The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is operating under a state of emergency as dangerous icy and snowy conditions cause significant impacts on roads and interstates around Middle and Western Tennessee.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is asking people to stay off roadways if possible and Gov. Bill Haslam is asking people take extra precautions as the inclement weather moves across the state.
Travel conditions in parts of the state worsened throughout the day as a wintry mix developed west-to-east, and temperatures continued to plummet.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to a wreck on Interstate 40 near mile marker 120 involving numerous tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles Friday afternoon.
Middle and West TN drivers please stay off the roads. The roads are getting more hazardous. Do not risk damaging your vehicle, getting injured or even killed. This is not a game of slip and slide. It is very dangerous to drive on ice. pic.twitter.com/ZFf3vJZcdH
— TN Highway Patrol (@TNHighwayPatrol) January 12, 2018
Winter mix is heading towards the Cumberland Plateau. Please use caution on I-40 around the Plateau. If you absolutely do not need to drive then stay off the roads. @THPCookeville pic.twitter.com/3i2GyAW8Qu
— TN Highway Patrol (@TNHighwayPatrol) January 12, 2018
In Knoxville, temperatures dropped 10 degrees in 30 minutes in the late afternoon, from 55 degrees at 4 p.m. to 45 degrees at 4:30 p.m. with a wind chill of 36 degrees.
Temperatures will continue to fall Friday night as arctic air moves into the region.
Those who must drive Friday into the evening are advised to use extreme caution due to wet, hazardous road conditions.