Updates from January 11, 2025

5:00 p.m. update: After 37 hours, our Public Works team reports all roads are passable. Still, there will be slick areas, especially where there is compacted snow. This will be the case on roads atop Lookout Mountain like Yankee, Flarity and Old State, along with some intersections.

With temperatures dropping into the teens tonight, we do expect black ice to develop on some roads. Ice on roads can be very difficult or impossible to see in the dark. Use extra caution while driving and slow down to reduce your risk. Avoid sudden breaking or rapid lane changes if possible.

Temperatures will not rise above freezing until at least mid-morning Sunday. The forecast for Sunday calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 40.

10:30 a.m. update: Main county roads are passable this morning. Public Works crews plowed overnight and are back at it again today. Our team is working in shifts so they can stay fresh. Our goal today will be to plow roads we did not get to yesterday or overnight, so we can remove as much slush/wintry mix off the roads to give them a chance to dry. Temperatures overnight will be down in the teens, so any wet spots will have the potential to refreeze.

Some of the roads worked on overnight include Boss, Brotherton, Friendship, Bowen, Bonds, Taylor Broome, Lake Howard, and Lisbon, among others.

When traveling, please keep an eye out for branches and limbs that may have broken off. If a tree is actually blocking the road, please report it to dispatch. Otherwise, our crews are making note of obstructions and will address them when plowing, or in the case of low hanging limbs, after things thaw.

Updates from January 10, 2025

6:30 p.m. update: Main county roads are currently slushy, with slick areas, but passable. Public Works crews are still out taking care of trouble spots on main thoroughfares like Lake Howard Road, Dripping Springs Road, Nickajack Road & Lula Lake Road.

Crews will attempt to start on secondary roads tonight, but will be back at it again tomorrow.

The forecast for this evening now calls for rain showers and freezing rain likely, possibly mixed with sleet before 8pm, then a chance of freezing rain between 8pm and 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Total nighttime ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. Total nighttime sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Saturday’s forecast calls for partly sunny skies, with a high near 36.

1:00 p.m. update: Roads continue to be slick and hazardous, especially bridges and overpasses. Foster Mill Road is blocked due to a jackknifed 18-wheeler. Throughout the county, we have multiple reports of vehicles off in the ditch. Towing company response is currently limited. Our Public Works crews continue to plow main thoroughfares, but until the precipitation slows down, it’s a challenge.

The latest forecast calls for heavy mixed precipitation this afternoon with additional snow accumulations of one inch or less possible. Additional ice accumulations of up four-tenths of an inch are also possible.

10:00 a.m. update: Watch our livestreams from the bottom and top of Nick-a-Jack Road.

9:00 a.m. update: Roads are slick and snow covered throughout the county. Motorists need to slow down and pay attention to their surroundings. We have already had two near misses for our Public Works team and a vehicle strike a jogger on N Marble Top Road.

There is an area of heavy snow heading our way that is expected to bring up to 2 to 3 inches of accumulation over the next 3 to 4 hours. Be prepared for hazardous driving conditions.

7:00 a.m. update:  Snow is now falling throughout Walker County and a Winter Storm Warning is now in effect. We are already receiving reports of slick roads. Travel is not recommended, and motorists should expect dangerous travel conditions. If you do not have to be out, please stay home and allow our Public Works crews time to plow the roads.