🚧 Fall Back Flips the Glare, Election Day Fills the Lots and a Wet Wednesday Morning Commute: Your Roads & Commute Report

Or: New Clock, New Glare, a Busy Polling-Place Parking Lot and the First Real Soaking in a While, All Before You Back Out of the Driveway Next Week

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 31, 2026

Happy Halloween. Next week on the road is a lot like rearranging the kitchen. Nothing is broken, but everything is in a slightly different spot, and for a few days you’ll reach for the coffee and grab the flour. The clock moves, the sun moves with it, Tuesday brings extra cars to a few parking lots, and Wednesday finally brings the rain we’ve been waiting for.

Here’s what’s in this report. When the clocks fall back tonight, the low sun moves into the morning drive and the trip home ends in the dark. Tuesday is Election Day. Sequatchie County polls are open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the weather is dry and breezy. The Weather Service’s rain grid shows about 2.4 inches from Tuesday night through Thursday night, and the wettest stretch lands on Wednesday morning’s commute. Heading to Nashville? TDOT lists two nights of I-24 lane closures between Smyrna and Murfreesboro on Nov. 5 and 6, right before the Exit 111 weekend. We also take a calm look at the long-range I-24 Choice Lanes plan, which has open houses Nov. 17 and 18.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Tonight: clocks go back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday.
• Monday morning: sunglasses in the cup holder and a clean windshield. Low sun is now part of the drive to work.
• Monday evening: dark by about 5:10 p.m. Headlights on early, and watch for walkers and deer.
• Tuesday, Election Day: Sequatchie polls are open 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Expect full lots before work, at lunch and after work. Dry, high near 73, with gusts up to about 25 mph.
• Wednesday morning: the wettest commute of the week. Leave early. Wipers on, headlights on (that’s Tennessee law).
• Nashville trip Thursday or Friday night? I-24 lane closures near Smyrna Nov. 5–6, then Exit 111 at Manchester closes Nov. 6–9.

A quick note on clocks: Chattanooga runs on Eastern time, one hour ahead of us. We give times the way they’re posted and note our Central time where it matters. The sun times below are for Chattanooga, converted to our time. Dunlap is within a minute or two.

🕶️ Fall Back Tonight: The Glare Moves to Your Morning Drive

We gave you the new sunrise and sunset times on Thursday. Here’s the part that changes how the drive feels. On Monday, Nov. 2, the sun comes up about 6:03 a.m. our time, rising in the east-southeast. That means anyone heading east or south early, toward Chattanooga, up the mountain or across the valley, will meet a low, bright sun right about the time the school buses and work trucks are rolling. In the evening the sun sets about 4:45 p.m. in the west-southwest, and real dark arrives around 5:12 p.m. For most folks, the whole trip home is now in the dark.

AAA’s Tennessee office put out its time-change advice this week. Their main points, in plain English:

• Mornings: keep sunglasses within reach, use the visor and don’t look straight at the sun. Clean the windshield inside and out, because haze, dust and streaks make glare worse. Leave more room, because the driver ahead may brake suddenly when the sun hits them.
• Evenings: check your headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals. Slow down enough to stop within what your headlights show. Scan shoulders, intersections and crosswalks for walkers and bike riders.
• Drowsiness: an extra hour of dark can make you sleepy. If your eyes get heavy or you can’t remember the last few miles, pull over somewhere safe and rest.

Dusk is also when deer move most. Tennessee’s Commerce & Insurance department reminds drivers that deer are most active at dawn and dusk from October through December. Now your drive home lands right at dusk.

What it means for you: Think of it like moving your favorite chair to the other side of the porch. For a week the sun hits you from a new direction. Clean glass, sunglasses and a few more car lengths of space handle the mornings. Headlights on before you need them handle the evenings. Remember: glare in the morning, dark in the evening, deer at both ends.

👉 Read more (AAA – The Auto Club Group, Tennessee) · November sun times · TN Commerce & Insurance deer tips

🗳️ Tuesday Is Election Day: Busy Lots, Dry Skies and a Dark Evening Rush

This one is all about the parking lot, not the ballot. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Sequatchie County election notice lists polls open 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central time. Polling places in the county include the Sequatchie County Courthouse on Cherry Street in downtown Dunlap, Lewis Chapel Church of God and the Cagle Community Center. Your voter card or the state’s GoVoteTN lookup tells you exactly where you vote. Early voting ended Thursday.

• When the lots fill: usually right at opening, around lunch and after work. Downtown Dunlap around the courthouse can get tight on parking.
• Dark at closing: it’s dark by about 5:11 p.m. Tuesday, so the after-work voters are walking across dim lots for nearly two hours before polls close. Go slow and watch for people on foot, especially older neighbors and folks with kids.
• In line at closing? Tennessee law says anyone in line when the polls close still gets to vote, so there’s no need to rush the drive.
• Neighbors on Eastern time: under state law, polls in Eastern-time counties such as Hamilton and Rhea close at 8 p.m. Eastern, which is 7 p.m. our time.
• Weather: the Weather Service shows Tuesday partly sunny with a high near 73 and a southeast breeze gusting up to about 25 mph. Hold on to car doors and loose papers.

