Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 20, 2016

Name: Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 20, 2016
Start: 2016-01-20T13:00
End: 2016-01-20T19:00
Location: Virginia

January 20, 2016 · NWS MRX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

An arctic air mass moved over the Southern Appalachian region earlier in the week and a northerly flow maintained a rather frigid low level atmosphere through the middle part of the week. Moderate to heavy snowfall occurred in an area along interstate 40 and points north across the Cumberland Plateau, Northeast Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia during the afternoon through early evening hours.

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.

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: 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 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 Jan 20, 12:17 PM EST, 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 20, 12:17 PM EST, 43 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1217 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

.AVIATION...

SNOW CONTINUES AT KTYS AND KTRI WITH A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN AT KCHA. PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN TO COME TO AN END
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AROUND THE 00-01Z TIMEFRAME. INTENSITY
SHOULD BEING TO TAPER OFF IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AS THE MAIN
BAND EXITS TO THE EAST. THE RECENT SNOWFALL AND CALM WINDS
OVERNIGHT WILL LEAD TO LIFR CONDITIONS TONIGHT. IN
ADDITION...LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE OR FLURRIES MAY CONTINUE
OVERNIGHT BUT CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE IN THE TAFS
AT THIS TIME.

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY FOR CHEROKEE-
     CLAY.

TN...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY FOR BLOUNT SMOKY
     MOUNTAINS-BRADLEY-CLAIBORNE-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS-EAST POLK-
     GRAINGER-HAMBLEN-HANCOCK-HAWKINS-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-KNOX-
     LOUDON-MCMINN-NW BLOUNT-NORTH SEVIER-NORTHWEST CARTER-
     NORTHWEST COCKE-NORTHWEST GREENE-NORTHWEST MONROE-SEVIER
     SMOKY MOUNTAINS-SOUTHEAST CARTER-SOUTHEAST GREENE-SOUTHEAST
     MONROE-SULLIVAN-UNICOI-UNION-WASHINGTON TN-WEST POLK.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ THIS EVENING
     FOR ANDERSON-BLEDSOE-CAMPBELL-HAMILTON-MARION-MEIGS-MORGAN-
     RHEA-ROANE-SCOTT TN-SEQUATCHIE.

VA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY FOR LEE-RUSSELL-
     SCOTT-WASHINGTON-WISE.

&&

MA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 20, 11:03 AM EST, 1 hour 57 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1103 AM EST WED JAN 20 2016

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-211615-
CHEROKEE-CLAY-SCOTT TN-CAMPBELL-CLAIBORNE-HANCOCK-HAWKINS-
SULLIVAN-JOHNSON-MORGAN-ANDERSON-UNION-GRAINGER-HAMBLEN-
NORTHWEST COCKE-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST GREENE-
SOUTHEAST GREENE-WASHINGTON TN-UNICOI-NORTHWEST CARTER-
SOUTHEAST CARTER-ROANE-LOUDON-KNOX-JEFFERSON-NW BLOUNT-
BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTH SEVIER-SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS-
SEQUATCHIE-BLEDSOE-RHEA-MEIGS-MCMINN-NORTHWEST MONROE-
SOUTHEAST MONROE-MARION-HAMILTON-BRADLEY-WEST POLK-EAST POLK-LEE-
WISE-SCOTT-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON-
1103 AM EST WED JAN 20 2016 /1003 AM CST WED JAN 20 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. 1 TO 3 INCHES OF
SNOW IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH A FEW LOCALLY
HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG THE NORTHERN PLATEAU. AREAS NORTH OF I-40
WILL STAY MOSTLY SNOW. LOCATIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLATEAU AND
VALLEY WILL EXPERIENCE MOSTLY FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET...ALONG WITH
SOME LIGHT SNOW. UP TO ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCRETION IS
POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS...ALONG WITH SOME LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET
ACCUMULATIONS. MOST AREAS WILL SWITCH TO LIGHT FREEZING
RAIN/DRIZZLE AS THE SYSTEM BEGINS TO EXIT THIS EVENING.

THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION ENDS BY LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING
BUT SLICK ROADS WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AS TEMPS WILL STAY
BELOW FREEZING. ROADS ARE TREACHEROUS IN MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE
REGION. PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY .

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

A STRONGER AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES
INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY.
THIS SYSTEM WITH ITS SOUTHERN TRACK BRINGS WARMER AIR INTO THE
REGION INITIALLY. AS THE SYSTEM MOVES EAST TOWARDS THE ATLANTIC...MOISTURE
LINGERING IN THE COLD AIR ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SYSTEM COULD
PRODUCE WIDESPREAD SNOW SHOWERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. AGAIN...IT DEPENDS ON THE
EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION...THIS SYSTEM
WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG WINDS DUE TO MOUNTAIN WAVES
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY ACROSS SOME OF THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS AND FOOTHILLS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NEEDED TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR SNOW AND ICE
REPORTS.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 20, 12:03 PM EST, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1203 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1200 PM     SNOW             MORRISTOWN              36.21N 83.30W
01/20/2016  M2.2 INCH        HAMBLEN            TN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

&&

Local storm report, Jan 20, 12:26 PM EST, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1226 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1225 PM     SNOW             2 WSW TAZEWELL          36.45N 83.61W
01/20/2016  E3.5 INCH        CLAIBORNE          TN   PUBLIC

            IN NEW TAZEWELL VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

ANDERSON

Local storm report, Jan 20, 12:41 PM EST, 19 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1241 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 AM     SNOW             ERWIN                   36.14N 82.41W
01/20/2016  M1.0 INCH        UNICOI             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1050 AM     SNOW             SEVIERVILLE             35.89N 83.58W
01/20/2016  M1.0 INCH        SEVIER             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1100 AM     SNOW             2 NW JACKSBORO          36.35N 84.22W
01/20/2016  M3.0 INCH        CAMPBELL           TN   PUBLIC

1115 AM     SNOW             4 E NEWPORT             35.96N 83.12W
01/20/2016  M1.0 INCH        COCKE              TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1130 AM     SNOW             COLONIAL HEIGHTS        36.48N 82.51W
01/20/2016  M1.0 INCH        SULLIVAN           TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1200 PM     SNOW             HARROGATE-SHAWANEE      36.58N 83.64W
01/20/2016  E2.8 INCH        CLAIBORNE          TN   PUBLIC

1230 PM     SNOW             WHITE PINE              36.10N 83.30W
01/20/2016  M2.5 INCH        JEFFERSON          TN   COCORAHS

&&

Local storm report, Jan 20, 12:53 PM EST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1253 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1253 PM     SNOW             ROCKWOOD                35.87N 84.68W
01/20/2016  M2.0 INCH        ROANE              TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

Local storm report, Jan 20, 12:56 PM EST, 4 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1256 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1253 PM     SNOW             OAK RIDGE               35.96N 84.30W
01/20/2016  E3.0 INCH        ROANE              TN   PUBLIC

            VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

1253 PM     SNOW             NEW MARKET              36.10N 83.55W
01/20/2016  E3.0 INCH        JEFFERSON          TN   PUBLIC

            VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

1253 PM     SNOW             4 N KNOXVILLE           36.03N 83.95W
01/20/2016  E2.5 INCH        KNOX               TN   PUBLIC

            FROM FOUNTAIN CITY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

&&

Local storm report, Jan 20, 1:00 PM EST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
100 PM EST WED JAN 20 2016

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1259 PM     SNOW             SEYMOUR                 35.87N 83.77W
01/20/2016  E2.0 INCH        SEVIER             TN   PUBLIC

            VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

&&

ANDERSON

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Wise

When: January 20, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Wise forecast zone
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 36.954, -82.625 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three inches of snow was reported at Coeburn.

Heavy Snow, Lee

When: January 20, 1:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where: Lee forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.705, -83.128 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snowfall total of 4.5 inches was measured at Jonesville.

Heavy Snow, Scott

When: January 20, 1:00 PM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.714, -82.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A snowfall total of 5 inches was measured at Gate City.

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 Virginia in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Virginia, January 2016

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: 616945, 616949, 616951.