Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 5 to 6, 2002

Name: Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 5 to 6, 2002
Start: 2002-01-05T22:00
End: 2002-01-06T19:00
Location: Tennessee

January 5 to 6, 2002 · NWS MRX · 40 events in 40 counties and zones

A winter storm brought a wide range of amounts to East Tennessee. The heaviest amounts were on the northern Cumberland Plateau, where amounts averaged 3-6 inches.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 40 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 40

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MRX wrote it up.

A winter storm brought a wide range of amounts to East Tennessee. The heaviest amounts were on the northern Cumberland Plateau, where amounts averaged 3-6 inches. Across northeast Tennessee, amounts average between a dusting and a half inch. The exceptions in this area were Hancock County with 6-8 inches and Hawkins County with 3-6 inches. In central East Tennessee, amounts were generally 2-4 inches, with a few spots recieving as much as 5 inches, and as little as a half inch. Lowest overall amounts were found in southeast Tennessee. Amounts there averaged between a dusting and 1 inch. However, in this region parts of counties that have higher terrain of the Cumberland Plateau running through them received higher amounts: Rhea County 3-4 inches, Bledsoe 5-6 inches, Sequatchie County 3-4 inches and Marion County around 3 inches.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 5, 9:00 PM EST, 1 hour earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 5, 9:00 PM EST, 1 hour before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
900 PM EST SAT JAN 5 2002

THE 00Z SURFACE ANALYSIS THIS EVENING INDICATED THE LOCATION OF THE
SURFACE LOW OVER THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN EXTREME
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. THIS LOCATION IS FARTHER SOUTHEAST THAN MOST OF
THE 18Z MODEL RUN PROGS FOR 00Z...WHICH INDICATED THAT THE SURFACE
LOW WOULD GENERALLY BE NEAR BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA. THE AVN MODEL
PROG FOR 00Z LOOKS TO BE THE CLOSEST TO REALITY...BUT IS STILL A
LITTLE FARTHER NORTHWEST THAN REALITY. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE
SURFACE LOW WILL TAKE A SLIGHTLY FASTER AND MORE SOUTHERLY TRACK
OVERNIGHT...WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN COLDER TEMPS OVER THE FORECAST
AREA BY TOMORROW MORNING. ALSO...THE NEW 18Z AVN RUN IS INDICATING A
SLIGHTLY COLDER PROFILE OVER THE FORECAST AREA THAN THE PREVIOUS 12Z
RUN.

MODELS ARE INDICATING THAT THE VERTICAL TEMP PROFILE BELOW 700 MB
OVER SOUTHEAST TN MAY HOVER ABOVE FREEZING OVERNIGHT...WITH PRECIP
BEGINNING AS RAIN. HOWEVER...THIS EVENINGS ATL SOUNDING INDICATED A
DEEP LAYER OF DRY AIR OVER NORTHERN GEORGIA...WHICH SHOULD CREATE
ENOUGH EVAPORATIVE COOLING FOR A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIP LATER TONIGHT
ACROSS SOUTHEAST TN. ALSO...WITH GOOD LIFT PROGGED BY THE MODELS
OVER THE FORECAST AREA BY TOMORROW MORNING...DYNAMIC COOLING
PROCESSES SHOULD ALSO AID IN THE PRODUCTION A FAVORABLE SNOW TEMP
VERTICAL PROFILE. CURRENT FORECAST WHICH MENTIONS A WINTRY MIX
BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT AND CHANGING TO ALL SNOW BY TOMORROW MORNING
STILL LOOKS TO BE ON TARGET. THE SHORT RANGE MODELS HAVE SHOWN SOME
CONSISTENCY WITH THEIR QPF AMOUNTS OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH THIS
SYSTEM (3/4 INCH)...SO SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR TOMORROW LOOK TO BE ON
TARGET AS WELL. COLD GROUND TEMPS FROM THE RECENT COLD WEATHER SHOULD
AID IN THE QUICK ACCUMULATION OF SNOW TOMORROW.

WITH ALL OF THIS IN MIND...WILL UPDATE THIS EVENING MAINLY TO TWEAK
THE WORDING OF THE FORECAST...BUT WILL NOT CHANGE ANY OF THE
PREVIOUS FORECASTERS THOUGHTS. WILL ALSO LOWER THE MINS SLIGHTLY
ACROSS NORTHEAST TN AND SOUTHWEST VA...WHERE TEMPS ARE FALLING
FASTER THAN EXPECTED.

.MRX...
NC...WINTER STORM WARNING LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR
CHEROKEE AND CLAY COUNTIES.

TN...WINTER STORM WARNING LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR
ALL EAST TN ZONES.

VA...WINTER STORM WARNING LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR
ALL SOUTHWEST VA ZONES.

DMG

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

40 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Bledsoe

When: January 5, 10:00 PM EST to January 6, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Bledsoe forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.596, -85.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Anderson

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Anderson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.118, -84.198 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Blount/Smoky Mountains

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Blount/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.687, -83.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Bradley

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Bradley forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.154, -84.860 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Campbell

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Campbell forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.404, -84.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Claiborne

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Claiborne forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.486, -83.660 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cocke/Smoky Mountains

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Cocke/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Polk

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: East Polk forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.120, -84.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grainger

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Grainger forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.276, -83.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hamblen

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Hamblen forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.217, -83.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hamilton

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.181, -85.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hancock

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Hancock forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.524, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hawkins

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Hawkins forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.441, -82.945 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jefferson

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.051, -83.446 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Johnson

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.455, -81.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Knox

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.993, -83.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Loudon

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Loudon forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.735, -84.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Marion

When: January 5, 10:00 PM CST to January 6, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.129, -85.622 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, McMinn

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: McMinn forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.425, -84.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Meigs

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Meigs forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.513, -84.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morgan

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Morgan forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.135, -84.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, North Sevier

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: North Sevier forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Blount

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Blount forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.687, -83.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Carter

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Carter forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.293, -82.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Cocke

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Cocke forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Greene

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Greene forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.175, -82.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Monroe

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.443, -84.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rhea

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Rhea forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.609, -84.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Roane

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Roane forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.848, -84.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Scott

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.429, -84.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sequatchie

When: January 5, 10:00 PM CST to January 6, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Sequatchie forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.371, -85.411 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Sevier/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southeast Carter

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Carter forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.293, -82.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southeast Greene

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Greene forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.175, -82.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southeast Monroe

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.443, -84.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sullivan

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.513, -82.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Unicoi

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Unicoi forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.111, -82.432 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Union

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Union forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.288, -83.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Washington

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.293, -82.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Polk

When: January 5, 11:00 PM EST to January 6, 7:00 PM EST
Where: West Polk forecast zone
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.120, -84.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Tennessee, January 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5276569, 5276568, 5276570, 5276571, 5276572, 5276573, 5276574, 5276575, 5276576, 5276577, 5276578, 5276579, 5276580, 5276581, 5276582, 5276583, 5276584, 5276585, 5276586, 5276587, 5276588, 5276589, 5276590, 5276591, 5276592, 5276593, 5276594, 5276595, 5276596, 5276597, 5276598, 5276599, 5276600, 5276601, 5276602, 5276603, 5276604, 5276605, 5276606, 5276607.