A major winter storm affected Middle Tennessee through much of the day on February 16, with a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Freezing rain and sleet predominated along and south of I-40, with a mix of sleet and snow north of I-40.
Every event with a place to put it; 32 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS OHX wrote it up.
A major winter storm affected Middle Tennessee through much of the day on February 16, with a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Freezing rain and sleet predominated along and south of I-40, with a mix of sleet and snow north of I-40. Combined ice and sleet accumulations ranged from 0.1 to 3 south of I-40, while combined sleet and snow accumulations north of I-40 ranged from 1 to over 7 near the Kentucky border. With temperatures well below freezing, widespread ice and snow covered all surfaces, resulting in numerous trees and power lines being knocked down and lengthy power outages lasting for a few days in some cases. Many roadways were impassable or closed, resulting in nearly all Middle Tennessee school systems shutting down for the entire week.
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 Nashville, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 15, 11:59 PM CST, 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 1159 PM CST SUN FEB 15 2015 .UPDATE...ADDED AVIATION SECTION FOR 06Z TAF'S. && .AVIATION...BNA/CKV/CSV...MESSY FORECAST THESE NEXT 24 HRS. INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS NW MIDDLE TENNESSEE, WITH SLEET OCCURRING GENERALLY WEST OF THE TROUGH. BOUNDARY LAYER REMAINS RELATIVELY DRY SO VSBY'S AND CIGS WILL BE SLOW TO COME DOWN. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE DAY MONDAY WE'LL BE IFR WITH LOW VSBY'S, ESPECIALLY FROM MID-MORNING THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON WHEN NAM BRINGS THE STRONGEST OMEGA ACROSS THE MID STATE. BNA AND CKV WILL LIKELY SEE A SLEET/SNOW MIXTURE, WITH FZRA LIKELY AT CSV. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 912 PM CST SUN FEB 15 2015/ UPDATE...LATEST 00Z NAM DATA SHOWS THE SURFACE LOW FURTHER NORTH ON MONDAY THAN PAINTED BY PREVIOUS MODEL RUNS. OVERALL, THERE IS VERY GOOD CONTINUITY WITH MODEL TRENDS OVER THE PAST 24 HRS. HOWEVER, THE 00Z NAM NOT ONLY CONTINUES THE TREND OF WORKING WARM AIR ALOFT INTO OUR APPROACHING WINTER STORM DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY OVER SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE MID STATE--IT AMPLIFIES THAT LIKELIHOOD. IF THIS HAPPENS, IT WILL CERTAINLY WORK TO KEEP THE BEST CHANCE FOR THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL (OF AT LEAST 2 TO 4 INCHES) CONFINED LARGELY TO A RELATIVELY NARROW BAND NEAR THE THE KENTUCKY BORDER. HOWEVER, THE HIGH QPF VALUES OVER THE SOUTH SUGGEST THAT AREAS THAT DON'T SEE THAT MUCH SNOW WILL SEE A BOAT LOAD OF SLEET INSTEAD, AND POSSIBLY SOME FREEZING RAIN. FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW A PRETTY THICK LAYER OF FREEZING TEMPS NEAR THE GROUND (ON THE ORDER OF 2K TO 3K FT) WHERE MIXED PRECIP IS EXPECTED, EVEN AS FAR SOUTH AS THE ALABAMA BORDER. THIS SUGGESTS THAT WHERE MIXED PRECIP OCCURS, IT WILL LIKELY LEAN TOWARD SLEET RATHER THAN FREEZING RAIN. IN ADDITION, TEMPS WARM SUFFICIENTLY OVER EXTREME SOUTHERN MIDDLE TN TO TURN PRECIP TO RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE HIGH QPF AMOUNTS SHOWN FOR TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE POTENTIAL FOR A BAND OF FREEZING RAIN TO DEVELOP ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA. EVEN THOUGH RIGHT NOW, FORECAST SOUNDINGS FAVOR SLEET, THIS COULD CERTAINLY CHANGE AS THIS WINTER STORM DEVELOPS. HIGHS ALONG THE I-40 CORRIDOR TOMORROW LOOK TO BE BETWEEN 30 AND 32 DEGREES, WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE MID AND UPPER 20S FURTHER NORTH. ALL PARTS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE SHOULD SEE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND ON MONDAY, ALHTOUGH SOUTHERN AREAS COULD SEE TEMPS CLIMB HIGH ENOUGH TO IMPROVE TRAVEL CONDITIONS DURING THE AFTERNOON. LATEST NAM DATA ALSO SUGGESTS THAT SNOW AMOUNTS OVER THE NORTH MIGHT NOT BE QUITE AS GREAT AS PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED. HOWEVER, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE GFS TO COME IN BEFORE JUMPING WHOLE HOG ONTO THAT IDEA. THE NAM STILL SHOWS AT LEAST 2 AND 4 INCHES LIKELY OVER PARTS OF THE EXTREME NORTH DURING THE DAY TOMORROW. SO, AT LEAST A NARROW STRIP OF THE NORTH IS STILL VULNERABLE TO SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMS ON MONDAY. AGAIN, EVEN WHERE SNOW IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT, THE SLEET WILL BE COMING DOWN IN BUCKET FULLS. 