Heavy Snow in Tennessee, December 24 to 27, 2010

Name: Heavy Snow in Tennessee, December 24 to 27, 2010
Start: 2010-12-24T22:00
End: 2010-12-27T12:00
Location: Tennessee

December 24 to 27, 2010 · NWS MRX · 31 events in 22 counties and zones

An area of low pressure tracked through region producing snow over a 3 day period. Generally 1 to 4 inches of snow was reported in the lower elevations, while up to 15 inches of snow fell across the higher elevations.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 31 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: 31

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.

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 Dec 24, 9:00 PM EST, 1 hour earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 24, 9:00 PM EST, 1 hour before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
900 PM EST FRI DEC 24 2010

.DISCUSSION...WEAK RADAR RETURNS SHOWING UP ON PLATEAU AT THIS
TIME. HOWEVER...APPEARS MOST OF THE EASTERN EDGE OF PRECIP SHIELD
IS NOT REACHING GROUND BASED ON LATEST SURFACE OBS. NOT MANY
CHANGES NOTED IN LATEST MODEL RUNS. WILL UPDATE ZONE FORECAST TO
UPDATE WORDING...BUT DO NOT INTEND TO MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
TO ZONES OR WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT, TN             31  38  26  35  24 /  60  70  30  30  10
KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT, TN  28  35  25  31  22 /  60  80  60  50  30
OAK RIDGE, TN                       28  36  25  31  22 /  70  70  60  50  30
TRI CITIES AIRPORT, TN              26  34  24  29  19 /  70  80  60  60  50

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
     SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: CHEROKEE...CLAY.

TN...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT EST /11 PM CST/ TONIGHT TO
     NOON EST /11 AM CST/ SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     ANDERSON...BLEDSOE...BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS...BRADLEY...
     CAMPBELL...CLAIBORNE...COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS...EAST POLK...
     GRAINGER...HAMBLEN...HAMILTON...HANCOCK...HAWKINS...
     JEFFERSON...JOHNSON...KNOX...LOUDON...MARION...MCMINN...
     MEIGS...MORGAN...NW BLOUNT...NORTH SEVIER...NORTHWEST
     CARTER...NORTHWEST COCKE...NORTHWEST GREENE...NORTHWEST
     MONROE...RHEA...ROANE...SCOTT TN...SEQUATCHIE...SEVIER
     SMOKY MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST CARTER...SOUTHEAST GREENE...
     SOUTHEAST MONROE...SULLIVAN...UNICOI...UNION...WASHINGTON
     TN...WEST POLK.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
     AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS...
     COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS...JOHNSON...SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS...
     SOUTHEAST CARTER...SOUTHEAST GREENE...UNICOI.

VA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST
     SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: LEE...RUSSELL...SCOTT...
     WASHINGTON...WISE.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
     AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: LEE...RUSSELL...SCOTT...
     WASHINGTON...WISE.

&&

LCM

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

31 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Marion

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Marion forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.129, -85.622 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported up to 4 inches of snow fell at Jasper while Monteagle received up to 6 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Sequatchie

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Sequatchie forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.371, -85.411 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported up to 4 to 5 inches of snow fell across the higher elevations.

Heavy Snow, Hamilton

When: December 24, 10:00 PM EST to December 25, 3:00 PM EST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.181, -85.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported 2 to 3 inches of snow fell across Chattanooga while Lookout Mountain received 4 to 5 inches of snow.

Heavy Snow, Hamilton

When: December 25, 12:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.181, -85.165 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of inches of snow fell near Soddy Daisy.

Heavy Snow, Bradley

When: December 25, 1:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: Bradley forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.154, -84.860 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of inches of snow fell at Cleveland.

Heavy Snow, McMinn

When: December 25, 1:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: McMinn forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 35.425, -84.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of inches of snow fell at Etowah.

Heavy Snow, West Polk

When: December 25, 1:00 AM EST to 4:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 6 inches of snow fell at Benton.

Heavy Snow, East Polk

When: December 25, 1:00 AM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where: East Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.120, -84.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trained spotter reported 6 inches of snow fell at Ducktown.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Monroe

When: December 25, 1:00 AM EST to 4:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of snow fell at Tellico Plains.

Heavy Snow, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When: December 25, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Sevier/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Park service personnel reported 15 inches of snow fell at Mount Leconte.

Heavy Snow, North Sevier

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 4 inches of snow fell at Sevierville.

Heavy Snow, Cocke/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 6 inches of snow fell at Hartford.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Blount

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of snow fell at Maryville.

Heavy Snow, Unicoi

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Unicoi forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 36.111, -82.432 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway department personnel reported 2 to 4 inches of snow fell at Erwin and 5 to 6 inches in the higher elevations.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Carter

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel estimated 5 inches of snow fell at Hampton and 4 to 6 inches of snow in the higher elevations.

Heavy Snow, Cocke/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Cocke/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter estimated 9 inches of snow fell at Cosby.

Heavy Snow, Unicoi

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Unicoi forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.111, -82.432 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter estimated 8 inches of snow fell at Erwin.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Cocke

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Northwest Cocke forecast zone
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An NWS employee measured 5 inches of snow fell at Parrottsville.

Heavy Snow, Cocke/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Cocke/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter estimated 12 inches of snow fell at Cosby.

Heavy Snow, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Sevier/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Park service personnel reported 6 inches of snow fell near Gatlinburg.

Heavy Snow, Blount/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Blount/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.687, -83.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Park service personnel reported 10 inches of snow fell 5 miles south of Townsend.

Heavy Snow, Johnson

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.455, -81.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported 7 inches of snow fell at Mountain City.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Carter

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 6 inches of snow fell at Elizabethton.

Heavy Snow, Unicoi

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Unicoi forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.111, -82.432 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of snow fell at Erwin.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Monroe

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 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)

Law enforcement personnel reported 5 inches of snow fell at Madisonville.

Heavy Snow, East Polk

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: East Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.120, -84.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trained spotter estimated 9 inches of snow fell near Ducktown.

Heavy Snow, Blount/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Blount/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.687, -83.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Park service personnel reported 9 inches of snow fell at Cades Cove.

Heavy Snow, Washington

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.293, -82.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet reported 6 inches of snow fell near Jonesborough.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Greene

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Greene forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.175, -82.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet reported 5.5 inches of snow fell 10 miles south of Greeneville.

Heavy Snow, Grainger

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Grainger forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 36.276, -83.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mesonet reported 6.2 inches of snow fell near Jopa.

Heavy Snow, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When: December 26, 1:00 AM EST to December 27, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Sevier/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Park service personnel measured 10 inches of snow that fell at the Great Smokey National Park headquarters at the Gatlinburg.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in Tennessee, December 2010

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 271915, 271919, 271924, 271943, 271970, 272007, 272013, 272014, 272023, 272030, 272070, 272072, 272073, 272077, 272082, 272098, 272106, 272234, 272236, 272255, 272256, 272258, 272269, 272276, 272278, 272279, 272495, 272500, 272511, 272518, 274008.