What it means for you: It’s like Sunday dinner at Grandma’s. Everybody shows up at once and somebody has to park on the grass. Leave a few extra minutes, pull all the way into a space, and give walkers the right of way. If you have questions about where or when to vote, the Sequatchie County Election Commission is at 68 Spring St. in Dunlap, 423-949-2431. Bring a photo ID.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County election notice) · GoVoteTN: Find your polling place · Tennessee poll-hours law

🌧️ Wednesday’s Soaker: The Wettest Commute in a While

Here’s the rain we’ve been hoping for, and it lands right on a workday. As of midday Saturday, the National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap shows:

• Sunday: a 30% chance of light showers, mostly before 1 p.m. Forecasters call it “generally light and insignificant.”
• Monday and Tuesday: dry and mild, with breezy spells.
• Tuesday night: a 50% chance of showers, with thunderstorms possible after 1 a.m.
• Wednesday: a 70% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms, high near 71.
• Wednesday night through Thursday night: chances taper from 60% to 30%. Friday looks mostly sunny.

The Weather Service’s rain grid adds up to about 2.4 inches from Tuesday night through Thursday night. The single wettest six-hour block, about seven-tenths of an inch, falls between about 6 a.m. and noon Wednesday. That’s the school-and-work commute. The Morristown forecast office calls it “much needed rain” for the Tennessee Valley and says instability “looks rather meager at this time (limiting severe potential).” It also mentions gusty mountain winds around midweek.

The first good rain after a dry stretch can catch drivers off guard. Transportation officials point out that oil and grease build up on the pavement during dry weeks and float up all at once when the rain comes, making roads slicker than they look. Add the wet leaves now coming down on back roads. Their rain-driving tips:

• Slow down and turn off cruise control.
• Leave two to three times your usual stopping distance on wet roads.
• Hydroplaning can start as low as 35 mph, especially on worn tires. If it happens, ease off the gas, brake gently and steer straight.
• Headlights on: in Tennessee, if your wipers have to run steadily, your headlights have to be on.
• If water is over the road, turn around. You can’t tell how deep it is or whether the road underneath is still there.

What it means for you: Treat Wednesday morning like a church potluck with a long line. You’ll get there, just not at your usual time. Leave 10 or 15 minutes early, swap out streaky wiper blades this weekend while it’s dry, and take the first few miles easy. Rain totals change from forecast to forecast, so check again Monday night.

👉 Read more (NWS Dunlap forecast) · NWS Morristown discussion · Tennessee headlight law · First-rain driving tips

🛣️ Nashville-Bound Late Next Week? Two Nights of I-24 Work Near Smyrna, Then Manchester

This is a Middle Tennessee item, not a local one, but plenty of Valley folks drive I-24 to Nashville for appointments, flights and family. TDOT’s Middle Tennessee lane closure report for Nov. 1–7, as summarized by Murfreesboro Now, lists:

• I-24, mile markers 66 to 71 (Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna toward Murfreesboro): multiple lanes closed in both directions for bridge joint repairs, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday night, Nov. 5, and Friday night, Nov. 6.
• Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna: lane closures for signal work, overnight Sunday through Friday and also 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

Remember that Friday night, Nov. 6, is also when TDOT closes I-24 and SR-55 at Exit 111 in Manchester, from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9. Interstate traffic goes up and over the ramps, and Manchester traffic should use Exit 110 or 114.

What it means for you: If you’re coming home from Nashville late Friday, Nov. 6, you could hit two work zones on one trip, like two red lights in a row on Main Street. Daytime trips that week look normal on these lists. For a late-night drive, check SmartWay before you leave.

👉 Read more (Murfreesboro Now, from TDOT’s Region 3 report) · TDOT Middle Tennessee lane closures · TDOT: Exit 111 weekend

🔭 The Long View: What the I-24 “Choice Lanes” Plan Means for an Occasional Nashville Trip

This is a statewide, long-range item. Nothing changes on the road this year. TDOT says it and its private partner, DriveTN, have advanced the agreement for the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes, about 26 miles of I-24 between I-40 in Nashville and I-840 in Rutherford County. Here’s what TDOT says:

• The plan adds two new lanes in each direction that drivers can choose to use for a fee.
• No existing lanes are being taken away, and the regular lanes stay free.
• The new lanes are expected to open in 2035.
• TDOT and DriveTN will hold two drop-in open houses with the same information at each: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 3–7 p.m. at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, and Wednesday, Nov. 18, 3–7 p.m. at the Smyrna Event Center. The information will also be posted on the project website.

What it means for you: For now, it’s like hearing the neighbors plan to build a new barn in a few years. It’s good to know about, and there’s nothing to do today. If you drive to Nashville often and want to see the plans or ask questions, the open houses and project page are the place to go.

