Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge had more than 15 inches of rain in February

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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Oak Ridge had more than 15 inches of rain in February, a record, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The Oak Ridge Automated Surface Observing Systems recorded 15.62 inches of precipitation during February.

“Records for that site only go back to 1998,” the NWS said. “2019 is the wettest February on record.”

The monthly normal for Oak Ridge is 4.11 inches of rain, the National Weather Service said. The 15.62 inches of precipitation is 3.8 times the monthly normal of 4.11 inches. [Read more…]

Anderson, Roane schools closed Monday; Briceville Highway closed due to ‘slide issues’

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State Route 116 in Anderson County, also known as Briceville Highway, is closed at Hawkins Road due to “slide issues,” the Tennessee Department of Transportation said Sunday. Also Sunday, Anderson County Schools and Roane County Schools both announced they will be closed Monday.

TDOT said traffic on Briceville Highway is being diverted to county roads.

“Use caution in this area,” TDOT said.

Hawkins Road is southwest of Rocky Top (the former Lake City) and northeast of Briceville.

Briceville Highway had earlier been reported to be closed in Briceville due to sinking pavement on Sunday afternoon. [Read more…]

Roads slippery as more snow falls; NWS advises against travel

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More snow fell in Oak Ridge on Friday night, and parts of many roads, including Pellissippi Parkway going into Knox County, were slippery. Pictured above is South Illinois Avenue at Weigel’s gas station and convenience center just before midnight on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

More snow fell in Oak Ridge on Friday night, and parts of many roads, including Pellissippi Parkway going into Knox County, were snow-covered and slippery.

Before midnight Friday, sections of roadway were clear on Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue in central Oak Ridge, but many side streets, including heavily traveled roads like Tennessee Avenue and New York Avenue, were covered by a layer of snow. Other snow-covered roads included Tulane and Rutgers avenues, and Providence and Robertsville roads.

The National Weather Service in Morristown advised people to stay off the roads, unless travel is absolutely necessary. [Read more…]

Updated: Few inches of snow possible through Saturday, NWS says

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snowfall-totals-jan-6-7-2017

Snow will move into the area later Friday evening and night (Jan. 6, 2017), and this map shows the current forecasted snowfall totals expected. Snowfall accumulations will be greatest along the Northern Plateau of East Tennessee and the Cumberland mountains of Southwest Virginia. With surface temperatures below freezing, snow will accumulate on untreated roads. This may result in in negative travel impacts to motorists. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 6.

A few inches of snow are possible in the Knoxville area from Thursday through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The potential snowfall ranges from 1.7 inches in Norris to 3.0 inches in Knoxville from Friday to Saturday morning, the NWS said.

The forecast calls for a possible 2.2 inches in Kingston, 1.6 inches in Wartburg, 3.7 inches in Maryville, and 5 inches in Gatlinburg.

A winter weather advisory was in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday.

Then, a winter storm watch is in effect from 1 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. [Read more…]

Winter storm warning in effect through Saturday evening

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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:25 p.m.

Rain turned into occasional snow in Oak Ridge on Friday afternoon as a winter storm warning remained in effect, and the National Weather Service in Morristown said there is a 100 percent chance of precipitation on Friday night, with new snow accumulation of two to four inches possible.

Snow will continue to be likely Saturday morning, mainly before 11 a.m., the NWS said.

The low tonight is forecast at 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and the high tomorrow is expected to be 31. The new snow accumulation on Saturday is expected to be less than half of an inch.

The winter storm warning remains in effect through 7 p.m. Saturday. It’s part of a large, strong Winter Storm Jonas that’s affecting a large part of the eastern United States, including Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge schools open Friday; Clinton, Anderson schools closed

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Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools will have a regular school day on Friday, January 22, and will start on time, officials said.

Schools in the Clinton and Anderson County districts remain closed for a third day.

Roane County Schools announced that, as of Thursday evening, they planned to be open Friday.

After being closed two days, Anderson County government offices will be open on Friday. [Read more…]

Snow: One to three inches possible in Oak Ridge

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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…]

Forecast: Rain changing to sleet, snow; AC, Clinton schools closed

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Winter Weather Forecast March 4, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Rain could change to a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet and then possibly snow as the temperature drops overnight and Thursday morning, forecasters said.

Anderson County Schools and Clinton City Schools will be closed Thursday, March 5.

Forecasters said rain associated with a cold front will continue over the area through tonight. Arctic air will move in behind the front while the precipitation is ongoing, plunging surface temperatures to below freezing especially over the Cumberland Plateau and southwest Virginia overnight, the National Weather Service in Morristown said. [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…]

Flood watch starts this afternoon after week of winter weather

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Flood Watch Feb. 21, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:31 p.m.

A flood watch will be in effect for parts of East Tennessee, including Anderson County, and parts of southwest Virginia and North Carolina starting this afternoon (Saturday, February 21) and continuing through Sunday afternoon, forecasters said.

The flood watch follows a week of winter weather that included icy precipitation on Monday, snow on Wednesday morning, bitter cold on Thursday and Friday, and more snow starting Friday night.

But the National Weather Service in Morristown said the forecast calls for melting snow and ice Saturday night in addition to rain. [Read more…]

City crews treat all streets by Thursday, now working on water main breaks

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Oak Ridge Snow Plow on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Feb. 17, 2015

An Oak Ridge snow plow is pictured above at center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, which was mostly clear on Tuesday evening, February 17. 

 

Crews from the Oak Ridge Public Works Department had treated all 230 miles of streets by the time they left work on Thursday, and they’re now battling a half-dozen small water main breaks.

Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder said crews focused on what are known as Level 3 and Level 4 streets on Thursday. They removed all loose snow. But there could still be patches of ice on some roads, Cinder said.

“You can’t get ice off the street until you get much warmer temperatures,” he said. [Read more…]