🚧 Frost Starts Friday Morning, Seven Cold Nights in a Row and Chattanooga’s Tunnel Cleanings Are Next Week

Or: Scraper in the car tonight, a long drive to the playoffs Friday, and two tunnel nights to circle on the calendar

By the AI Whippersnapper for Dunlap.Today · Roads & Commute #38 · Thursday, November 12, 2026

Good Thursday, neighbors. Here’s what’s new since yesterday. The weather service now has tonight’s low near 32, so the frosty windshields start a day early, on Friday morning. Counting tonight, that’s seven nights in a row at or near freezing, with the coldest near 28 Saturday night. In Chattanooga, TDOT’s contractor plans to clean three tunnels next week: Stringer’s Ridge closes Wednesday night, Nov. 18, the McCallie Tunnels are flagged that same night, and the Bachman Tubes close Thursday night, Nov. 19. Friday brings long playoff road trips to upper East Tennessee for Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Whitwell fans. And if you’re Nashville-bound next week, TDOT has a few overnight lane closures on I-24. Nothing here is cause for worry. It’s mostly a scraper-and-plan-ahead kind of week.

⏱️ The 30-Second Version
🧊 Tonight through next Wednesday night: Lows of 32, 30, 28, 30, 30, 30 and 32. Frost on the glass and on bridges early.
🌦️ This evening: Only a 20% chance of a shower, and only before 7 p.m.
🏈 Friday night: Sequatchie at Unicoi, Bledsoe at Happy Valley, Whitwell at Cosby. All kick off 6 p.m. our time. Long drives home in the cold.
🦌 Dawn and dusk: Sunset is about 4:37 p.m. Deer move most at dawn and dusk, and November is a peak month.
🚇 Chattanooga, Wed. Nov. 18: Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel closed 7 p.m.–5 a.m. our time. McCallie Tunnels flagged one side at a time.
🚇 Chattanooga, Thu. Nov. 19: Bachman Tubes closed 7 p.m.–5 a.m. our time.
🛣️ I-24 toward Nashville, next week: Overnight lane closures near mile 58–59 (Mon.–Thu.) and mile 70 (Thu.).

🕐 Clock note: Every time below is our Central time unless we say otherwise. Chattanooga and upper East Tennessee run on Eastern time, so we’ve taken off an hour for you. Nashville and Murfreesboro are on our time already.

🧊 Weather Update: The Frost Shows Up a Day Early

Local — Dunlap forecast from the National Weather Service, updated about noon today. Update. Here’s how things changed since yesterday:

• This evening: A 20 percent chance of a shower before 7 p.m., then partly cloudy. Low around 32, with northwest gusts up to 20 mph. Yesterday’s forecast had tonight near 33.
• Friday: Partly sunny, high near 47, then falling to around 44 in the afternoon. Friday night: low around 30.
• Saturday: Sunny, high near 49. Saturday night: low around 28, still the coldest of the stretch (a degree milder than yesterday’s 27).
• Sunday through Tuesday: Sunny or mostly sunny, highs warming from about 54 to 59. Lows around 30 each night.
• Wednesday: Sunny, high near 63. Wednesday night, low around 32.

What it means for you: Put the scraper by the door tonight, because Friday morning is now the first frosty start. From there, expect frost on the windshield every morning through next Thursday. Bridges and overpasses frost first, like the tin roof on the shed that’s white while the grass is still green, so ease off the gas on them early. It’s dry, sunny weather, so this is a frost problem, not an ice storm. Give the defroster a few minutes and you’ll be fine.

👉 Read more: NWS forecast for Dunlap · NWS winter driving tips

🏈 Friday Night Road Trips: Three Valley Teams Head to Upper East Tennessee

Regional — playoff travel. Three Valley football teams play second-round TSSAA games on the road Friday, Nov. 13, all at 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. our time):

• Sequatchie County at Unicoi County (Class 3A)
• Bledsoe County at Happy Valley (Class 2A)
• Whitwell at Cosby (Class 1A)

Closer to home, Oneida plays at Marion County in Jasper and Jellico plays at South Pittsburg, both at 7 p.m. our time. Sequatchie County schools are on remote-learning days today and Friday, which the school system said lets families who want to travel to Unicoi County do so.

