Massive Ice Storm Leaves Nashville Powerless For Days

As Middle Tennessee woke to a harsh winter morning on January 25, 2026, a sprawling power outage was already gripping the region, leaving hundreds of thousands in the cold and dark. The culprit? A potent mix of freezing rain and accumulating ice that snapped trees, brought down power lines, and overwhelmed local utilities’ capacity to respond swiftly. Residents across Nashville and surrounding counties found themselves checking outage maps, bundling up in extra layers, and searching for updates as the situation rapidly evolved.

According to Nashville Electric Service (NES), the crisis began to take shape in the early hours of Sunday. At 4:30 a.m., NES reported 5,953 outages, but the numbers quickly escalated. By 6:50 a.m., more than 88,000 NES customers were without power, and by 7:00 a.m., the tally had surpassed 100,000, according to WKRN. Just two hours later, NES’s online map showed the number had soared to over 188,000 customers. WSMV later reported the figure had climbed even higher, with more than 195,000 NES customers in the dark and over 2,700 active outage events in progress. Officials warned the situation could worsen as the storm continued its icy onslaught.

The scale of the outages extended well beyond Nashville. Tri County Electric reported 15,500 customers without power by 7:00 a.m., while Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) had 11,000 outages at the same time. By 9:00 a.m., CEMC’s number had surged to approximately 28,000, affecting residents across Cheatham, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, and Sumner counties. Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) also saw its outage count rise, with at least 15,000 customers impacted by 9:00 a.m., and more than 15,500 by midday. Duck River Electric reported about 3,000 outages, primarily in Maury County but also scattered across Franklin, Coffee, Williamson, Lewis, Giles, Marshall, and Grundy counties. Even Benton County Electric System wasn’t spared, with about 200 outages reported on Sunday morning. CDE Lightband showed more than 4,000 customers without power, stemming from 117 active events.

So what caused such widespread chaos? As NES explained, the combination of freezing rain and ice accumulation weighed heavily on trees and power lines. When trees snapped under the weight, they brought down lines with them—sometimes entire sections of the grid failed at once. "Ice storms are some of the most damaging winter weather events we face. Even a small amount of ice adds extreme weight to power lines, poles, and trees, which can cause lines to sag, equipment to fail, and trees to snap. One quarter inch of ice can add up to 500 pounds of weight to a power line. This type of damage takes longer to repair than a typical outage because ice doesn’t just knock out power, it physically breaks parts of the system," Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation stated. The result: restoration efforts would take not just hours, but potentially days, as crews worked to repair critical infrastructure before addressing outages in individual neighborhoods.

Utility companies mobilized all available resources. NES had 85 bucket trucks prepared and ready, more than 200 line crews available for deployment, and 1,200 bags of ice melt positioned for use. As of 7:00 a.m., NES had 120 lineworkers and 40 contracted lineworkers in the field, with another 80 lineworkers scheduled to arrive in Nashville that evening and 75 more expected by the next morning. NES emphasized, "Our teams are fully staffed and already in the field assessing damage and beginning repairs, and contract crews have been called in to assist. This will be a longer outage which could span over days or longer. We have additional resources through mutual aid and supplemental crews on their way."

Crews worked in continuous rotations since Friday, January 23, on extended 14- to 16-hour shifts. NES assured customers, "Crews will work as safely and efficiently as possible until power is restored for every customer." The utility also urged residents to stay away from downed power lines and always assume they are live and dangerous. For those needing to report outages or seek updates, NES directed customers to check the NES outage map, text OUT to 637797 (NESPWR), or call (615) 234-0000. MTE and CEMC offered similar reporting options through their websites and apps, as well as dedicated phone lines.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) stepped in to help those most vulnerable. As temperatures dropped and homes lost heat, TEMA provided a list of warming centers and contact information for local emergency management agencies for residents needing assistance or shelter. The National Weather Service also issued safety advice for those stuck without power: wear multiple layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing; stay inside as much as possible; limit opening doors and windows to conserve heat; close off unneeded rooms; seal cracks under doors with towels or blankets; and keep curtains or blinds closed to retain warmth. "You can always take off layers to avoid overheating and sweating too much, which could cause a chill," the NWS advised.

For many, the outage was a jarring reminder of the region’s vulnerability to severe winter weather. Nashville and Middle Tennessee are no strangers to ice storms, but the sheer speed and scale of this event caught many off guard. Residents scrambled to stay informed, using outage maps, texting services, and social media updates from NES and local news outlets like WKRN and WSMV. The sense of community was palpable, with neighbors checking on one another and sharing information about warming centers and emergency resources.

Yet, the challenges were far from over. Officials cautioned that restoring power to critical facilities and major lines would take priority, meaning some neighborhoods could be without electricity for an extended period. The process, they explained, is methodical: "Crews restore power in order to safely bring service back to the greatest number of members as quickly as possible. Critical facilities and major lines must be repaired first before individual neighborhoods can be restored," CEMC noted.

As the day wore on and repair crews pressed on through the freezing rain and ice, the region braced for a long, cold wait. For now, Tennesseans are leaning on resourcefulness, neighborly support, and the tireless efforts of utility workers battling the elements to bring light and warmth back to Middle Tennessee.