Although the condition of major roadways, as well as many secondary routes, has vastly improved, the white stuff will hang around in yards through the next couple of days. Temperatures are warming and some sunny skies will help with the melting Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hundreds of snowmen throughout the community likely will be tested in the returning sun that went into hibernation over the Christmas weekend.
In spite of the cold temperatures and remaining snow and ice, emergency crews are still being kept busy.
Firefighters from the Bradley County and Cleveland Fire departments had to brave freezing conditions this morning to battle a house fire. Roads iced as water was dumped on an unoccupied residence on McPherson Lane.
Capt. Dray Crumley of Bradley County Fire Rescue said the homeowners were out of town.
Cleveland Fire Department responded to the scene first, according to Crumley.
The caller who spotted the fire lives in the Candies Creek Ridge Road area and could see the blaze from there.
When CFD firefighters arrived, they determined the location was not in the fringe and Bradley County was notified at 4 a.m. The two departments worked together to gain control of the fire.
Temperatures at that time were hovering near the 26-degree mark.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Meanwhile, Bradley County, as with most of the Southeast, will awaken to a snow-covered landscape at least until Tuesday or Wednesday. Up to a reported 7 inches of snow blanketed parts of the area Christmas Day and flurries and snow showers continued through Sunday evening.
Other parts of Tennessee, especially the northeastern and more mountainous regions, continue to get the holiday weekend weather surprise.
Temperatures are expected to rise to 43 degrees Tuesday and sunny skies should help melt snow, but Tuesday night, temperatures will once again dip toward the teens.
A low tonight of 15 is expected.
Even after melting occurs though, dangers from icy spots and black ice continue on roadways, sidewalks and parking lots as the water re-freezes during the overnight hours.
Motorists and residents are urged to use caution.
According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday’s high temperature should be around 47 degrees and Thursday, 52 degrees is forecast. By New Year’s Eve, daytime temperatures should climb to near 60 degrees.
Low temps by Wednesday evening should remain at or above the freezing mark.