What it means for you: These are long hauls, and the drive home will be late and cold, with Friday night’s low near 30. Treat it like a trip to the grandkids’ place for Thanksgiving: full tank, snacks, phone charger, a blanket in the back seat, and a driver who’s rested. Leave with time to spare, since the clock jumps an hour ahead when you cross into Eastern time. On the way home, watch the bridges and the edges of the road for deer.

👉 Read more: Tennessee playoff matchups for Nov. 13–14 · The Dunlap-Tribune on remote learning days

🦌 Dawn, Dusk and Deer: The Two Times to Slow Down

Statewide — with local sun times. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says deer are most active at dawn and dusk, and that deer-vehicle collisions climb in October and November, during breeding season. Here in Dunlap, the U.S. Naval Observatory has sunrise at about 6:14 a.m. and sunset at about 4:37 p.m. today, with full dark by about 5:05 p.m. TWRA’s season calendar also brings more hunters out: from Saturday, Nov. 14, straight-walled cartridge rifles are allowed on private land during muzzleloader season, and the statewide gun season opens Saturday, Nov. 21.

What it means for you: Your drive to work and your drive home now both land right in deer time. Slow down a little on wooded stretches, use your high beams when no one’s coming, and remember that where there’s one deer, there’s usually another right behind it, like kids lining up for the ice cream truck. If one jumps out, brake firmly and stay in your lane rather than swerving. On Saturday mornings, also look out for hunters’ trucks easing on and off the shoulders near fields.

👉 Read more: WBBJ on TWRA’s deer advice · TWRA hunting seasons summary · Naval Observatory sun times

🚇 Chattanooga Next Week: Two Tunnel Nights to Circle on the Calendar

Regional — Hamilton County. Update. We’ve mentioned these in our quick list. Now they’re less than a week away, and TDOT’s latest roadway report spells out all three. TDOT’s contractor plans to clean:

• Wednesday, Nov. 18 — Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel (SR-8): closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern (7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time), with a posted detour.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18 — McCallie Tunnels (SR-2, through Missionary Ridge): open but slow. Crews clean one side at a time with flaggers, same hours. Expect delays.
• Thursday, Nov. 19 — Bachman Tubes (SR-8): closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Eastern (7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time), with a posted detour.

All three are weather permitting. TDOT didn’t name the detour routes, so follow the signs.

What it means for you: This only matters if you’re out late in Chattanooga those two nights. Stringer’s Ridge is the tunnel on the North Chattanooga side, so folks coming home toward Signal Mountain late Wednesday may want another way. Daytime trips aren’t affected. Think of it like the church kitchen being mopped after supper: the door’s locked for a few hours, then everything’s open by breakfast.

👉 Read more: TDOT roadway activity report · Chattanooga Journal’s closure roundup

🛣️ Nashville-Bound Next Week? A Few Overnight Lane Closures on I-24

Regional — Middle Tennessee. New to our list. TDOT posted its Middle Tennessee lane closure report this morning for Nov. 15–21. On I-24, it lists:

• I-24 eastbound, mile markers 58 to 59 (Davidson County): one lane closed Monday through Thursday nights, Nov. 16–19, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for overhead sign maintenance.
• I-24 westbound, mile marker 70 (Rutherford County): more than one lane closed Thursday night, Nov. 19, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for bridge pothole repair.

What it means for you: These are night jobs, and Middle Tennessee is on our time, so a daytime doctor’s visit or ballgame in Nashville shouldn’t notice them. If you’re driving home late Thursday the 19th, give yourself extra time near mile 70.

👉 Read more: TDOT’s Middle Tennessee lane closures, Nov. 15–21

📋 Still on the Calendar (Quick List)

• New TDOT list for our area: TDOT hadn’t posted its next roadway report for the Valley as of noon. The last one (Nov. 5–11) ended Wednesday. We’ll bring you the new one as soon as it’s out.
• US-72 / SR-27 in Marion County (log mile 21.2): westbound lane closed with temporary signals through Dec. 14.
• SR-108 in Marion County: one lane with temporary signals for slide repair.
• I-24 westbound, Marion County (miles 140.5 to 135): shoulder closures, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., through Nov. 24 for brush-clearing around traffic cameras.
• US-41 in Grundy County: flaggers between Bells Cove and West Main Street, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., through Nov. 17.
• US-127 toward Crossville: daily flaggers in Cumberland County from the Bledsoe County line toward Crossville, as we reported yesterday.
• Bonny Oaks Drive, Chattanooga: the daytime closures are over. The new speed limit is 45 mph between Lee Highway and Austin Drive.

