Dangerous Cold Settles into Metro Nashville Davidson County for Rest of Week (Thursday Morning Update)

Updated for the morning of Thursday, February 20, 2025:

Metro Nashville Davidson County offices will adjust their services based on current Winter Weather conditions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Cold Weather Advisory for our area on Wednesday.

A Cold Weather Advisory is issued when either wind chill or temperature is expected to fall to -10 to -19 degrees.

National Weather Service says to expect:

• Cold Weather Advisory tonight with widespread single digit temperatures.
• Highs only in the 20s Thursday.
• Well below normal temperatures will continue Friday and Friday night.
• Temperatures will be warming up this weekend.
• Elevated river levels continue to fall.

It is important you take precautions during this weather event both at home and when traveling along roadways.

Extremely frigid temperatures and snow throughout the region have led to an increase in electricity demand. TVA is requesting customers be mindful of their power consumption between 6 and 10 a.m. today and tomorrow. Voluntary energy curtailment will help lower energy demand and prevent grid strain.

Consider these tips from NES to conserve energy, save money and stay warm:

• Conserve Energy by using your microwave, air fryer or toaster oven to prepare meals instead of large-capacity ovens.
• Because heat rises, switch your ceiling fan’s directional setting to clockwise to push heat downwards.
• Reduce your power bill by setting your thermostat below 70-degrees. Remember the lower you go, the lower your bill will be.
• Flip the switch and turn off any unnecessary lighting.

Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

Dispatch Calls:

• Nashville Department of Transportation: 6 help truck requests, 1 debris request, 1 pothole
• Nashville Electric Service: 4 requests for power outages
• Office of Emergency Management: 1 cold exposure call
• Tennessee Department of Transportation: 8 calls for vehicle assistance, 1 salt request, 1 debris call, 1 pothole call.

Please continue to monitor local news reports for other closures or changes to Metro Nashville Davidson County operations as the snow moves into the area.

Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT)

NDOT crews have been working since Monday to treat roadways. Primary, Secondary, and Post-secondary routes are all clear of snow and have been treated with salt. As temperatures plummet overnight, any moisture on streets will refreeze and cause black ice. We strongly encourage motorists to use caution when driving overnight and early tomorrow. Streets that appear dry may have black ice.

Crews will continue working regular routes and on known trouble spots, bridges & overpasses throughout the night and into the A.M. commute.

Additional Information

NDOT recently updated its snow removal primary and secondary routes to be more efficient and cover more of the county. Reports can still be made to hubNashville and will be used for data gathering and evaluation to inform response during future winter weather events.

To report a non-emergency issue affecting a Metro Nashville street, visit hub.nashville.gov.

Metro Nashville Public Schools

Metro Nashville Public Schools will be closed Thursday, February 20.

All before and after school care is cancelled unless the provider offers an inclement weather site. Families are encouraged to check with their provider for that information.

All after-school activities, including sports practices, games, performances and meetings are also cancelled.

District offices will be closed for in-person activities but working remotely. More information on inclement weather plans can be found at mnps.org/weather.

Metro Waste Services

Due to the severe winter weather and the Presidents Day holiday, please see the following schedule changes for trash and recycling pick up:

• Trash collection services will not be provided on Wednesday and Thursday
• If your trash is normally picked up on Tuesday or Wednesday, your trash is tentatively scheduled to be picked up on Friday
• If your trash is normally picked up on Thursday or Friday, your trash is tentatively scheduled to be picked up on Saturday
• Recycling collection services will not be provided for the remainder of the week, and we kindly ask residents to hold their recycling until their next scheduled collection day
• Convenience centers will be closed Wednesday and Thursday

This schedule is weather dependent, and an update will be provided Thursday afternoon for Friday and Saturday. Download the Nashville Waste & Recycling App to sign up for service alerts.

Curbside customers impacted by the weather can:

• Recycle for free at a nearby drop-off recycling location or convenience center
• Take bagged trash to a nearby convenience center up to three bags for free

While we understand the importance returning to regular services, our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our employees and the community.

Metro Public Health Department

Metro Public Health Department clinics and locations will be open on all regular schedules.

General Sessions Court

All dockets and operations of General Sessions Court will be open Thursday February 20.

Metro Nashville Davidson County Office of Family Safety

The Family Safety Center and Jean Crowe Advocacy Center are open tomorrow.

Metro Social Services

The Metro Social Services office will remain closed tomorrow, February 20, 2025.

WeGo

WeGo to operate Saturday service, snow route detours Thursday

WeGo Star, Star shuttles and some extra routes will run

Due to winter weather, WeGo Public Transit buses and WeGo Access service will operate on a Saturday schedule with snow route detours Thursday, February 20. Snow route detours are for routes that need to use a detour to navigate safely during inclement weather. For a list of snow route detours, visit WeGoTransit.com.

The WeGo Star, Star shuttles (routes 64 Star Downtown Shuttle and 93 Star West End Shuttle), and bus routes 9 MetroCenter and 84 Murfreesboro will operate their normal weekday schedules. All other regional bus service will not run on Wednesday.

As road conditions change, WeGo may make further adjustments to its operating schedule. Access customers may experience delays as Operators navigate roads. If conditions are unsafe affected customers will be notified.

Customers should check one of the mobile real-time information tools such as the Transit App. The Transit App can be downloaded in your app store. Follow WeGo Public Transit on social media (@WeGoTransit) and visit WeGoTransit.com for continuous updates.

Safety is our number one priority, so please be aware that there may be additional delays as bus operators are proceeding cautiously. We ask that you allow for additional travel time so we can help get you where you need to go safely.

