Wintry weather continues in Tri-Cities region

Schools closed, icy roads reported as winter systems move through Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia

Feb. 5, 2026 at 6:55pm

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Another round of wintry weather is expected to hit the Tri-Cities region in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia this weekend, with forecasts calling for up to an inch of snow on Friday and the potential for flurries on Saturday. The region has already seen school closures and icy road conditions this week due to back-to-back winter weather systems.

Why it matters

The ongoing wintry weather is causing disruptions to daily life in the region, with school closures and hazardous driving conditions. This is the latest in a series of winter storms that have impacted the area over the past few weeks, raising concerns about the ability of local infrastructure and services to handle the prolonged winter weather.

The details

According to the National Weather Service, a winter system is expected to move into the region on Friday, bringing around a half-inch of snow to the Tri-Cities valley. Those living at higher elevations could see up to an inch of additional snowfall. The precipitation is expected to continue into Friday night, with the potential for some flurries on Saturday morning. Crews from local highway departments have been working to treat icy roads, but have still responded to numerous vehicle crashes and slide-offs, particularly on secondary roads.

  • On Wednesday night, a light rain eventually turned to light snow with around an inch of snowfall.
  • Temperatures fell back below freezing overnight, causing problems on Thursday.
  • Another winter system is expected to move into the region on Friday afternoon.
  • The precipitation is expected to continue into Friday night, with potential for some flurries on Saturday morning.

The players

National Weather Service Morristown

The National Weather Service field office that provides forecasts for the Tri-Cities region.

Kingsport Police Department

The police department in Kingsport, Tennessee that responded to an increase in crashes due to icy road conditions.

Sullivan County Highway Department

The highway department responsible for maintaining roads in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Hawkins County Road Department

The department responsible for maintaining roads in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

VDOT Bristol District

The Virginia Department of Transportation district that oversees roads in the Bristol area, including Scott County.

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What they’re saying

“It's just been sort of the tale of winter the last few weeks, where we've had system after system.”

— Nathan Wellington, Meteorologist, NWS Morristown

“Patches of ice have created hazardous driving conditions on several roadways in Kingsport.”

— Kingsport Police Department

“The secondary roads are a little slushy, but for the most part, if people take their time, they shouldn't have any issue.”

— Scott Murray, Sullivan County Highway Department Commissioner

“We've had very minor conditions across the area.”

— Michele Earl, VDOT Bristol District Spokesperson

“We've battled — and are still battling.”

— Danny Jones, Hawkins County Road Superintendent

What’s next

The National Weather Service forecast for the region includes a chance of snow on Friday with clearing on Saturday, followed by cloudy conditions on Sunday and partly sunny skies on Monday. Nighttime temperatures are expected to remain in the 20s to teens through Sunday.

The takeaway

The Tri-Cities region has faced a series of winter storms in recent weeks, leading to school closures, hazardous road conditions, and concerns about the ability of local infrastructure to handle the prolonged wintry weather. While a brief respite may be on the horizon, the ongoing challenges highlight the need for communities to be prepared for the impacts of severe winter weather.