Several inches of snow fell over the Memphis area Friday, leading to flight cancelations, traffic delays and, for some, a lot of winter fun. But the impacts of the winter storm have not yet passed.
The National Weather Service also issued a flash freeze warning for Friday night as temperatures dipped into the low 20s. With the snowfall melting through Friday afternoon and into the evening, roadways were expected to potentially freeze overnight, leading to dangerous road conditions Saturday.
Temperatures on Saturday are expected to stay below freezing.
Here’s what else to know Saturday:
Memphis airport continues operations into the weekend
Late Friday, Memphis International Airport provided an update on services. The airport has remained open throughout the winter with arriving and departing flights. Airport crews will continue working 12-hour shifts and overnight to keep runways, taxiways and other surface areas clear.
Travelers from New York City build a snow man during a winter storm that brought 6 inches of snow on Friday Jan. 10, 2025 at Bass Pro Shops in Memphis, Tenn.
Travelers are encouraged to double-check airline activity for weekend flights given that winter weather is expected to continue across the U.S. through the weekend and may impact flight schedules at other airports.
Memphis Airport crews have cleared more than 28.65 million square feet (226 miles) during the winter storm. Flight status and additional updates can be found on the airport’s website.
MLGW CEO says tree trimming, lack of ice kept power on
During a media briefing Friday, MLGW CEO Doug McGowen said a combination of favorable weather and thousands of miles worth of tree limb trimming is why Memphis saw next to no power outages during this storm, compared to those that have hit the Mid-South in recent years.
“We have about 4,000 miles of overhead power lines, and we trimmed nearly 2,000 miles of those since the last time we had a [winter] storm,” McGowen said. “That really does improve reliability.”
Memphis winter storm updates: How much snow has Memphis gotten? NWS shares early reports
In addition to prioritizing tree trimming, McGowen said the lack of ice and freezing rain during the storm put less pressure on infrastructure and tree limbs.
“If you recall the last storm was really freezing rain, and that is what causes weight on the trees, and causes them to fall and crack,” he said. “The weather was on our side this time.”
What is the record for snowfall in Memphis?
The biggest “snow event” of the modern era occurred March 21-23, 1968, when an unexpected first-days-of-spring snowfall dropped 17.3 inches on the Bluff City.
The wintry weather struck right in the midst of some of the most active days of the city sanitation workers strike, causing the cancellation of a March 22 march that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had organized in support of the strikers.
The biggest snowfall in Memphis history occurred on March 17, 1892, when 18 inches accumulated.
The mid-January snow of 2024 dropped 5.2 inches of snow on Memphis.
Memphis forecast
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Saturday is expected to have a high of 32 degrees and a low of 21 degrees
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Sunday will warm up with a high of 40 degrees and a low of 26 degrees
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Monday will have a high near 36 degrees and a low of 20 degrees
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Tuesday could see a high of 37 degrees with a low of 24 degrees
Memphis weather radar
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis weather Saturday: What to know after winter storm hits area