Chattanooga is bracing for an Artic air mass that will bring the coldest temperatures of the year beginning today, causing the Hamilton County Schools and Bradley County Schools to open two hours late on Thursday morning.
County school officials said, "Due to the anticipated extremely cold temperatures and possible hazardous road conditions due to run off in higher elevations, Hamilton County Schools will be delayed two hours Thursday, Jan. 8. Child Care will be closed in the morning but will be open for the afternoon."
Chattanooga Christian School will operate on a two-hour delay.
Cleveland City Schools will operate on a two-hour delay. Buses will run on a two-hour delay, and cafeterias will offer a cold breakfast for students.
Whitfield County Schools have a two-hour weather delay for students. Staff members will report to work on their regular schedule.
Dalton Public Schools will delay school opening by two hours. Students should report two hours later than their usual time while staff should report at their regular time.
Walker County Government offices will have a two-hour delay. This does not include Magistrate Court. If anyone has a court appearance scheduled they should check with court to see if they are delayed.
Walker County Transit Services will operate on a two-hour delay. Services will begin at 8 a.m.
Hamilton County government offices will open at their regular times Thursday morning.
Dr. Curtis McKoy's office will be on a two-hour delay Thursday. The office will open at 10 a.m.
Forecasters said windy conditions will bring extremely low wind chill factors.
This is a special weather statement from the National Weather Service:
COLDEST AIR OF THE WINTER SEASON WILL BE MOVING INTO THE REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT... AN ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS LIMITING HIGH TEMPERATURES TO THE 20S WITH SOME LOWER 30S POSSIBLE NEAR THE GEORGIA BORDER.
HIGHS WILL ACTUALLY OCCUR THIS MORNING WITH STEADY OR SLOWLY FALLING TEMPERATURES DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE DENSE COLD AIR WILL CREATE A HIGHER SURFACE PRESSURE AS IT BUILDS SOUTHEAST WHICH WILL CAUSE AN INCREASE IN THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND THUS...AN INCREASE IN WIND SPEED ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA.
THE COMBINATION OF STRONGER WESTERLY WINDS AROUND 10-20 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS WILL GENERATE SOME RATHER UNCOMFORTABLE WIND CHILL INDICES. THROUGHOUT THE DAY...BUT ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...WHEN THE WIND REALLY STRENGTHENS AND THE COLDER AIR STARTS TO STREAM INTO THE REGION WIND CHILL INDICES WILL DROP TO AROUND 10 TO 15 WHILE THE MOUNTAIN INDICES WILL DROP TO AROUND ZERO. TONIGHT...WHEN TEMPERATURES FALL THROUGH THE TEENS INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS...INDICES WILL DROP TO BETWEEN FIVE BELOW TO AROUND 5 ABOVE IN THE VALLEY WITH INDICES AS LOW AS 15 BELOW IN THE MOUNTAINS.THE COMBINATION OF COLD AIR AND WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE VERY LOW WIND CHILLS. THESE CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.
THOSE VENTURING OUTDOORS SHOULD DRESS WARMLY...AND LIMIT THEIR TIME OUTDOORS. ALSO...ENSURE WATER PIPES ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED FROM THE COLD...AND MAKE SURE OUTDOOR ANIMALS HAVE ADEQUATE SHELTER.