Clarksville-Montgomery County to experience temperatures in the low teens starting Tuesday, January 21st

Clarksville, TN – The National Weather Service reports another arctic blast to surge south across Clarksville-Montgomery County. An arctic cold front will move through the mid state on Tuesday bringing a prolonged period of subfreezing temperatures to Middle Tennessee.

Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing across much of the mid state for up to 5 days from Tuesday through Saturday.

Lows in the single digits and teens are expected each day with highs only reaching the 20s and 30s. The low Thursday night is expected to be around 9°F.

Gusty winds will make it feel even colder at times With wind chills down to near zero by Thursday and Friday.

In addition to the cold, some light snow showers and flurries are expected on Tuesday as the arctic cold front moves across the region. Little or no snow accumulation is anticipated although portions of the upper Cumberland Region could see up to a half inch of snow.

Preparations should be made for this upcoming long duration of subfreezing temperatures.

Counties Affected Are

Bedford County, Benton County, Cannon County, Cheatham County, Clay County, Coffee County, Cumberland County, Davidson County, De Kalb County, Dickson County, Fentress County, Giles County, Grundy County, Hickman County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Jackson County, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Macon County, Marshall County, Maury County, Montgomery County, Overton County, Perry County, Pickett County, Putnam County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Smith County, Stewart County, Sumner County, Trousdale County, Van Buren County, Warren County, Wayne County, White County, Williamson County, and Wilson County.

Prolonged exposure to this kind of cold is extremely dangerous and should be taken very seriously. Ensure that the elderly, pets, and water pipes are properly protected.

Those venturing outdoors should dress warmly, limit their time outdoors. People who must travel should be prepared for the cold conditions with extra clothing and blankets.

For up to the minute weather information, visit Discover Clarksville’s Weather Forecast.

Clarksville Gas and Water Precautions for Cold Weather

Extreme cold temperatures are in the forecast and the Clarksville Gas and Water Department wishes to share a few important cold weather precautions that may be helpful to protect household water pipes from freezing.

Cold Weather Precautions

• Identify, repair or caulk any avenue that allows the flow of outside air inside
• Close foundation air vents
• Unhook hoses from faucets and yard meters
• Identify any exposed piping or outside faucets that require insulation or heat tape to avoid freezing
• Open sink cabinet doors to allow heat to around pipes, especially those located on exterior walls
• A trickle of water from the faucet can help prevent pipes from freezing
• Winterize or protect backflow preventers
• Keep water meter lid closed
• Drain water from irrigation lines
• When away from home, set the thermostat no lower than 55°F and have someone check the home daily
• Know where the household water shut off valve is located in the event of a household water pipe leak
• Natural gas heating systems should be cleaned and checked routinely to increase safety and efficiency

Gas and Water is fully staffed and prepared to assist the public with their water emergencies around the clock; however, during peak service order requests, there may be longer response times. Our customers are important to us and technicians work diligently to respond to each call as expediently as possible.

Please keep in mind that Gas and Water service technicians cannot repair household water leaks, customer lateral line leaks or repair natural gas appliances. Please call a licensed plumber for those repairs.

What to do if you smell natural gas?

Natural gas is a safe, reliable and efficient energy source we especially enjoy during cold temperatures for heating, but it’s important to be attentive to how your natural gas appliances are performing. If you detect a strong odor of natural gas, take the following steps for safety.

• Leave the premises immediately ensuring to leave doors open to allow for ventilation
• Go to a neighbor’s and call Clarksville Gas and Water at 931.645.7400 , after hours 931.645.0116, 4:30pm-8:00am, weekends and holidays or call 911 if the odor is very strong.
• Do not turn electrical switches or devices on or off or use a phone because an electric spark could ignite natural gas if it’s present in the air

Please call the Clarksville Gas and Water office to report a water leak or if you detect a strong natural gas odor at 931.645.7400 during normal business hours, 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday or 931.645.0116 after hours, 4:30pm-8:00am, Monday-Friday and weekends and holidays.

American Red Cross Tips for Cold Weather

Nashville, TN – The American Red Cross is helping people impacted by the frigid cold air covering two-thirds of the country, and offers steps people can take to stay safe during this dangerous weather.

To stay safe during this dangerous weather, follow these steps:

• Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat.
• Someone should seek medical attention immediately if they have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.
• Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin.
• Don’t forget family pets – bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
• Avoid frozen pipes – run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.
• Download the Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. This free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores.

Home Fire Risk Increases During Cold Red Cross workers are also responding to numerous home fires across the country. During extremely cold weather, the risk for a fire in someone’s home can increase.

To avoid fire danger, you should remember the following:

• Never use a stove or oven to heat the home.
• If using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
• If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
• Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.
• Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment someone wants to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.