Fallout from snowfall on Sunday and Monday continued Wednesday as low temperatures left side streets frozen and power providers strained.
Early Wednesday, temperatures across Middle Tennessee fell below zero, with temperatures not expected to rise above freezing until Thursday, and even then only barely.
After initially canceling classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Metro Nashville Public Schools officials announced that schools would remain closed through the week. Leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly had already canceled all meetings this week, and Vice Mayor Angie Henderson postponed Tuesday's Metro Council meeting until next week.
Tom Joy Elementary School
The Tennessee Valley Authority reported record power demand at 8 a.m. Wednesday, surpassing a previous record set in August 2007. The TVA and utilities around the region encouraged residents to conserve energy in an effort to prevent the power grid from faltering. Mayor Freddie O'Connell said pro sports franchises including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators were among the entities voluntarily reducing energy use on Wednesday as requested by TVA. Nashville Electric Service crews responded to 201 outages on Monday, 230 on Tuesday and 54 overnight into Wednesday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration briefly issued a ground stop of all flights at Nashville International Airport on Monday.
Trash and recycling collection in Nashville is suspended through Wednesday.
Metro's extreme cold weather overflow shelter hosted 298 people on Sunday night, 374 people on Monday night and 361 people on Tuesday night. It will remain open at least through Thursday. WeGo is providing free bus rides to shelters, and Metro Police officers have given rides to some residents needing shelter. Outreach teams from the Metro Office of Homeless Services have been canvassing outdoor camps and delivering food and other supplies.
The Nashville Office of Emergency Management has also distributed supplies at encampments, while also checking on water main breaks and vehicle accidents. OEM teams will conduct cold patrols again Friday and Saturday.
Metro Social Services, OEM, Room In The Inn and Nashville Rescue Mission leaders have been meeting twice daily to make sure citywide shelter capacity is sufficient, and city leaders said no one has been turned away from facilities due to capacity issues.
Davidson County criminal courts were closed again Wednesday, while proceedings in the circuit and chancery courts were expected to be conducted primarily virtually.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
