Tennessee, 2020

Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 26 to 27, 2020

February 26 to 27, 2020 · NWS MRX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Rain changed to snow behind a strong low pressure system during the early evening of February 26. Orographic snowfall occurred in the higher terrain as much colder air aloft moved into the region.

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
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  • Cold
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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.

Rain changed to snow behind a strong low pressure system during the early evening of February 26. Orographic snowfall occurred in the higher terrain as much colder air aloft moved into the region. The northwest component to the low level flow aided lifting of the moist air in the mountains.

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 Feb 26, 2:52 PM EST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 26, 2:52 PM EST, 3 hours 8 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 26, 3:12 PM EST, 2 hours 48 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 26, 3:03 PM EST, 2 hours 57 minutes before
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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, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When
February 26, 6:00 PM EST to February 27, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Sevier/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A seven inch snowfall depth was measured on Mount LeConte.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Carter

When
February 26, 7:00 PM EST to February 27, 6:00 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)

A three inch snowfall depth was estimated four miles east of Limestone Cove.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Carter

When
February 26, 7:00 PM EST to February 27, 6:00 AM EST
Where
Southeast Carter forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.293, -82.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 3.5 inch snowfall depth was measured four miles southwest of Roan Mountain.

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, February 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 871005, 871003, 871004.