Snow, sleet possible today

Could create road hazards

By the time Memphis wakes up today, as much as a half-inch of snow could cover the ground.

Sleet and snow were expected to start falling in the wee hours this morning, tapering off by 6 a.m., National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Chiuppi said Sunday. The accumulation is expected to range between a dusting and a half-inch, although flurries could persist until later in the morning. Today’s high is expected to reach 36 with a low of 29.

The precipitation, combined with abnormally low temperatures, could create hazardous driving conditions, with local officials warning commuters to be extra cautious on their morning drives.

“Our crews are ready if the roads freeze over,” Shelby County Public Works director Tom Needham said in a written statement.

City Public Works Deputy Director Robert Knecht said the department’s 16 trucks would be out overnight, putting a mixture down on bridges, overpasses, inclines and emergency areas such as police and fire stations.

Although the snow will move out by Tuesday, the low temperature that day is expected to be 18, not far from a record of 16 set in 1880, Chiuppi said. The high will only reach 34.

But there’s good news, too: On Wednesday, the temps will begin a slow rise that will have us back to normal for this time of year by the weekend. The high should reach 48 on Wednesday, then 50 on Thursday and Friday. By Sunday, we’ll be back to a high of around 60.

“We’ll finally get out of this cold hole we’ve been in and get back to more seasonable temps,” Chiuppi said.