Official City Notices: Nashville Enters State of Emergency Amid Severe Winter Storm

State of Emergency Declared for Davidson County

Mayor Freddie O’Connell has officially declared a State of Emergency for Nashville and Davidson County as a severe winter storm continues to impact the region. This declaration follows Governor Bill Lee’s state-level emergency order for all 95 Tennessee counties. Residents are urged to avoid all non-essential travel as crews work to manage icy road conditions, downed trees, and widespread power interruptions across the metropolitan area.

Extreme Cold Warning and Weather Advisory

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for Middle Tennessee, effective from 6:00 p.m. this evening, Monday, January 26, through 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27. Meteorologists anticipate dangerously low wind chills reaching as low as 10 degrees below zero. A Minor Cold Weather Advisory remains active throughout the day, with wind chills forecasted between 0 and 5 degrees below zero. Residents should take immediate precautions to prevent hypothermia and protect outdoor pipes and pets during this period of record-breaking cold.

Metro Government and School Closures

Due to hazardous travel conditions and extreme temperatures, the following closures are in effect for Monday, January 26:

• Metro Nashville Public Schools: All schools and district offices are closed today and will remain closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27. All before- and after-school activities, sports practices, and games are cancelled.
• Courts and Clerk Offices: The Offices of the Circuit Court Clerk, including Probate, General Sessions–Civil, and the Traffic Violations Bureau, are closed. All court dockets and operations, including jail dockets, have been cancelled for the day.
• Metro Parks and Boards: All community centers and park facilities are closed. The Historical Commission meeting scheduled for noon today is cancelled, and the Nashville Community Review Board meeting has been postponed.

Emergency Services and Warming Centers

Nashville Electric Service (NES) reports that over 217,000 customers remain without power following the weekend ice storm. Nearly 300 lineworkers are currently deployed across the city, working 14- to 16-hour shifts to restore service. In response to the outages and extreme cold, the city has opened the following warming locations for those in need of temporary shelter:

• All active Metro Fire Stations
• Select Police Precinct community rooms
• Designated Metro Community Centers

The Nashville Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor the situation from the Emergency Operations Center. For non-emergency assistance or to report debris, residents are encouraged to use the hubNashville online portal or dial 311.

Public Works and Infrastructure

The Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) is prioritizing the clearing of fallen trees and debris from the public right-of-way. Scheduled maintenance projects, including utility work on Murfreesboro Pike and localized pothole patching, are currently suspended or delayed based on weather conditions. Trash and recycling collections remain postponed until secondary roads are deemed safe for heavy vehicles.