(The Center Square) – The Tennessee Senate cancelled floor sessions and committee meetings for next week as ice and snow is expected in parts of the state beginning as soon as Friday evening.
The House of Representatives could return on Wednesday, depending on the weather, House Speaker Cameron Sexton said.
Both chambers will return to Nashville on Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. to hear Gov. Bill Lee’s final State of the State address.
All 75 Tennessee counties are under a winter storm watch from Friday at 6 p.m. CST through Sunday at 6 p.m. CST. But dangerously cold temperatures are expected to last throughout the week, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, which could prevent the state from thawing.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has a $30.2 million budget for fiscal year 2026, according to a release from the department. More than 1.3 million gallons of salt brine and 231,000 tons of salt are ready to clear the roads.
“Supplies are stocked, equipment is ready and our crews are staged to deploy as soon as conditions warrant,” said Transportation Commissioner Will Reid. “Rapid clearance of our highways isn’t just a goal – it’s essential to protecting drivers and keeping Tennessee’s transportation network moving. Please allow our crews the room they need to operate safely and stay off the roads.”
The storm is predicted to dump snow on areas north of I-40 and ice on areas south of the interstate, according to the National Weather Service. I-40 crosses the entire state, beginning in Memphis and ending at the North Carolina line in eastern Tennessee.
Residents are encouraged not to travel during the storm, according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