As routes come on and go off snow detours, we update our weather alerts page to correspond with road conditions.

hubNashville

hubNashville will be available by phone at 311 or 615-862-5000 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and 24/7 at hub.nashville.gov or on the hubNashville app.

Metro Action Commission

Metro Action Remains Remote on Thursday due to expected overnight Icing

As Nashville recovers from Wednesday’s snowfall, all Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) buildings will remain closed on Thursday, February 20.

MAC Team members will be available remotely to assist with requests for help with utility payments, rent, mortgage and other emergency assistance.

The following are details of the operational changes on Thursday:

• MAC Head Start and Early Head Start pre-school centers: The agency’s Head Start and Early Head Start pre-school centers will be closed. Team members will be working remotely to assist parents with emergency resources as needed.
• MAC main office location/headquarters: The agency's main office location will be closed. Team members will be working remotely to address requests for help with utility payments and emergency assistance with rent and mortgage payments and all other agency business.

Customers can reach the agency through the call center by dialing 615-862-8860 or by emailing the agency at metro.action@nashville.gov. If weather conditions allow, Metro Action will reopen on Friday, February 21.

The Office of the Metropolitan Trustee

The office will be open, Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Davidson County Election Commission

The Election Commission office will be open on Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Metro Nashville Planning Department

Metro Nashville Planning Department’s front counter will open with a limited staff on Thursday, February 20 at 9 a.m.

Metro Water Services (MWS)

It is still important for residents to protect their internal plumbing.

Trash collection services will not be provided on Wednesday and Thursday

• If your trash is normally picked up on Tuesday or Wednesday, your trash is tentatively scheduled to be picked up on Friday
• If your trash is normally picked up on Thursday or Friday, your trash is tentatively scheduled to be picked up on Saturday

Convenience centers will also be closed Thursday.

Recycling collection services will not be provided for the remainder of the week so that we can focus on trash collection. We kindly ask residents to hold their recycling until their next scheduled recycling collection day.

This schedule is weather dependent, and an update will be provided Thursday afternoon for Friday and Saturday.

Customers can download the Nashville Waste and Recycling App to sign up for service alerts.

MWS encourages homeowners to protect their pipes. Water expands when it freezes, and frozen pipes are at risk of breaking. If properties experience a frozen or broken pipe, they should contact a plumber as MWS is unable to respond to private plumbing issues.

Pipes that freeze most frequently are

• Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and backflow preventers.
• Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
• Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.

How to prevent frozen pipes

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Close vents to crawl spaces to protect pipes and cover outdoor spigots.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
• When the weather is very cold outside, let water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
• Insulate backflow preventers and provide a heater, if necessary.

How to safely thaw a frozen pipe

• If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
• Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
• Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

Locate you water shut off valve

• The ability to quickly close this valve may prevent further damage to your home in the event one of your interior pipes burst.
• The shut-off valve may be in the basement, under the kitchen sink, in a utility closet, near the hot water heater, or even under your home in a crawl space.
• If you think you have found it, be sure to test it.
• If you cannot locate your inside shut-off valve or do not have one installed, we recommend that you contact your plumber.

Additionally, when temperatures rise, an increase in water main breaks caused by ground shift is anticipated. Potential water main breaks should be reported to MWS as soon as possible to 615-862-4600. If water is seen bubbling up in a roadway or flowing in an unusual place, or residents experience a water outage or unexplained low pressure, it may be the result of a broken water main. Current break investigations or active break repairs can be viewed on the MWS Outage map at Metro Water Services Outage Map.

Preparing for Winter Weather

• Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
• Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
• Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person's specific needs, including medication.
• Remember the needs of your pets.
• Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
• If you are unable to afford your heating costs, weatherization or energy-related home repairs, contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.

Heating Safety

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Portable Generator Safety

• Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust by operating your generator outside for proper ventilation.
• Never refuel your generator when it is running. Let it cool down first.
• Do not store fuel in a garage, basement or inside your home. Vapors can be released that can cause illness and are a potential fire hazard.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector inside your home to warn you in case of a gas leak.
• Never hook up a generator directly to your home's electrical service or wiring. This can cause back feeding and poses a serious risk to NES line workers.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

Driving Safety

• You should be careful when traveling on roadways. Freezing rain, sleet, black ice, and fog are all hazards to be aware of when driving.
• You can check current road conditions online on the TDOT Smartway Map.
• If weather reports indicate icy conditions, consider staying off the roads until they are clear.
• Black ice is highly transparent, so it is hard to see while driving.
• Tips that may help if you get caught in areas of black ice:
• Keep your steering wheel straight. If you turn the wheel, you have a better chance of sliding and losing control of your vehicle.
• Do not brake. Braking causes the vehicle to slide, especially if you brake too hard.
• Take your foot off the accelerator to reduce speed. It is best to let the car stop on its own if you have enough room in front of you.
  Protect your Pets:
• Bring your furry friends inside when temperatures take a dip! More pet prep tips: www.ready.gov/pets
• Wipe dog's paws after each trip outside. Ice-melting chemicals or rock salt can cause irritation, sickness or be fatal.
• Your pet may think antifreeze is sweet, but it can be deadly.

Prepare now for lost power

• #WinterStorms can cause power outages prepare now: www.ready.gov/power-outages
• Make a plan to check on neighbors if extreme cold or winter weather knocks out your power.
• Power Outage tip: Dim the brightness in your cell phone settings to save battery life.

Helpful Links

NES Power Outage Center
Heating Safety
Winter Driving Safety
NES Power Outage Tips
TDOT Smartway Map
Winter Weather and Pets