NEWPORT-A fast moving and intense snowstorm Thursday afternoon caught many local commuters by surprise, left thousands without powers, and resulted in numerous traffic accidents.

The latest weather incident followed immediately on the heels of record-setting rainfall this week, which had already saturated the ground and resulted in flooding across Cocke County.

Dropping temperatures Thursday saw the steady rain quickly change to snow, described my many as the largest snowflakes they had ever seen. Almost immediately streets and highways became covered with the slushy precipitation which then began freezing.

Both Cocke County and Newport City Schools dismissed their students at mid-day in anticipation of the coming troubles.

For more details, please see the weekend edition of the Newport Plain Talk.