Ice storm triggers widespread power outages across Tennessee, with Nashville area hardest hit on January 25

Hundreds of thousands lose electricity as freezing rain damages trees and power lines

A major winter storm system brought freezing rain and ice into Tennessee on Sunday, January 25, 2026, driving large-scale power outages and prompting emergency declarations as utilities warned that some restorations could take days. The heaviest impacts were concentrated in Middle Tennessee, where ice-laden trees and downed lines disrupted electric service across densely populated areas.

In Nashville and Davidson County, emergency managers urged residents to stay off roads while crews assessed widespread damage. City officials also reported elevated 911 call volumes and emphasized that residents should not use emergency lines to report power outages, reserving 911 for fires and reports of downed power lines.

Nashville Electric Service reports long-duration restoration timeline

Nashville Electric Service (NES), the primary utility for much of the metro area, reported that the overnight combination of freezing rain and ice caused trees to snap and bring down distribution infrastructure. As of Sunday morning, NES reported more than 188,000 customers without power, later rising to roughly 200,000 and higher in subsequent updates as conditions evolved.

NES said it had fully staffed local teams in the field and requested additional support. The utility described the outage as likely to be prolonged in some locations because restoration requires not only repairing lines but also removing debris, replacing broken poles, and re-energizing damaged circuits in a safe sequence.

Emergency declaration and municipal services operating on backup power

Metro Nashville and Davidson County declared a local state of emergency on January 25 to support response coordination and resource mobilization. Municipal operations also reported localized impacts tied to the outages, including reliance on generator power at critical facilities. Officials said water treatment operations were continuing, while select wastewater and pumping infrastructure in affected areas required generator support or deployment of portable generators.

Broader regional disruption across the eastern United States

The Tennessee outages occurred within a wider, multi-state winter storm affecting large portions of the central and eastern United States. The system generated extensive travel disruption and widespread utility interruptions across multiple regions, compounding logistical challenges for repair crews and mutual-aid deployments.

What residents can do while outages persist

• Assume all downed power lines are energized and keep a safe distance.
• Use utility reporting tools rather than emergency lines for non-life-threatening outage reports.
• Limit travel during icing conditions to reduce collision risks and keep roads clear for responders and utility crews.
• Monitor local emergency management updates for shelter and warming options if heat is unavailable.

Utilities emphasized that restoration progress depends on access, safety conditions, and the extent of ice-related damage to poles, wires, and circuits.