Another surge of Arctic temperatures causing road conditions to worsen overnight Thursday kept both city of Athens and Limestone County Commission offices from reopening Friday, Jan. 19. A week of snow, ice and frigid temperatures kept schools, offices, courts and many businesses closed all week and with the weekend weather bringing yet another plunge into single digit temperatures, thawing is not expected Saturday.

Limestone County Commission offices had planned to return Friday, Jan. 19, on a two-hour delay but an evaluation of the roads early Friday morning resulted in all offices closing for the fourth straight day.

Limestone County remains under a Wind Chill Advisory issued by the National Weather Service until noon Jan. 20, with wind chills reaching five to 10 degrees below zero. In a special weather statement issued Friday morning, Jan. 19, the NWS warned of subfreezing temperatures and concerns of black ice.

“Lingering moisture from recent rainfall and recently melted snow/ice pack is expected to freeze as subfreezing temperatures move into the region (Friday) morning. This will create areas of black ice producing very icy and dangerous conditions on a number of roadways, including some major highways through noon today,” the NWS stated.

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office continue to deem all roads and bridges impassable Friday morning stating, “The only certain advisory we can provide is there is a significant amount of ‘black ice’ on the roadways and in many cases conditions are worse than they were yesterday.”

The freezing temperatures led to further complications for residents in the Ardmore area, with the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority reporting that the five-mile radius around the Pinedale water tower (27755 Pinedale Road, Ardmore, AL, 35793) lost water pressure due to extreme water demands, leaks and breaks. Residents in this five-mile radius are being placed under a Drinking Water Warning until further notice. 

Those living within the radius should use bottled water or bring their tap water to a rolling boil for three minutes before using it for “drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation,” according to a statement from the Limestone County Sewer and Water Authority. 

Questions or requests for further information can be directed to Nicholas Lowe at (256) 233-6445, ext. 111. 

Weather forecasts show a turnaround in temperatures Monday with a high temperature expected to be in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 30s. By midweek, temperatures are expected to climb into the 60s with lows in the 50s.

Monday, city and county schools are expected to welcome students back. City and county offices plan to quickly get back to work and play catch up particularly with sanitation routes

City of Athens sanitation services will resume pickup on Monday, Jan. 22. Below is the revised schedule:

• Recycling scheduled for Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 will run on Jan. 22

• Residential trash scheduled for Jan. 16 and Jan. 23 will run Jan. 23

• Residential trash scheduled for Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 will run on Jan. 24

• Residential trash scheduled for Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 will run on Jan. 25

• Residential trash scheduled for Jan. 19 and Jan. 26 will run on Jan. 26

If service is not completed on your designated day, please leave bins by the curb until they can be collected. If you have an overflowing trash bin, please bag the trash and place it by the bin. The city’s goal is to complete all sanitation services by Jan. 27.

Limestone County Solid Waste Department’s services will resume pickup Monday and will follow the same procedure as Athens City Sanitation services. Residents with overflowing trash should have it bagged beside their can at the road. Residents with personal cans that can be serviced by the Solid Waste Department can use those cans as well.