After Arctic blast, Memphis slowed as temperatures dropped, ice, snow covered area

An Arctic blast dropped temperatures into the single digits in Memphis Friday morning, leaving ice and snow on the roads, prompting quickly rescinded rolling blackouts across the area and slowing the normal pre-Christmas bustle to a crawl.

Memphians woke up Friday to icy, dangerous roads, single-digit temperatures and strong winds that brought the wind-chill temperatures to between -15 and -20 degrees.

The National Weather Service Memphis reported that the coldest temperature Friday clocked in at zero degrees at their office just before 6 a.m., and the coldest air temperatures from the Memphis International Airport registered 1 degree at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

The record cold sits at -4 degrees, which was set in 1989.

And as the cold gripped the area, Memphis Light, Gas and Water imposed, then quickly pulled back, rolling, 30-minute blackouts throughout the Memphis area Friday as its power supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority, sought to avoid emergency conditions created by high demand.

MLGW chief executive Doug McGowen said during a press conference Friday the storm left about 31,000 without power overnight, but as of noon that number was 13,000.

McGowen also said TVA has been having difficulty meeting demand from the whole region, but the rolling blackouts were eventually rescinded.

The cold spell is predicted to continue through the weeken, although temperatures should rise in the coming days. The weather service said temperatures will not be above freezing until Monday.

Officials with the city and the National Weather service asked residents to be wary of the winds and icy roads.

City officials said there have been about 303 motor vehicle crashes per MPD, but the cops will not be responding to those crashes.

Memphis Police said the only confirmed death related to the cold weather happened Friday morning in the 1400 block of Union Avenue. Officers were directed there but have not released the man's identity.

Kat Gordon, the owner of Muddy’s Bake Shop, echoed what many businesses were saying Friday morning: Double check with your destination before heading out.

“Do yourself a favor," Gordon said. "Check social media before you get in the car to go to a restaurant or shop to see if they are open.”

‘Slow down’ TDOT advises as it works to clear roadways of ice

The Tennessee Department of Transportation salted some roads Thursday night expecting essential mill and medical workers needing a path as clear as possible Friday morning.

Most routes were passable, but conditions varied, TDOT spokesperson Nichole Lawrence said Friday morning.

TDOT prioritized interstates and areas around the Memphis medical district as they took graters to the snow-and-ice top on the roads. Side streets were not as passable as main travel arteries, Lawrence said.

“Folks have got to slow down (and) drive slower and more carefully than they would do in a normal day,” she said.

As temperatures warm, Lawrence expects the roadway conditions to improve.

Memphis International Airport sees some delays, cancellations

Some flights into and out of Memphis International Airport were canceled Friday and delayed as the country braced against the cold and wind.

Flight Aware statistics showed 15 flights were canceled Thursday as snow reached Memphis. And 83 flights from the Memphis International Airport were delayed, the website showed.

As of Friday morning, four flights had been delayed and a dozen had been canceled.

The airport has advised passengers to regularly check their airlines this week as weather across the country impacts flights into and out of Memphis.

Some restaurants slow to open, stay closed amid icy roads

What is traditionally one of the busiest Fridays of the year for Memphis restaurants and food shops also took a detour. The icy roads and frigid temperatures caused opening delays and closings throughout the city.

Huey’s delayed the opening of seven restaurants until noon Friday, while three were closed. The Huey’s in Millington, Downtown and Olive Branch were closed Friday.

“We made the decision to close three of our stores in areas where the roads were the most dangerous for our staff and customers to get to,” said Ashley Boggs Robilio, Huey’s Chief Operating Officer. “For our seven remaining locations, we have delayed opening to give the roads a little more time to warm up and hopefully be a little safer for drivers.”

River Oaks decided to close for lunch and dinner Friday. It would have been a busy holiday lunch service for the fully booked restaurant, but the decision to close came when most lunch reservations called to cancel.

Sunrise Memphis delayed the opening of its new East Memphis location. The original location on Jefferson was closed on Friday due to a weather-related power. Owner Ryan Trimm said that his staff arrived safely Friday morning to start preparing for the day’s service.

Bartlett breakfast and brunch restaurant Biscuits and Jams closed Friday. “Due to neighborhood road conditions, we will not open today,” said owner Monique Williams. “Our employees’ safety is more important than anything.”

Muddy’s Bake Shop opened at its regularly scheduled time of 10 a.m. The days leading up to the Christmas holiday are traditionally the busiest time of the year for this Memphis bakery.

Gordon said that Thursday when they saw the weather was coming, they shifted their focus solely on baking for pre-orders, rather than restocking the store. She brought her staff in this morning a little later as she didn’t want anyone driving on ice in the dark.

Gordon said that holiday pre-order pick up was on schedule Friday and she moved the pick-up to her cooking school classroom so customers can be warmer.

Along with restaurants and shops, churches were feeling the freeze, too.

Hope Church in Memphis called off its 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Christmas with Hope Worship services on Friday. Hope said it will hold Christmas eve candlelight worship hours at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday.

FedEx Express delivery delays

FedEx Express reported that it experienced "substantial disruptions" at its Memphis and Indianapolis hubs Thursday night because of severe winter weather.

FedEx said on its web site that potential delays are possible for package deliveries across the U.S. with a delivery commitment of Friday, December 23 and Saturday, December 24.

Lucas Finton is a news reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

Laura Testino covers education and children's issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @LDTestino

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reacheda t jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Arctic blast rocks Memphis with snow, ice