Old Man Winter recently made his presence felt across the state.
The first week of 2017 was capped off with single digit temperatures and precipitation coming into the region.
Sam Roberts, meteorologist with the National Weather Service – Morristown, said the region received between four to six inches over the weekend. He added reports from Elizabethton showcased six inches of snow while higher elevations, including Mountain City, received around seven-and-a-half inches worth of precipitation.
“Today is actually the first day we’ve been above freezing since Thursday,” Roberts told the STAR Monday. “We have an observation station in Elizabethton and it is showing 34 degrees, so that’s a first in a little while we’ve been out of freezing temperatures. Residents should expect some ice in the early morning hours tomorrow but we’re expecting the snow and ice to be melted by tomorrow afternoon.”
And the weather is expected to take a 360 of sorts throughout the remainder of the week, according to Roberts, with temperatures expected to reach 60 degrees from Thursday, Jan. 12, to next Monday.
“We’re expecting a little bit of a wet week,” Roberts said. “The highest percentage of rain is expected Tuesday, heading into Wednesday with a 60 percent chance. If people don’t mind a little rain, we’re expecting above average warmer weather for the next seven to ten days.”
With warm weather on the horizon, Roberts added that the risk of cooler temperatures and precipitation is to be expected over the next couple of months.
“There’s a chance of snow until the first of March,” he said. “While we’re going to have a warm spell over the next week, we’re not out of the woods with inclement weather.”
The weekend saw numerous roads across the region having to be treated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, along with city and county departments, due to icy conditions. In preparation for upcoming weather, Roberts added that individuals need to be prepared by allowing an extra period of time for travel, if needed, and to carry an extra pair of clothes in case of being stranded.
“It’s better to plan ahead than wait for the last minute,” he said.