Tennessee, 2011

Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Tennessee, January 20, 2011

January 20, 2011 · NWS OHX · 39 events in 39 counties and zones

As a passing cold front, along with the passage of an upper level trough, and deep low level moisture, produced a significant snowfall event across Middle Tennessee during the later afternoon through evening hours on Thursday, January 20th.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 39 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
2
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
39

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.

As a passing cold front, along with the passage of an upper level trough, and deep low level moisture, produced a significant snowfall event across Middle Tennessee during the later afternoon through evening hours on Thursday, January 20th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

35 winter weather, 4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Benton

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Benton forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.070, -88.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Dickson

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Dickson forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.149, -87.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Hickman

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Hickman forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.803, -87.473 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Houston

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Houston forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.286, -87.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Humphreys

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Humphreys forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.041, -87.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. Multiple car accidents due to slippery road conditions and falling snow were reported across the county. Details concerning any injuries associated with these accidents or and damage amounts to individual vehicles were unknown. This total snowfall accumulation also resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Lawrence

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.217, -87.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Lewis

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Lewis forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.527, -87.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county for the remainder of the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Montgomery

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Montgomery forecast zone
Injuries
0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.497, -87.383 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. A public report stated that roads were slippery across the county. A newspaper also reported that 133 wrecks without injury were reported and 57 wrecks were reported with injuries. Information concerning total individual injuries and cost damage amounts to individual vehicles were unknown. Also reported in a newspaper were two individuals who were struck by a car trying to stop at an intersection after attempting to break for a traffic light on College Street. Both received non life threatening injuries but were transported to a local hospital. This total snowfall accumulation also resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Perry

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Perry forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.643, -87.859 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Stewart

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Stewart forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.501, -87.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred on average across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Wayne

When
January 20, 3:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where
Wayne forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.240, -87.788 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Cheatham

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Cheatham forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.261, -87.087 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. Multiple car accidents were reported due to slippery road conditions. Information concerning any damages to individual vehicles and associated costs, along with any injuries, were unknown. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Davidson

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Davidson forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.171, -86.777 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred on average across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Giles

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Giles forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.202, -87.035 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of total snowfall accumulation occurred on average across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Marshall

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Marshall forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.469, -86.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Maury

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Maury forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.617, -87.077 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Heavy Snow, Robertson

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Robertson forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.526, -86.871 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred on average across the county. Dispatchers reported numerous car accidents due to slick road conditions. Details concerning any injuries or damage cost associated with these car accidents were unknown. This total snowfall accumulation also resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Williamson

When
January 20, 3:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Williamson forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.894, -86.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Bedford

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Bedford forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.514, -86.459 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of total snowfall accumulation occurred on average across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Cannon

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Cannon forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.809, -86.062 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Coffee

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Coffee forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.491, -86.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Dekalb

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Dekalb forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.980, -85.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One inch of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Grundy

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Grundy forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.388, -85.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Jackson

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.359, -85.673 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Heavy Snow, Macon

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Macon forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.532, -86.007 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county for the remainder of the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Rutherford

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Rutherford forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.843, -86.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. A newspaper also reported that at least 13 automobile wrecks occurred in the city of Murfreesboro. Any injuries associated with these wrecks or damage amount cost per individual vehicle were unknown. This total snowfall accumulation also resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Smith

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Smith forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.251, -85.957 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Sumner

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Sumner forecast zone
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
36.469, -86.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one tenth of an inch of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. Snow covered most parking lots and county roads. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Trousdale

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Trousdale forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.392, -86.157 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Warren

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Warren forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.679, -85.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Wilson

When
January 20, 4:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Wilson forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.155, -86.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and eight tenths of an inch of total snowfall accumulation occurred on average across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Heavy Snow, Clay

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.551, -85.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Cumberland

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.950, -84.998 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Fentress

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Fentress forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.381, -84.932 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Overton

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where
Overton forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
36.345, -85.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Heavy Snow, Pickett

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Pickett forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.558, -85.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Putnam

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where
Putnam forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.141, -85.495 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, Van Buren

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where
Van Buren forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.696, -85.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two and one half inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

Winter Weather, White

When
January 20, 5:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where
White forecast zone
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
35.926, -85.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two inches of total snowfall accumulation on average occurred across the county. This total snowfall accumulation resulted in closures or postponement of various civic engagements across the county through the evening hours on Thursday, January 20th, as travel across roads throughout the county became hazardous due to the accumulating snowfall.

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, January 2011

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: 277363, 277364, 277375, 277376, 277377, 277379, 277380, 277388, 277391, 277400, 277407, 277366, 277370, 277373, 277382, 277383, 277396, 277423, 277362, 277365, 277368, 277371, 277374, 277378, 277381, 277398, 277399, 277401, 277402, 277405, 277425, 277367, 277369, 277372, 277390, 277393, 277395, 277404, 277420.