Level 3 is an official State of Emergency. At this level, a serious emergency or minor disaster has occurred or a situation is deteriorating rapidly and public warnings are being issued. The Tennessee Emergency Management Plan (TEMP) is activated and a state of emergency is automatically declared per TCA 58-2-107.

The state remains at a Level 3, State of Emergency, to be able to respond to the impending winter weather and to continue to respond to Tropical Storm Helene recovery.”

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered the state’s emergency management agency to issue a State of Emergency, initiating regulatory relief as a winter storm approaches Tennessee.

TEMA declares a Level 4 state of emergency in Tennessee ahead of forecasted heavy snow, urging residents to prepare and check on vulnerable individuals.

Tennessee has issued a State of Emergency in advance of the winter storm expected to dump several inches of snow across the state beginning Thursday night. Much of the state will receive 3 to 5 inches of snow overnight,

Tennessee is currently under a State of Emergency due to the effects of Helene. TEMA says that they will be enacting a State of Emergency separate from the one issued for Helene, one that will be a Level Four alert.

TEMA recommends staying prepared ahead of the winter storm, which is expected to last from the evening of Thursday, Jan. 9, until the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 11.

Usually, these ice accumulations are caused by freezing rain. However, due to the mix of precipitation possible close to the TN/AL state line Friday, ice accumulation is possible.