Tennessee, 2020

Heavy Snow in Tennessee, December 1, 2020

December 1, 2020 · NWS MRX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A northwest flow snowfall event produced heavy snow in portions of the East Tennessee mountains, mainly for elevations above 2500 feet. Reported snow amounts were mainly between 4 and 7 inches, with 11 inches reported at Mt.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

A northwest flow snowfall event produced heavy snow in portions of the East Tennessee mountains, mainly for elevations above 2500 feet. Reported snow amounts were mainly between 4 and 7 inches, with 11 inches reported at Mt. LeConte. The snowfall began on November 30 and continued into December 1.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM 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)

Mt. LeConte recorded 11 inches of snow, with 7 inches reported on English Mountain. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

Heavy Snow, Cocke/Smoky Mountains

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Cocke/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Near Hartford, 5 inches of snow was reported. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Greene

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Southeast Greene forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
36.175, -82.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Near the NC border, 4 inches was reported. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

Heavy Snow, Unicoi

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Unicoi forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.111, -82.432 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Near Sam's Gap at the NC border, 7 inches was reported. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Carter

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Southeast Carter forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.293, -82.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At Roan Mountain, 7.5 inches was reported. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

Heavy Snow, Johnson

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.455, -81.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mountain City reported 7 inches. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

Heavy Snow, Campbell

When
December 1, 12:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Campbell forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.404, -84.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

White Oak reported 4 inches. The snowfall began on November 30th and continued into December 1.

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

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, December 2020

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: 923244, 923245, 923246, 923247, 923248, 923249, 923827.