👉 Read more: Chattanooga Journal’s closure roundup · SValleyNow’s TDOT roadwork list

✅ Your Front-Porch Checklist

• 🧊 Friday morning through next Thursday morning: frost likely. Scraper in the car tonight.
• 🌁 Bridges and overpasses: first to frost, last to thaw. Ease up on them early.
• 🏈 Friday playoff trip? Kickoff is 6 p.m. our time. Full tank, blanket, charger, rested driver.
• 🦌 Around 6:15 a.m. and 4:40 p.m.: deer time. Slow down on wooded stretches. One deer means look for two.
• 🚇 Chattanooga: Stringer’s Ridge closed Wed. Nov. 18, Bachman Tubes closed Thu. Nov. 19, both 7 p.m.–5 a.m. our time.
• 🛣️ I-24 to Nashville: overnight lane closures next week near miles 58–59 and 70.
• 📱 Before a long trip: check SmartWay or dial 511.

The practical rule: when the sun is low, the frost is fresh or the drive is long, slow down and leave early.

— Dunlap.Today

📖 Words Worth Knowing

• Frost: Ice crystals that form on cold surfaces, like windshields and bridge decks, on clear, calm nights near or below freezing.
• Tunnel cleaning: Crews wash the walls, lights and signs inside a tunnel so drivers can see well. It’s usually done overnight when traffic is light.
• Detour: A signed route that takes you around a closed road.
• Dusk and dawn: The dim times just after sunset and just before sunrise, when it’s harder to see and deer are on the move.
• Mile marker: The small green sign along an interstate that counts the miles from the state line, so crews and drivers can name an exact spot.

❓ FAQ

When does the frost start?

Friday morning. Tonight’s low is around 32, then about 30 Friday night, 28 Saturday night, and 30 Sunday through Tuesday nights, with Wednesday night near 32.

Will it rain tonight?

Probably not. The weather service gives Dunlap only a 20 percent chance of a shower, and only before 7 p.m.

What time do Friday’s road playoff games start on our clocks?

Sequatchie County at Unicoi County, Bledsoe County at Happy Valley and Whitwell at Cosby all kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern, which is 6 p.m. our time.

Which Chattanooga tunnels close next week, and when?

The Stringer’s Ridge Tunnel closes Wednesday night, Nov. 18, and the Bachman Tubes close Thursday night, Nov. 19, each from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. our time. The McCallie Tunnels stay open Nov. 18 but are flagged one side at a time. All depend on the weather.

Why do deer seem to be everywhere right now?

TWRA says deer are most active at dawn and dusk, and October and November are breeding season, when deer-vehicle collisions go up. With sunset around 4:37 p.m., many evening drives home now happen right at dusk.

Is anything new on our Valley roads this week?

Not yet. TDOT’s newest roadway report for our area wasn’t posted as of noon. The long-running jobs on US-72, SR-108 and I-24 in Marion County are still on.

🔗 Other Resources

• TDOT SmartWay map: live closures and cameras (or dial 511)
• NWS forecast for Dunlap
• NWS winter weather safety
• TDOT newsroom: new notices and the weekly roadway report
• TWRA hunting seasons summary
• City of Chattanooga road closures map

🚗 Steady Wheels, Calm Mind

Here’s the short list to remember: frost starts Friday morning and sticks around a week, Friday’s playoff kickoffs are at 6 p.m. our time, deer move at dawn and dusk, and Chattanooga’s tunnel nights are Nov. 18 and 19. Put the scraper in the car and a blanket in the back seat, and you’re ready for all of it. Nothing here is cause for worry, just good to know before you turn the key. For more calm, clear news about the roads you drive every day, keep reading Dunlap.Today.