KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Overnight Thursday a blast of arctic air is expected to sweep through East Tennessee, bringing the potential for snow and ice while also bringing wind chills down to -20 degrees.
It is expected to start with showers, before quickly turning to snow at around 10 p.m. through midnight. Though there is not much snow expected in the region, there could be icy conditions beneath the snow layer which could cause hazardous conditions into Friday morning.
Crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Knoxville said they were working to keep roads. However, the rainfall was expected to make treating the roads difficult, since water could wash the salt-brine mixture away.
So, drivers need to use caution if they head onto the roads late Thursday night or Friday morning.
First, drivers should slow down on the roads. The conditions can make it more difficult to control vehicles. Drivers also should make sure to leave extra room between them and the vehicles in front of them, so they have plenty of time to stop.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also said drivers should not crowd snow plows or travel behind trucks. They travel slowly and make wide turns, while also stopping often and overlapping lanes. They also shouldn't use cruise control if driving during winter weather.
People should also use caution when driving on bridges. They tend to lose heat quicker than average roads and will freeze faster than average roads since they're higher up and are surrounded by colder air.
People should also make sure to prepare their cars before hitting the road. They should make sure their tires are in good shape, and so are their brakes. They should also prepare an emergency kit in case they need a way to stay warm or contact others during their journey.
Drivers should also keep at least half a tank of fuel in their cars, to make sure they aren't stranded on the road and to help prevent damage inside their cars.
They also should accelerate and decelerate slowly, to make sure they keep traction and avoid skids on the road.
