A light snow accumulation occurred atop the Cumberland Plateau during the afternoon and evening hours. The accumulation was mainly on grassy or elevated surfaces above an approximate elevation of 1200 Feet AGL.
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The episode as NWS HUN wrote it up.
A light snow accumulation occurred atop the Cumberland Plateau during the afternoon and evening hours. The accumulation was mainly on grassy or elevated surfaces above an approximate elevation of 1200 Feet AGL. Valley locations received only rainfall or a few wet snow flakes.
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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 9, 8:49 PM CST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 849 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 828 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 At the moment, KHTX and mosaic radar returns shows light rain/drizzle over NE AL gradually decreasing in coverage. However, we are starting to see a slow increase in some weak banded returns north of the area in middle TN. Will keep on eye on the southern progression of this area through the night, as it could bring a minor mix of wintry precip across S. Middle TN and potentially parts of our far northern AL counties. Temps have been trending a couple degrees below 12z guidance so any further precip, mainly in the aforementioned areas, could result in some wintry mix. Regardless, impacts will be insignificant. For the evening update, have adjusted PoPs down to match current radar trends, and also nudge temps down a degree or two. Maintained generally drizzle through tonight, with a slight potential for some snow mixed in... mainly after midnight. No change in accumulations from previous forecast... either nothing or generally less than 0.5". Otherwise, previous forecast in on track. .SHORT TERM...(Monday through Wednesday) Issued at 300 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 Light precip will continue into Monday morning, as the low over the Midwest phases with the trough over the TN Valley. It is interesting to note that the 12Z GFS shows lift and moisture maximizing over the TN Valley midday Monday instead of overnight as this phasing occurs. High temperatures from guidance are uniformly in the upper 30s to lower 40s (again), but this may be too optimistic if these dynamics pan out. It is possible that there could be a last burst of precipitation around midday before the trough axis sinks to the south, and the drier air begins filtering into the region. Cold air advection and clearing skies will drop temperatures well into the 20s Monday night. Blended guidance continues to trend a little colder each run, and this may still be on the high side since the advection will be giving way to radiational cooling. Finally, a break in the pattern Tuesday into Wednesday as zonal flow and high pressure take over. Highs in the upper 40s to near 50 are not exactly balmy, but the sunshine should be a nice change. This will be short-lived as clouds ahead of the next system begin filtering in late Tuesday into Wednesday. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Saturday) Issued at 300 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 The extended forecast looks to be unsettled as a strong trough crosses the area and brings another round of heavy rainfall from Thursday afternoon/evening through Friday night. Latest guidance still does not paint a clear picture as to the track of this system and the location of other surface features. There are still varying solutions from the GFS/ECMWF/GEM/FV3 models. If it's any consolation, the FV3 and GEM are starting to fall into the ECMWF camp on the overall progression of a initial shortwave Wed/Thu that passes to our north. This would then give a little higher weight to the ECMWF solution in just how far south the stronger trough arriving Thursday night into Friday will end up. All guidance is suggesting that this system rapidly deepens Thursday, which will allow it to become a closed low before it crosses the area on Friday. The differences are that the GFS lifts the system N/NE along the MS River towards the OH Valley Friday morning, the other models keep the system more intact and move it more due east across central AL. The more southern and generally W/E track of the system may end up resulting in more heavy rainfall across the TN Valley. The one thing that models are agreeing on is WAA and moisture return ahead of the system with temps warming into the 50s and dewpoints climbing back into the 40s/50s. Forecast soundings and model progs all suggest some limited instability near the TN Valley Friday but with there still being a significant spread in the guidance will keep thunder out of the forecast. This still bears watching as any increase in instability will be in an environment with 60-70kts of shear and good turning of the low level winds with height. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches seem reasonable based on a blend of guidance and with recent rainfall this weekend, could lead to flooding along rivers. Although we may have enough of a break between events to keep levels just below flood stage. Rain quickly tapers off from west to east Saturday with a ridge translating across the area Sunday. High temps through the period should stay above 50 degrees and lows should stay above the freezing mark. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday evening) Issued at 538 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 MVFR to IFR conditions will prevail through the period at each terminal as low clouds and drizzle linger on the backside of an upper-level low pressure system. Ceilings will fluctuate between 500-1500 ft, with visibilities generally in the 3-5 SM range overnight. Localized IFR conditions are possible at KHSV due to a heavier band of drizzle this evening as well. After sunrise, a return to MVFR conditions is expected as ceilings rise to above 1 kft, but low stratus will linger through the period. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...Barron SHORT TERM...BCC LONG TERM...Stumpf AVIATION...AMP.24 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 243 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-101200- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 243 PM CST Sun Dec 9 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight. As temperatures drop into the lower to mid 30s during the overnight hours, rain will mix with or change over to snow at times. This should continue into the daybreak hours on Monday before changing back to all rain. With ground and air temperatures expected to remain above freezing though, little to no accumulation is expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Scattered light rain will linger over the area on Monday and this activity will mix with or change to wet snow at times Monday evening. However, surface air and ground temperatures are such that little or no accumulation is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Activation of storm spotters and emergency management personnel is not anticipated at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
The Sewanee Police Department reported 1-2 inches of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, December 2018
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: 788912.