👉 Read more (TDOT announcement) · TDOT: I-24 Choice Lanes project page

📌 Still Going On (Quick Reminders)

• Monday, Nov. 2: the SR-60 Tennessee River bridge in Meigs County goes to one lane with temporary signals at 9 a.m. Eastern, and the US-72 temporary signal in Marion County starts the same day and runs through Dec. 14.
• Sequatchie and Bledsoe counties: neither county has an entry on TDOT’s weekly activity report for Oct. 29–Nov. 4.
• Hamilton County state routes: TDOT lists daytime flagging on US-41/64/72 (SR-2) for paving, and nightly pavement-marking flaggers on SR-17 and SR-58, through Nov. 15.
• Signal Mountain Road and Suck Creek Road: daytime flagger lane closures, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern, through Dec. 4.
• Scenic Highway (SR-148) on Lookout Mountain: daytime flaggers through Jan. 31, 2027.
• Riverfront Parkway in Chattanooga: closed to through traffic from 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, to 10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, for the Head of the Hooch.
• I-75 at Hamilton Place: ongoing lane and ramp work with a lower speed limit.
• Region 2 night crews: TDOT lists nighttime sweeping and guardrail repair across the region. Watch for slow trucks with flashing lights.

✅ Your Week-Ahead Driving Checklist

• ✅ Tonight: clocks back one hour, including the truck and the stove.
• ✅ This weekend, while it’s dry: clean the windshield inside and out, check wiper blades and walk around the car to check every light.
• ✅ Monday morning: sunglasses within reach, visor ready and a bigger gap to the car ahead.
• ✅ Every evening: headlights on before sunset. Watch for walkers, bikes and deer.
• ✅ Tuesday: look up your polling place, bring a photo ID, park patiently and watch for people on foot after dark.
• ✅ Wednesday morning: leave early. Wipers on, headlights on, cruise control off, and turn around at water over the road.
• ✅ Nashville late Thursday or Friday: I-24 work near Smyrna Nov. 5–6, and Exit 111 closed Nov. 6–9.
• ✅ Check TDOT SmartWay or call 511 before longer trips.

Practical rule: New clock, new habits. Clear glass for the morning sun, lights on before the evening dark, and a little more space whenever the road is wet or busy.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Roads Glossary

• Sun glare: Bright, low sunlight that washes out your view of the road, worst just after sunrise and just before sunset.
• Civil twilight: The time right after sunset when there’s still some light in the sky. When it ends, it’s truly dark.
• Polling place: The building where you vote on Election Day. Yours is assigned by where you live.
• Rain grid (QPF): The Weather Service’s estimate of how much rain will fall in a set block of time, mapped out square by square.
• Hydroplaning: When your tires ride up on a thin layer of water and lose grip on the road, a bit like a skipping stone.
• Bridge joint: The gap between sections of a bridge deck that lets it stretch and shrink with the weather. Crews repair these so the ride stays smooth.
• Choice Lanes: Extra interstate lanes that drivers can choose to use for a fee. The existing free lanes stay free.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly do the clocks change?

At 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, clocks go back one hour. Most phones change on their own. Car clocks and stove clocks usually need a hand.

Why is the morning glare worse after the time change?

The sun still rises at its natural time, but the clock says it’s an hour earlier. So the low, bright sun that used to come up before your drive now comes up during it. Sunrise Monday is about 6:03 a.m. our time, in the east-southeast.

What are the poll hours in Sequatchie County on Tuesday?

The county’s election notice lists 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Anyone in line at 7 p.m. still gets to vote. If you’re not sure where you vote, use GoVoteTN or call the Sequatchie County Election Commission at 423-949-2431.

Do I really have to turn my headlights on in the rain?

Yes. Tennessee law says that when rain, mist or other precipitation makes you keep your wipers running, your headlights must be on too. It helps other drivers see you.

How much rain is coming, and when is it worst?

As of midday Saturday, the Weather Service’s rain grid shows about 2.4 inches from Tuesday night through Thursday night, with the heaviest stretch around 6 a.m. to noon Wednesday. Forecasters say severe weather looks limited for now. Totals can change, so check again Monday night.

Will the I-24 Choice Lanes cost me anything on a regular trip to Nashville?

Not unless you choose to use them. TDOT says no existing lanes will be removed and the regular lanes stay free. The new lanes aren’t expected to open until 2035.

🔗 Other Resources

• TDOT SmartWay: Live traffic map and cameras
• TDOT Newsroom: Weekly roadway reports and project notices
• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• GoVoteTN: Find your polling place
• AAA Tennessee: Time-change driving tips
• TDOT: I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes
• Chattanooga road closures, updated weekly
• SValleyNow: Sequatchie Valley local news
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses and services

🚗 New Light, Same Good Roads: You’ve Got This

Here’s all you need to remember: clocks back tonight, so the glare moves to the morning and the drive home is dark. Polls are open 9 to 7 on Tuesday, and Wednesday morning is wet, so leave early. Nashville travelers should mark Nov. 5–9 on the calendar. Like any change in routine, it feels odd for about a week, and then it’s just how November drives.

Drive easy, enjoy the extra hour of sleep and read Dunlap.Today for road and weather updates as they come in.