roads will remain through Thursday morning.

State Route 62 or East Tri County Boulevard in Oliver Springs was still snow-covered early Wednesday evening and was slippery, especially driving south, up the hill toward Oak Ridge.

In Oak Ridge, Illinois Avenue was in the best condition late Wednesday afternoon, and Oak Ridge Turnpike and some well-traveled side streets, including Hillside Road and a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue, still had some snow but were passable. Still, side streets were slippery. One small car needed a push from two men just to get to the curb while trying to get up a small hill on West Outer Drive near North Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

Roads becoming slipperier as snow continues to fall

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Turnpike-Administration-Road-Snow-Plow-Jan-20-2016

Roads in Oak Ridge are becoming slipperier as snow continues to accumulate. Above, an Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Administration Road at about 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, Jan. 20, 2016. Heavy snow continued to fall about 1.5 hours later. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:30 p.m.

Roads in Oak Ridge became slipperier on Wednesday morning as snow continued to fall.

There were slick spots on well-traveled roads such as New York Avenue, Tyler and Administration roads, and even Oak Ridge Turnpike at about 11 a.m. Wednesday. And a heavy snow continued to fall about an hour later.

Oak Ridge Today drove around central Oak Ridge for about an hour between 10 and 11 a.m. Wednesday while taking pictures, and the roads became noticeably slicker as snow accumulated. We measured about three-quarters of an inch of snow in a parking lot at the Oak Ridge Civic Center at about 10:15 a.m. A few hours later, there was a little more than two inches on the ground on a city side street.

Most people appeared to be driving cautiously Wednesday morning as schools and some government offices and businesses decided to close. [Read more…]

Snow: One to three inches possible in Oak Ridge

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Winter-Weather-Advisory-II-Jan-19-2016

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

There is a 20 percent chance of snow showers after 1 a.m. Wednesday, and snow is likely before 3 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.

A new snow accumulation of one to three inches is possible in Oak Ridge, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of precipitation on Wednesday, with snow likely, followed by a mix of rain and snow.

A winter weather advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday as a fast-moving storm system is expected to bring one to two inches of snow across the area by Wednesday evening, the NWS said. [Read more…]

Updated: Severe thunderstorm, flash flood watches in effect

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Severe Weather Outlook July 14, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:43 p.m.

There is a higher risk of severe thunderstorms across the region today (Tuesday, July 14), forecasters said.

The storms could bring widespread damaging winds and very large hail, and isolated tornadoes are possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

Here are the latest updates (as of 3:43 p.m. Tuesday) from the National Weather Service:

[Read more…]

Anderson government closed; Y-12, Oak Ridge, UCOR, DOE, ORAU start late

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Snow in Oak Ridge on Feb. 26, 2015

Several inches of snow fell in Oak Ridge and across East Tennessee overnight. (Photo by Bruce Phillips)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 9:23 a.m.

Several inches of snow fell in East Tennessee overnight, and there are more closings and delays because of weather and road conditions.

The Y-12 National Security Complex is still clearing some areas at the site. Non-essential employees should delay arrival at the site until 11 a.m. UPF Offsite Offices also should delay until 11 a.m. Personnel are urged to use caution when driving and walking throughout the site and to use designated snow routes.

Anderson County government offices will be closed Thursday. The Roane County Courthouse is also closed. [Read more…]

Snow: Oak Ridge Schools closed, city opens late, Discovery Ed Livestream postponed

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Snow Sweeper at Oak Ridge High School

A tractor with sweeping equipment helps remove snow from the Oak Ridge High School parking lot. (Photo by Julio Culiat) 

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:52 p.m. Some of these announcements continue to change. We will update this story as we can.

Oak Ridge Schools are closed today (Tuesday, February 24), and the City of Oak Ridge offices will open at 10 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools said the Discovery Ed Livestream that had been scheduled for today has been postponed until May.

Anderson County Courthouse is closed due to weather. So is Roane State Community College. [Read more…]

Snow: Basketball tournament canceled; city centers, some businesses closed

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Taylor Road Snow Lady Feb. 21, 2015

Ashlynn and Myrah Forgety build a snow woman on Taylor Road in Oak Ridge on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Leah M. Bevins)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:58 p.m.

The snow overnight, which covered some roads that were already treacherous, has forced more closings, cancellations, and delays.

The Oak Ridge Civic Center, Scarboro Center, Senior Center, and Public Library will all be closed today, Saturday, February 21.

The District 3-AAA basketball tournament, which had been rescheduled for today at Central High School in Knoxville, has been canceled. The regional tournament is scheduled to start Monday, and the seedings that stand now will be used in the regional tournament.

Some businesses in Oak Ridge announced they are closed or opening later, possibly after the temperature warms and the precipitation changes to rain. For example, ORNL Federal Credit Union announced that all of its locations will be closed today. Hot Bagel Co. announced it will be closed today but will reopen at 6 a.m. Monday. The Other One in Grove Center said they will not open this morning, but could reopen this afternoon. You might consider calling ahead if you have a question about a specific business. [Read more…]

Dangerous wind chills Wednesday night, Thursday

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Dangerous Wind Chills

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a wind chill advisory for Wednesday night and Thursday, with the wind chill forecast at five below zero to 15 below in parts of East Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

The wind chill advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. Friday, and it applies to Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Scott, and Union counties. It includes Clinton, Oak Ridge, LaFollette, Maynardville, Oneida, and Wartburg.

There is also a winter storm watch in effect from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, bringing a threat of wintry precipitation. [Read more…]

Officials recommend staying off roads unless travel is essential

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Oak Ridge Roads on Feb. 16, 2015

South Illinois Avenue was a sloppy, slushy mix of snow, ice, and water early Monday evening.

 

Roads in Anderson County are ice-covered, and driving conditions are extremely hazardous, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy.

“We have already received reports of accidents due to slick roads,” Lucas said. “We are asking everyone to please stay at home and not to travel unless absolutely necessary.”

The roads in Oak Ridge appeared to be a sloppy, slushy mix of sleet, ice, and snow. There were reports in Anderson County and Oak Ridge of roads that were frozen or impassable. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge: 4,000 lose power, 70 homes damaged

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Wadsworth Circle Home Tree

One of two trees that fell on a home on West Wadsworth Circle. The second tree, visible on the ground in the background, punched a hole in the roof and displaced a mother, grandmother, and two children.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:40 p.m.

Roughly 4,000 customers lost power in the Tuesday evening storm, and about 70 damaged homes will require repairs by an electrician before power can be restored, an Oak Ridge official said Wednesday morning.

Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs said he doesn’t recall ever having 70 homes damaged in one storm, although the Electric Department has experienced worse storms when many utility poles were broken. But the brief, fierce Tuesday storm, which brought severe winds and driving rain, was significant in terms of its damage to homes and its far-reaching nature, from Blair Road on the west end of town to east Oak Ridge and beyond—into Clinton and Anderson County, Suggs said.

“It was pretty widespread,” Suggs said.

Janet Bowker on Plymouth Circle and Storm Debris

Janet Bowker, left, walks through debris on Plymouth Circle in front of her home, where a tree fell into her bedroom during the Tuesday evening storm. Her home is at right but not visible in this picture. There were no injuries, but Bowker does not have power now.

 

The storm, which ripped through Oak Ridge at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, left a trail of debris: scattered branches and limbs, broken trees, fallen power lines, and damaged buildings and homes. It also triggered a flood of calls to the city’s 911 call dispatch center.

About 500 customers remained without power around noon Wednesday, including the 70 damaged homes. [Read more…]