Ice Storm of 2015 — Tennessee

The Great Ice Storm of 2015

[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”20872686″]

Somewhere over in your warm corner of California, you likely heard the panicked screams from the South starting on Sunday morning, as everyone far and wide raided the non-perishable aisles at their local Kroger’s. “Winter is coming! Winter is coming!” rang out the voices in unison across the nation. And then … nothing happened.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeWell, not nothing exactly. Actually far from nothing if we’re being fair. Sleet and ice and other forms of wintry mix slushed across the state of Tennessee and our neighbors, but snow? We ain’t got none.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeIce on the other hand? We’ve got that in spades.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeI make light of the situation, but it’s actually no joke, really. I know that Yankees Northerners think of us Southerners as sissies when the threats of winter weather loom, but not only are we not equipped to handle plowing and salting the roads, but it’s also the black ice that makes the terrain here so dangerous. Don’t believe me? Check this out.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeOur schools are already closed down FOR THE WEEK, as are many businesses, and Mayor Karl Dean declared a state of emergency yesterday. With sub-zero temps and more ice on the horizon, it’s probably for the best that we all be overly cautious.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeMom and I were lucky. We were in Knoxville when the storm hit, and while there was nary a place open for breakfast or lunch this morning, the roads were relatively clear by the afternoon and we managed to get home with no trouble (her driving aside, heh).

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeI thought we were going to be stranded in the Bluff City tonight (I would have been OK with that), but we got out—and home—just fine thanks to bypassing I-40 and taking 75 instead (Chattanooga was bone dry).

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeKnoxville in the snow (or ice)(or whatever you want to call it), however, was lovely.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeKnoxville will forever be a place I hold dear. My grandparents grew up there, my mom was born there, and my sister and I both graduated from UT.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeIt’s a stunning, oft-overlooked city in the summer and fall months. And this week, it’s a regular urban Narnia.

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeIce Storm of 2015 — TennesseeIce Storm of 2015 — TennesseeAnd it was even cooler—literally but also figuratively—by night.

Knoxville in the snow Knoxville in the snow Knoxville in the snow Knoxville in the snow Knoxville in the snow Knoxville in the snowI made it home a few hours ago to find no ice on the ground here, though it is hanging low and artfully in the trees surrounding our house. (Yes, we live by the railroad tracks … whether we live on the wrong side or the right side is debatable!)

Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeIt looks like the worst is yet to come, so I plan to spend the next couple days bundled up in my home. Hope you all have an ample supply of bourbon and intend to do the same.

650 Fogg St,  Nashville, TN 37203 Ice Storm of 2015 — TennesseeIce Storm of 2015 — Tennessee

COMMENTS
  • February 17, 2015
    Kathryn

    Thanks for sharing the photos of Knoxville for those of us stuck at home.

    • February 17, 2015

      Hope you have power (and booze) and are staying warm!

  • February 17, 2015
    Anne

    Oh, I’m really looking forward to hearing more about Knoxville, since I’ll be there in two weeks. Maybe just in time for spring?

    • February 17, 2015

      Oh good! In that case, I will be sure and do at least one Knoxville post before that time. What are your dates there?

      Off the top of my head, you MUST have breakfast at Oli Bea, lunch at Tomato Head, drinks at the Peter Kern Library, dinner at Holly’s 135 (which just opened last night!), another dinner at Stock & Barrel, and pie at Buttermilk Sky. And that’s just grazing the surface… =)

      • February 17, 2015
        Anne

        I’m just there a few days, March 2-4, for a work thing. I suspect that I’ll only be able to hit a couple of these this time around, but I’m hoping to be spending some more time there in the future. I’ll definitely file the ones I miss away for the future – thanks!

        • February 19, 2015

          I’d say make Knox Mason and Holly’s a priority if you can =)

  • February 17, 2015

    I know it’s serious, but it sure is pretty!

    • February 17, 2015

      AGREED! Pretty and dangerous =)

  • February 18, 2015

    It looks pretty but I hear you about the issues ice storms cause. Last winter Toronto was walloped with an ice storm just in time for thousands of people to have NO POWER for the week of Christmas. It was brutal!

    • February 19, 2015

      Ugh, you guys definitely had it worse than us! Areas were out of power by the thousands but just for 36 hours. Still, COLD!

  • February 18, 2015

    Ice is definitely way more dangerous than snow – here in NYC some of the subway lines have had to shut down due to ice. However, in a way you’re lucky as there’s no snow. I’m from Boston and the worst part about having days off for snow is that you spend half of it shoveling!

    • March 7, 2015

      Ha! So true. Poor Boston is in such a state of crisis this winter, I can’t even imagine.

  • February 18, 2015

    Be safe out there, lady! We’re supposed to have the coldest day yet tomorrow, and I have GOT to find where I stashed my base layers. Don’t leave home without ’em. 😉

    • February 19, 2015

      Man, Nashville is still ice city in parts. I spun out a couple times today on major roads! Scary, particularly with as bad as the drivers are here in perfect conditions =(

  • February 19, 2015

    Knoxville! I actually didn’t go to UT, but feel like I pretty much did since every one of my high school friends attended :). Pretty city! Stay warm!

    • February 19, 2015

      I only went my last two years. As a Tennessee native, UT was the *last* place I wanted to go, then I attended for Sewanee for two years and hated it (OK, strongly disliked) and transferred to UT for junior and senior year and wound up loving it. Funny how that happens!

  • February 19, 2015

    GORGEOUS pictures of the icy trees at night.

    • February 19, 2015

      Thanks, gal! I was the only one in the streets crazy enough to be trouncing around in 5 degrees =)

  • February 19, 2015

    Man that looks cold!! Very pretty pictures though. It is 66 hear today and its so nice out. Too warm for February though, wish I had a little bit longer of a Winter.

    • February 19, 2015

      Let’s trade places! It’s currently SIX here (and meant to be in the negatives tonight). Eek.

  • February 26, 2015
    Tracy

    Knoxville is near and dear to my heart too. Especially since I called it home for all my life until moving west. Thanks for the pictures. They bring me home again while I’m waiting out winter in Colorado.

    • March 7, 2015

      You’re welcome! I’ll always have a place in my heart for Knoxville.

  • February 28, 2015

    Now this is what Xmas should look like! I know that it’s not much fun for you guys but your town does look pretty as does your house. Very European! Speaking of Europe, except for the mountain regions, we in Europe hardly had any snow at all. I think, it was all of one week and then it was just chilly! However, I guess with a couple of glasses of bourbon.
    It helps!

    • March 7, 2015

      H! Us delicate Southern flowers are not used to below-freezing temps. It’s been a brutal winter for us, but starting tomorrow things are supposed to look up! Bring on the sundresses.

  • March 10, 2015

    nice post. thank for the story 🙂

Leave a Comment