Oak Ridge Today

Tornado watch through early Wednesday

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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

A tornado watch is in effect in the area through early Wednesday, and strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said a severe weather outbreak is possible through Tuesday evening over the Ohio Valley, with the broader severe weather risk including parts of the Southeast.

“Strong and potentially long-track tornadoes are possible from Indiana and Ohio southward into the Mid South,” the Storm Prediction Center said. “A threat for strong tornadoes may focus this evening into tonight across parts of Alabama and Georgia.”

The region’s tornado watch is in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday, and it includes Anderson, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties, among others. Oak Ridge is in Anderson and Roane counties.

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Heat advisory canceled, but heat indices could still exceed 100

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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

Showers and thunderstorms Friday morning brought high cirrus clouds to the region, affecting temperatures this afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

“Therefore, the heat advisory has been canceled,” said the NWS in Morristown.

However, high temperatures are still expected in the low 90s with heat indices above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the Weather Service said.

A hazardous weather outlook that includes East Tennessee said temperatures in the low to mid 90s are expected today in the southern Tennessee Valley and southern Cumberland Plateau, along with heat indices of more than 100.

The hazardous weather outlook includes Anderson County.

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Road conditions still bad, police say; Y-12 closed

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An Oak Ridge Public Works Department snow truck is pictured on South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

An Oak Ridge Public Works Department snow truck is pictured on South Illinois Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 p.m.

Update: Driving conditions on main roads and side streets in Oak Ridge seemed to have improved by about 5 p.m. Wednesday, although there were still patches of ice and snow, including in shopping center parking lots.

Wednesday evening, the Oak Ridge Police Department said conditions had improved on main roads, but side streets were still extremely slick. Drivers should use extra caution if they have to get out tonight. There could be some refreezing on the roads overnight with the low temperatures. Oak Ridge Schools will be closed again on Thursday, January 18, due to the conditions.

A few inches of snow fell Tuesday, and road conditions are still bad Wednesday morning, especially in the city’s neighborhoods, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. The Y-12 National Security Complex and the Uranium Processing Facility offices are closed.

Oak Ridge Public Works Department crews are out clearing and treating the roads.

“If you must go out, please use extreme caution,” the ORPD said.

Y-12 said normal operations will resume Thursday, January 18. [Read more…]

Multiple weather advisories in effect this afternoon

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The threat of severe weather is still in place for today. Be prepared! Make sure you have a way to get weather information and keep up to date on the latest forecast. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

The threat of severe weather is still in place for today. Be prepared! Make sure you have a way to get weather information and keep up to date on the latest forecast. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

There are several weather advisories in effect for Oak Ridge this afternoon (Wednesday, March 1).

The severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 2:15 p.m.

There is a flood advisory in effect until 4:15 p.m., and a flash flood warning until 4:30 p.m.

A wind advisory remains in effect until midnight. [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:

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Closings: City Hall, ORAU, Chamber, OSTI, DOE-ORO, Y-12; no trash pickup

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Note: This story was last updated at 11:39 a.m.

Here are more closings announced for Tuesday, as well as a few that were announced previously. Some previous announcements have been revised, mostly changing from a late opening to a closing.

The City of Oak Ridge offices will be closed today, Tuesday, February 17, due to icy roads. The Oak Ridge City Council work session scheduled for tonight has also be canceled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

Waste Connections will not be conducting trash pick up today and will be on a one-day delay.

The U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office (the Federal Building) and DOE’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information will be closed due to hazardous weather conditions. Employees with situational telework agreements in place are expected to telework. [Read more…]

Weather: Oak Ridge Schools, Roane State, Y-12 closed; some businesses closed, running late

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Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Note: This story was last updated at 2:41 p.m.

Oak Ridge Schools and Roane State Community College are closed today (Monday, February 16) due to weather, and some employers and businesses are starting late or are closed.

The Y-12 National Security Complex is closed to non-essential employees due to hazardous weather conditions.

Roane County Schools Central Office will also be closed due to the weather. This includes Technology, Transportation, and other departments.

Some schools, including Clinton’s, were already closed today because of the Presidents’ Day holiday. And some businesses and government offices were already closed because of the holiday. [Read more…]

Updated: Winter storm warning in effect; snow, sleet, freezing rain possible

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Ice Accumulation

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:32 a.m. Feb. 16.

A winter storm warning is in effect in parts of East Tennessee—including Anderson, Knox, Loudon, and Roane counties—and there could be some snow this morning, possibly mixed with sleet, forecasters said. The precipitation could change to a mix of mostly freezing rain and sleet during the day, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. It could change back to sleet or snow before tapering off.

The NWS said snow and sleet accumulations of one to four inches are possible, and total ice accumulations of a quarter to a half inch are possible.

The winter storm warning area includes Clinton and Oak Ridge, as well as Kingston and Knoxville. It also includes Jefferson, Grainger, and Union counties, and northwest Blount and north Sevier counties. The storm warning is in effect from 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday. [Read more…]

Winter storm warning in effect for mountains, heavy snowfall possible

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A winter storm warning is in effect in the mountains of East Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and western North Carolina from Friday to Saturday night, and up to 15 inches of snow is possible at elevations above 5,000 feet, forecasters said.

Snowfall of between four to eight inches is expected for locations above 2,500 feet, including Interstate 40 in North Carolina and I-26 in Unicoi County, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. Up to 12-15 inches of snow is possible on the highest peaks above 5,000 feet, including U.S. Highway 441 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. [Read more…]

Flurries fall in Oak Ridge as forecast calls for cold, snow

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Early January Snow and Cold

Flurries fell in Oak Ridge early Thursday evening, and the weather forecast called for colder, snowy conditions as a major winter storm affects the eastern United States from the southern Appalachians to New England.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said there is a 60 percent chance of snow tonight near Oak Ridge, with a low of 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

Friday is expected to be mostly sunny and cold, with a high of 27 and a low of 17, but there is a 70 percent chance of rain or snow on Sunday and a 70 percent chance of snow on Monday. [Read more…]

Severe thunderstorms expected through this evening

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Severe Thunderstorms

Severe thunderstorms are expected across East Tennessee through this evening, with damaging winds and large hail possible. (Image courtesy of National Weather Service in Morristown.)

Severe thunderstorms are expected across East Tennessee through this evening, with damaging winds and large hail possible.

Localized flooding and isolated tornadoes are also possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The forecast for Oak Ridge calls for showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after midnight. [Read more…]

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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