Snow Totals, COLD here to Stay, Next System Coming Thursday

WBBJ 7 Forecast Update

January 15, 2024

Joel Barnes,

WBBJ 7 Forecast Update:

The snow is tapering off this afternoon and the winter storm alerts will expire at 6pm. The wind chill advisory remains in effect until noon Tuesday and will be reissued for Wednesday morning as that is when the coldest air will move in. We saw between 2-7″ of snow in West Tennessee. Here is a look at amounts reported by viewers. Another system will look to impact us on Thursday and we will have the latest forecast details right here.

SNOW TOTALS:

We saw between 2-7″ of snow in West Tennessee. The highest amounts were just south of I-40 in southern Madison, Hardeman, Chester and northern McNairy counties. Some of the smallest amounts were areas north of I-40 in Dyer, Obion and Weakely counties.

The average amounts along I-40 were in the 3-6″ range although some places like Beech Bluff, Henderson and Middleton picked up around 7″. The snow totals were higher in southern Madison county compared to northern Madison county.

We saw a widespread 4-6″ of snow in areas near our southern border with Mississippi. Places in McNairy, Hardin and Hardeman counties all saw over 4″ of snow. Places in Fayette county also saw around 1/2″ of snow.

WINTER STORM WARNING:

The winter storm warning remains in effect until 6pm this evening and will be cancelled then as the snow will be moving out by then. But the roads will remain snow packed and difficult to navigate and it will also remain cold. Travel will be very difficult and the hazardous conditions will impact the evening commutes on Monday and again on Tuesday morning. A winter storm warning is issued when Heavy snow and/or sleet and ice accumulations are imminent or occurring. Society and commerce is expected to be greatly impacted. Precipitation may be accompanied by gusty wind. For a mixture of snow, sleet, or freezing rain, only two inches of snow is required.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY:

Extreme cold is also moving in again tonight and the wind chill (feels like) will drop below 0° again tonight and likely occur again on Tuesday night as well. A wind chill advisory is issued when Cold temperatures and brisk wind causing hazardous wind chills of zero to -15°F are imminent or occurring. Hypothermia and frostbite are possible if proper precautions are not taken. The temperature may not warm up above freezing until Thursday, just in time for the next storm system to move in.

TONIGHT:

The last system brought major impacts to all of West Tennessee. It brought our first round of accumulating snow and the coldest weather we have seen in over a year. Hopefully you prepared because this spaded up to be a bread and milk getting type system. Everyone in West Tennessee got in on the snow and cold act this time around. Highs on Monday only reached up to around 20°. The main question as far as the temperatures, will be when the clouds move out. As long as the clouds stick around tonight we will stay above 5°, but once they clear out, temperatures could bottom out to around 0°.

TUESDAY:

The snow moved 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 hangs around most of the week. Single digit temperatures and below zero wind chill temperatures are likely Monday night and again on Tuesday night. The wind chill will be a major concern Tuesday and Wednesday morning for all of us too. The wind chill will be below zero on Monday night and maybe as low as -15° Tuesday night.

WEDNESDAY:

Highs on Wednesday will only reach the low 30s and Wednesday night lows will fall down to the upper teens. The brief warm up will be from the winds turning back to the south in the middle of the week. We should see plenty of sunshine on Wednesday but another system looks to be on the way for Thursday. We will stay dry on Wednesday across the Mid South.

THURSDAY:

The next storm system is coming on Thursday and the forecast will be very challenging for this system. We are expecting highs on Thursday to reach the mid to upper 30s. The showers will move in during the afternoon and start as rain. The rain will quickly transition to a wintry mix and then to snow showers. We could see a decent icing from the system and may end up with another 1-2″ of snow depending on when the rain turns over to snow. We will be watching it very closely this week. Thursday night lows will back down to the middle teens. The showers will move out by Friday morning but both Friday and the upcoming weekend will likely be quite cold again. Some single digit mornings will likely return for both weekend mornings. Do not let your winter guard down yet.

FINAL THOUGHT:

Some areas saw over 4″ of rain this week between the first two systems and snow on top of it. Water levels are going to be running high for the next week or so. EXTREME bitter life threatening cold will move in next week so please be prepared as we are also under a wind chill advisory. Another system is coming Thursday and that may bring a wintry mix and some small snow accumulations with it as well, so do not let you guard down West Tennessee.

Here are some winter safety tips and reminders for dealing with the slick road and extreme cold that will be lingering all week long for us.