Freezing rain makes numerous roads in The TN Smokies extremely hazardous

This morning's freezing rain in the eastern Tennessee Smokies has turned numerous roads into virtual skating rinks for cars causing dozens of wrecks.

Most predictions call for the high possibility of freezing rain until 10:00 am or later this morning so travel is strongly advised until late this afternoon.

Freezing rain has caused roadways in Newport, Knoxville and Maryville and throughout the entire region to ice not just bridges and underpasses which high a higher likelihood of icing up during the winter.

Tennessee cities Alcoa and Maryville temporarily lifted mandatory water restrictions

Finally streams and even the Little River in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains are flowing at more normal levels since the rain from the past few days allowing the cities of Maryville and Alcoa TN to have temporarily lifted mandatory water restrictions.

By no means does this mean that we are out of the woods with the most extreme drought that the Smokies have seen in more than 100 years. Other areas in the Smokies especially in North Carolina are still in deep trouble with their water with no emanate solution to the water issues many municipalities are having.

Monday officials are going to check the level of flow in the Little River to see if they need to put the water restrictions back into effect. Regardless of the results of Monday's river flow evaluation, the city of Alcoa is determined to have an emergency source of water and is already running water lines into the Rockford area.

Due to the exceptional conservation job residents have done, the water conservation goals were not only meet but exceeded and Kenny Wiggins who is the director of Alcoa Public Works and Engineering stated "We appreciate the cooperation and support of our residents and businesses during this extremely dry weather".