00Z NAM ACTUALLY SHOWS THE MOST WIDESPREAD SNOW OCCURRING MONDAY NIGHT, WHEN ALMOST ALL AREAS COULD GET AN ADDITIONAL 2 TO 4 INCHES, AS OUR LOW PRESSURE AREA PULLS EAST. WILL NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO FORECAST GRIDS JUST YET, AND GIVE MIDNIGHT SHIFT A CHANCE TO COME IN AND LUCK OVER THE FULL MODEL PACKAGE. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST MONDAY NIGHT FOR TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095. && ROSE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 349 PM CST SUN FEB 15 2015 TNZ005>011-023>034-057-059-062>066-078-080-161100- STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-HOUSTON- HUMPHREYS-DICKSON-CHEATHAM-DAVIDSON-WILSON-TROUSDALE-SMITH- JACKSON-PUTNAM-OVERTON-FENTRESS-HICKMAN-WILLIAMSON-RUTHERFORD- CANNON-DE KALB-WHITE-CUMBERLAND-WARREN-VAN BUREN- 349 PM CST SUN FEB 15 2015 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT CST MONDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE AREA LATER TONIGHT AND SPREAD EAST OVERNIGHT. BY EARLY MONDAY MORNING...SNOW TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE LIKELY ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHWEST AREAS. SNOW MAY BE MIXED WITH SLEET DURING THIS EVENT. TRAVEL WILL BECOME RAPIDLY TREACHEROUS THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL MIXED WITH SLEET IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO MONDAY EVENING. BY LATE MONDAY NIGHT...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 11 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS NEAR THE TN/KY BORDER ARE VERY POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY EAST. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV OR BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NASHVILLE. TNZ056-058-060-061-075-077-079-093>095-161100- PERRY-LEWIS-MAURY-MARSHALL-BEDFORD-COFFEE-GRUNDY-WAYNE-LAWRENCE- GILES- 349 PM CST SUN FEB 15 2015 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT CST MONDAY NIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE AREA LATE TONIGHT AND SPREAD EAST OVERNIGHT. BY EARLY MONDAY MORNING...SMALL ACCUMULATION OF SNOW AND ICE IS LIKELY. TRAVEL WILL BECOME RAPIDLY TREACHEROUS THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...ESPECIALLY SINCE ICING IS INITIALLY LIKELY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INTO MONDAY EVENING. BY LATE MONDAY NIGHT...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES ARE LIKELY...IN ADDITION TO UP TO ONE-QUARTER INCH OF ICE. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV OR BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NASHVILLE. 06
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
32 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Precipitation totals across Stewart County ranged from 2 to 6 of combined sleet and snow, with the heaviest amounts near the Kentucky border. A CoCoRaHS observer 7.8 miles NNE of Dover measured 4.2 inches of snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Montgomery County ranged from around 2 to 6 of combined sleet and snow, with the heaviest amounts near the Kentucky border. A CoCoRaHS observer 3.4 miles NW of Clarksville measured 6.0 of snow, while a CoCoRaHS observer 10.2 miles WSW of Clarksville measured 1.9 of sleet and snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Robertson County ranged from 1 to 6 of combined sleet and snow, with the heaviest amounts near the Kentucky border. A CoCoRaHS observer 2.6 miles N of Cedar Hill measured 5.5 of snow, while a CoCoRaHS observer 1.4 miles N of Greenbrier measured 1.4 of combined sleet and snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Macon County ranged from 2 to 6 of combined sleet and snow, with the heaviest amounts near the Kentucky border. A Facebook report from Lafayette measured 2.5 of snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Clay County ranged from 3 to over 7 of combined ice, sleet, and snow, with the heaviest amounts near the Kentucky border. A CoCoRaHS observer 6.7 miles NNE of Red Boiling Springs measured 7.2 of snow and 0.13 of ice, while a CoCoRaHS observer 0.3 miles NNE of Celina measured 4.2 of combined sleet and snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Pickett County ranged from 4 to 6 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A CoCoRaHS observer 2.8 miles SSW of Byrdstown measured 6.0 of combined ice, sleet and snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Houston County ranged from 1 to 2 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A CoCoRaHS observer 1.4 miles SW of Tennessee Ridge measured 0.5 of snow, 0.5 of sleet and 0.1 of freezing rain. