News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Sunshine showed its power Tuesday though temperatures never got much about 18 degrees across the Upper Cumberland as the dig out begins from the Sunday-Monday storm.
“We’ve actually been pretty pleasantly surprised today with the thawing that we’ve seen on the main roads,” Putnam County Emergency Management Director Brandon Smith said. “A lot of the side roads are still snow or ice covered, but we’ve seen significant improvement on the main roads.”
Smith said Interstate 40 is in much better shape than just 24 hours ago. Divided roads like Highway 111 have also improved.
The concern now turns to dangerously low temperatures Tuesday night, with forecast lows between minus 2 and 2. Overton County Emergency Management Director Chris Massiongale said the first concern is the dangerous wind chill values that can impact anyone outside.
“It’s still going to be hazardous tonight as the temperatures drop,” Massiongale said. “What’s melted is going to freeze. And so you’re going to have black ice.”
Secondary roads across the region remain a concern and the cold temperatures will allow the snow to freeze and glaze.
“All of secondary roads are still pretty slick,” Dekalb County’s Charlie Parker said. “Most of them are passable with four wheel drive. Some of them are really bad, especially in the shady spots.”
Massiongale said T-DOT and county crews, helped by the sun, made significant progress Tuesday.
“Hats off to them, they’re doing a really good job,” Massiongale said. “Of course, our county folks are as well, done a good job. The state roads got at least one lane that’s in really good shape in lots of places we have, too.”
Parker’s advice: stay off the roads Tuesday night.
“We still encourage everybody to stay in unless you just absolutely have to get out for some emergency reason, because it’s going to be extremely cold,” Parker said. “And like I said, it’s pretty dangerous being out on the road.”
