WINTER STORM WATCH ISSUED! Heavy Snow & Cold Likely for West Tennessee

WBBJ 7 Forecast Update

January 12, 2024

Joel Barnes,

WBBJ 7 Forecast Update:

May be an image of map and text that says 'STORM TEAM WEATHER wbbjtv. com CURRENT WIND CHILL "FEELS LIKE" 9:32 PM Union City 14° Ridgely 14° Martin 15° Paris 15° Dyersburg 16° Trenton 16° Alamo 18° Ripley 18° Camden 19° 17° Covington 18° Brownsville 19° Lexington 25° Jackson 19° Henderson 21° Parsons 25° Memphis 20° Somerville 20° Bolivar 21° Selmer 22° Savannah 24°'

Gusty winds and temperatures around 30° is making it feel in the teens tonight across West Tennessee. Temperatures will drop even more this weekend and especially into next week. Also, a widespread 3-6″ of snow looks to be on the way with some folks seeing up to 8″ by Monday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a WINTER STORM WATCH for all of West Tennessee. The change in the forecast is from model guidance showing more available moisture and snow sticking around late into the day on Monday. The forecast could change a bit over the next few days but please be prepared for heavy snow, impossible travel and bitter cold temperatures from Sunday night through Tuesday morning. Catch a full detailed report right here.

WINTER STORM WATCH:

A winter storm watch has been issued by the National Weather Service in Memphis from Sunday afternoon through Monday night. According to the NWS, 3-8″ of snow will fall during that time frame. The heaviest snow will start Sunday night and last through Monday morning. Travel could be very difficult and the hazardous conditions could impact the morning and evening commutes on Monday. A winter storm watch is issued when there is a possibility of accumulating snow, sleet, freezing rain or ice with significant impacts to society and commerce.

WIND ADVISORY:

A wind advisory also remains in effect for all of West Tennessee until midnight tonight. A high wind warning has even been issued for western Kentucky as an intense area of low pressure will move through this evening. The winds will weaken overnight as the current system moves out.

TONIGHT:

A wet and windy system came through on Friday and it looks like it was quite similar to Monday’s system. We had to deal with very gusty winds and heavy rain showers and a few storms as well. Conditions will remain windy this evening and it will remain breezy overnight, but the intense winds should move out by midnight. The clouds stuck around most of the day and will begin to clear out this evening and overnight making for a cold night as well. Overnight lows are forecast to fall down to the mid 20s tonight before we kick off the weekend.

THE WEEKEND:

The coldest weather so far this season is on the tap for the weekend in West Tennessee. Morning lows will drop down to the low 20s and highs are forecast to only reach the lows 40s on Saturday and mid 20s on Sunday. The winds this weekend will come out of the west or northwest and will be quite brisk due to the cold temperatures. Partly cloudy skies are on tap for Saturday but thicker clouds will look to move back in late in the day Sunday. We could see a quick spitting shower or two on Saturday that could be a wintry mix but the heavy precipitation is forecast to come in late Sunday.

The system early next week looks to be quite the attention grabber. It appears as of now, it will be our first round of accumulating snow so far this season. Please keep an eye on the forecast as this looks to be a bread and milk getting type system. The forecast may change some but everyone in West Tennessee is going to get in on the snow and cold act this time. Highs next Monday might only reach the 20s. The main question as far as the temperatures, will be when the clouds move out. As long as the clouds stick around we will stay above 10°, but once they clear out, temperatures could bottom out around 0°.

NEXT WEEK:

Accumulations of snow seem extremely likely for all of West Tennessee and the current thoughts are the highest amounts will be in our southern counties with the lowest amounts being in our northern counties. The main question as far as snow totals will be how long into the afternoon the snow continue on Sunday. If is moves out early, we might get 2-4″. But if it sticks around late, 4-8″ of snow will be the result.

On top of the snow chances, single digit or even below zero temperatures will be possible Monday night and again on Tuesday night. The wind chill will be a major concern Tuesday and Wednesday morning for all of us. The wind chill will be below zero on Monday night and maybe as low as -15° Tuesday night

The snow will move out late in the day on Monday but the cold will stick around for most of next week. Please plan accordingly and be prepared to stay inside for a few days early next week. Please remember the 4 ps (people, pipes, pets and plants) as the system moves in late over the weekend and the frigid air moves in early next week.

May be an image of map and text that says 'STORM TEAM WEATHER wbbjtv. com TEMPERATURE TREND 6-10 DAY January 16 January 20 Seattle Great Falls Bismarck Rapid City Minneapolis Boise Salt Lake City Denver NEAR NORMAL BELOW New York City NORMAL Washington D.C. C. Kansas City Cincinnati Albuquerque Phoenix Oklahoma City Jackson Little Rock Atlanta Raleigh Austin BEL BELOW NORMAL Jacksonville'

FINAL THOUGHT:

Some areas saw over 4″ of rain this week between the first two systems and more precipitation is coming Sunday night into Monday and it is going to be snow. A winter storm watch has been issued and heavy snow is coming as we wrap up the weekend and head into next week. EXTREME bitter life threatening cold will move in next week so please be prepared.

We will fine tune the forecast as the weekend progresses but we are not expecting the forecast to change much. Stay with WBBJ this week for the latest forecast information and be prepared, not scared and stay weather aware. Please remember the 4ps, especially you, your pets and your property as the cold moves in this weekend.