Tennessee, 2009

Winter Weather in Tennessee, December 19 to 20, 2009

December 19 to 20, 2009 · NWS OHX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

With a strong surface low moving up into the northern Atlantic just off New England and strong northwesterly flow associated with the base of an upper level trough moving into Middle Tennessee, enough moisture was present, with upper level disturbances rotating around upper level trough base, to produce snow showers across a few counties along and north of Interstate 40 during the late evening…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 OHX wrote it up.

With a strong surface low moving up into the northern Atlantic just off New England and strong northwesterly flow associated with the base of an upper level trough moving into Middle Tennessee, enough moisture was present, with upper level disturbances rotating around upper level trough base, to produce snow showers across a few counties along and north of Interstate 40 during the late evening hours on December 19th into the early morning hours on December 20th. In Cumberland, Fentress, and Trousdale Counties, total snowfall accumulations of one half to one inch occurred. Multiple roads across these counties became snow covered, causing hazardous driving conditions and several car accidents.

The radar

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

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Event by event

3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Trousdale

When
December 19, 9:00 PM CST to December 20, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Trousdale forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
36.392, -86.157 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Total snowfall accumulation of one half of an inch of snowfall was reported by a retired NWS Employee. Multiple roads across the county became snow covered, causing hazardous driving conditions and several car accidents. Details on any damage amounts or injuries associated with these accidents were unknown.

Winter Weather, Cumberland

When
December 19, 10:00 PM CST to December 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.950, -84.998 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Total snowfall accumulation of one half of an inch was reported. Multiple roads across the county became snow covered, causing hazardous driving conditions and several car accidents. Details on any damage amounts or injuries associated with these accidents were unknown.

Winter Weather, Fentress

When
December 19, 10:00 PM CST to December 20, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Fentress forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.381, -84.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fentress County Sheriff's Office reported one inch of snow on the ground in Jamestown and the surrounding areas. Multiple roads across the county became snow covered, causing hazardous driving conditions and several car accidents. Details on any damage amounts or injuries associated with these accidents were unknown.

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, December 2009

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 207256, 207255, 207287.