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Dickson County ranged from 1 of combined ice and sleet in southern portions of the county to over 4 of combined ice, sleet, and snow in northern areas. A CoCoRaHS observer 2.8 miles SE of Vanleer measured 4.2 of combined ice, sleet, and snow, while a trained spotter in Dickson measured 0.75 of ice. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Cheatham County ranged from 1 of combined ice and sleet in southern portions of the county to 3 of combined ice, sleet, and snow in northern areas. A Facebook report indicated 1.5 of combined sleet and snow fell 8 miles northeast of Ashland City. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Davidson County ranged from 1 of combined ice and sleet in southern portions of the county to 2 of combined ice, sleet, and snow in northern areas. A CoCoRaHS observer 2.8 miles NE of Brentwood measured 1.5 of combined ice and sleet, and another CoCoRaHS observer 4.2 miles N of Belle Meade measured 1 of combined ice and sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Sumner County ranged from around 1 of combined ice and sleet in southern portions of the county to 7 of combined sleet and snow in northern areas. A CoCoRaHS observer 5.2 miles N of Westmoreland measured 6.5 of combined sleet and snow, while another CoCoRaHS observer 2.9 miles NE of Hendersonville measured 0.75 of combined ice and sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across southern portions of the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Wilson County ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 3.7 miles WNW of Lebanon measured 0.4 of ice and 0.7 of sleet, while the NWS Nashville office in Old Hickory measured 0.4 of ice and 0.5 of sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Trousdale County ranged from 1 to 2 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A retired NWS employee 1 mile north of Hartsville reported 0.3 inches of sleet with an unknown amount of ice and snow. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Jackson County ranged from 1 of combined ice, sleet and snow in southern portions of the county up to 4 of combined ice, sleet and snow in northern areas. A trained spotter measured 1/2 of ice 6 miles northwest of Livingston. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Overton County ranged from 1 of combined ice, sleet and snow in southern portions of the county up to 4 of combined ice, sleet and snow in northern areas. A trained spotter measured 0.5 of ice in Hilham with an unknown amount of sleet and snow. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Putnam County were around 1 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A CoCoRaHS observer 3.9 miles W of Monterey measured 0.63 of ice and sleet with 0.5 of snow on top, while another CoCoRaHS observer 3.3 miles SSW of Cookeville measured 1.0 of combined ice, sleet and snow. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Fentress County ranged from around 2 to 4 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A CoCoRaHS observer 10.3 miles S of Jamestown measured 0.4 of ice and sleet with 1.5 of snow on top, while another CoCoRaHS observer 3.1 miles SE of Jamestown measured 3.2 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A trained spotter 1 mile north of Jamestown measured 0.25 of ice and 3 of snow. Numerous roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Hickman County were around 1 to 1.5 of combined ice and sleet. The Hickman County Emergency Manager reported 1 of combined ice and sleet in Centerville, while a CoCoRaHS observer 10.2 miles SE of Centerville measured 1.5 of combined ice and sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Lewis County were around 1 of combined ice and sleet. A trained spotter 5 miles west of Hohenwald measured 1.1 of sleet and 0.1 of ice, while a CoCoRaHS observer 4.0 miles WNW of Hohenwald measured 0.9 of sleet and 0.1 of ice. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Williamson County ranged from 0.5 to 2 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 3.8 miles SW of Fairview measured 2.0 of combined ice and sleet, while another CoCoRaHS observer 3.9 miles WSW of Eagleville measured 0.5 of combined ice and sleet. A photo from Twitter showed 2 of ice and sleet in Franklin. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Maury County ranged from 0.5 to 3 of combined ice and sleet. A COOP observer in Spring Hill measured 0.25 of ice and 0.4 of sleet, while a CoCoRaHS observer 1.2 miles SW of Columbia measured 3.0 of combined ice and sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Rutherford County ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 2.1 miles SW of La Vergne measured 0.6 of combined ice and sleet, while a Facebook report from Murfreesboro measured 0.66 of ice. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Cannon County ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 of combined ice and sleet. A trained spotter in Woodbury measured 0.25 of ice with an unknown amount of sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across De Kalb County ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 5.8 miles NE of Dowelltown measured 1.5 of combined ice and sleet, while a CoCoRaHS observer 3.0 miles SSE of Silver Point measured 0.5 of ice and 0.3 of sleet. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across White County ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 of combined ice, sleet, and snow. The White County Emergency Manager reported 0.6 of ice 3 miles NW of Sparta, while a CoCoRaHS observer 8.6 miles NW of Sparta measured 0.5 of ice and sleet with 0.5 of snow. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down across the county, with one tree limb falling on a house on Jefferson Street in Sparta causing minor roof damage. Many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Cumberland County ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 of combined ice, sleet, and snow. A CoCoRaHS observer 4.7 miles S of Crossville measured 1.5 of combined ice, sleet, and snow, while a CoCoRaHS observer 0.1 miles NNW of Fairfield Glade measured 0.8 of ice and sleet with 0.2 of snow. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Lawrence County ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 of combined ice and sleet. The Lawrence County Emergency Manager reported 0.6 of ice and sleet in New Prospect, and a CoCoRaHS observer 4.7 miles NE of Loretto measured 0.3 of ice. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, including tree limbs that blocked Pulaski Highway near New Prospect. Many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Marshall County ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 4.3 miles NNE of Chapel Hill measured 0.5 of combined ice and sleet, while a CoCoRaHS observer 3.6 miles SE of Cornersville measured 0.4 of combined ice and sleet. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Bedford County ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 0.8 miles SSE of Wartrace measured 0.5 of ice with an unknown amount of sleet. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Coffee County ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 of combined ice and sleet. A CoCoRaHS observer 4.5 miles W of Manchester measured 0.1 of ice with an unknown amount of sleet. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Warren County ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A CoCoRaHS observer 8.5 miles ESE of McMinnville measured 0.2 of snow with an unknown amount of ice and sleet, while a report from the public estimated 1 inch of snow in Centertown on top of a layer of ice and sleet. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, and many roads and schools were closed.
Precipitation totals across Grundy County ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 of combined ice, sleet and snow. A trained spotter measured up to 0.1 of ice in Monteagle, and a Facebook report from Gruetli-Laager measured 0.13 of ice with an unknown amount of sleet and snow. Scattered trees and power lines were knocked down, and many roads and schools were closed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, February 2015
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: 559407, 559408, 559409, 559410, 559411, 559412, 559413, 559414, 559415, 559416, 559417, 559418, 559419, 559426, 559431, 559435, 559436, 559477, 559478, 559480, 559482, 559483, 559484, 559485, 559486, 559487, 559489, 559491, 559492, 559493, 559494, 559496.