Snow finally arrives – Schools closed today due to illness

The flu bug, not snow, is to blame for closing Warren County schools today.

?We went ahead and closed schools to give the ones who are sick time to rest and recuperate,? said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. ?Our absentee rate has been gradually rising for about a week. Although it?s not at 20 percent, under our stockpiled days you can do that with the commissioner?s approval, and she just gave us that,? Hale said yesterday afternoon.

Schools were closed Thursday after the Warren County area received about one-half inch of snow, according to the National Weather Service. That amount of snowfall was about the average for Middle Tennessee, with the National Weather Service reporting no part of the state received more than 1 inch.

The forecast was much of the same last night with the NWS predicting about an inch of snow this morning.

?We?re expecting about an inch on grassy areas, but the roads won?t see much accumulation,? said meteorologist Bobby Boyd. ?We?re expecting most of Middle Tennessee to get about an inch.?

Snow flurries are expected all day today, although there should be no accumulation, according to Boyd. After today, no more snow is expected through the weekend and into early next week.

?The cold weather will stay,? said Boyd. ?We expect temperatures to stay around freezing but there shouldn?t be any snow.?