Update, 9:30 p.m.: Power outages are now down to only 20 households.
Update, 6:50 p.m.: Clarksville power outages popped back up to about 5,500 customers, but it’s now down to about 1,300.
“We were down to 100 customers and the cold weather struck again,” CDE said in a statement. “It’s been a long day for everyone and our crews are working around the clock to get power restored. We appreciate the patience.”
Update, 3:45 p.m.: Power has been restored to all but fewer than 200 households.
Update, 2:35 p.m.: Dangerously cold temperatures will continue in Clarksville tonight, with a low around 6 degrees and a wind chill of -15.
Some relief will come Saturday, when it will be mostly sunny with a high near 22. That should be enough for salt to begin working on the streets. Wind chill values Saturday will be as low as -10.
Power outages in Clarksville are down to about 1,000 households.
Update, 2 p.m.: Power outages in Clarksville for CDE are down to about 2,600.
Update, 1: 05 p.m.: Power outages in Clarksville for CDE are down to about 6,700, and almost all power is restored for CEMC in Montgomery County.
Update, 12:05 p.m.: TVA has now canceled their request that CDE, CEMC and other local electric providers implement rolling blackouts. “We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience,” CEMC said in a statement.
“Great job to our customers for helping us reduce the load on our systems!” CDE’s Pease said. “We are happy to report that while TVA had initially planned to implement rolling blackouts, through your help with energy reduction, we are NOT implementing rolling blackouts at this time. Please continue to follow the energy reduction tips that we’ve been sharing with you recently.
“We still have scattered outages throughout the area, but our crews are working around the clock to get everyone’s power restored,” Pease said.
There are currently over 11,000 customers without power in Clarksville and 1,200 in Montgomery County.
The temperature is now up to 4 degrees in Clarksville.
NEWS ALERTS: To get free breaking news alerts on your phone, text the word NEWS to 43414.
Update, 11:20 a.m.: CDE Lightband will also do rolling blackouts in Clarksville. The blackouts will last 30 minutes in each area, then move to the next area.
Update, 10:45 a.m.: Because of a critical shortage in power across the system, TVA has asked CEMC and other local power companies to begin rolling blackouts.
“We must interrupt power for 30 minutes in an area, restore power and interrupt power to another area,” according to a CEMC statement. “We are very sorry for the inconvenience and sincerely appreciate your patience.”
Update, 9:40 a.m.: CDE Lightband is reporting that the power outages in Clarksville this morning, which have ranged from 6,000 to 13,000 at a time, are coming from high demand for electricity across the TVA power system.
In response, TVA has initiated its Emergency Load Curtailment Plan. “This is part of a very detailed plan to utilize our resources and work closely with our customers and large businesses to help reduce the load on our system,” said Lindsey Pease, spokesperson for CDE Lightband.
Residents are urged to take the following steps:
- Postpone using electric appliances such as dishwashers, dryers and cooking equipment until Saturday afternoon.
- Lower heating system thermostats by 3-5 degrees.
- Turn off nonessential lights and appliances.
- Unplug unused electrical equipment.
- Keep window coverings closed on the non-sunny side of homes, but open if bright sunlight is available to provide additional heat.
“We are working as quickly and safely as possible to get everyone’s power restored. For those customers who rely on power for emergency medical needs, please go ahead and make alternative arrangements. Please be sure to check on elderly and disabled members in your area,” Pease said.
Update, 8:50 a.m.: Power outages are now down to about 8,700.
Update, 8:15 a.m.: About 13,400 people are without power now in Clarksville, according to a CDE Lightband update.
Update, 7:45 a.m.: Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts is asking residents to avoid driving and stay safe at home today.
The below-zero weather is hampering the Clarksville Street Department’s ability to make rapid progress on clearing city streets. Under these conditions, salt can actually make road conditions worse, according to a city news release.
SNOW CLOSINGS: Several city and county offices are closed today.
“The bitter cold weather and its impact on the viscosity of diesel fuel also create challenges for the Street Department in maintaining street-clearing trucks and equipment,” the release said.
Montgomery County Highway Supervisor Jeff Bryant said the road conditions are not good and won’t get better today.
“The current temps are at a level that makes salt ineffective,” he said. “We need the temps to get to around 20 degrees so the salt can start working, which isn’t going to happen until tomorrow around noon. We’ll continue to monitor roads and weather conditions, but our crews won’t be back on the road until tomorrow.
“If it’s not a matter of life or death, then I would highly recommend everyone staying home today.”
Between 6 and 8 a.m., Clarksville Police responded to six motorist assistance calls and one crash, which was a car in a ditch, according to spokesman Scott Beaubien.
LIVE VIDEO: Click here for road conditions on Clarksville traffic cameras.
Update, 7:30 a.m.: About 6,800 CDE Lightband customers were without power this morning, with the temperature at only -3 degrees.
The outages were spread across the city but were mostly in the Dover Road and Crossland Avenue areas.
“Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to get power restored,” CDE said in a statement.
Earlier this morning, the outages affected 9,000 customers.
Previously:
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Packed snow and ice is covering the roads this morning, after about 1.5 inches fell overnight in Clarksville.
The Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisories from the National Weather Service expired at 6 a.m., but slick roads may persist through at least Saturday morning.
A Wind Chill Warning continues until noon, with the wind chill in Clarksville at about -20 today. Highs will reach only 11.
At 7 a.m., the temperature at the Clarksville Regional Airport was down to -3, with a -24 windchill.
Overnight, about 2,000 CEMC customers lost power in the Woodlawn and Rossview areas of the county, but outages were down to only about 300 by 7 a.m.
Clarksville forecast
Here’s the day-by-day outlook.
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 11. Wind chill values as low as -20. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -9. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as -8. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as zero. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 26. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Calm wind becoming south southwest around 5 mph.