Rain mixed with and changed to snow during the evening hours of the 7th. Snow accumulations of 1-2 inches were reported, especially atop the Cumberland Plateau, including Sewanee, where temperatures dipped just below freezing.
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.
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 HUN wrote it up.
Rain mixed with and changed to snow during the evening hours of the 7th. Snow accumulations of 1-2 inches were reported, especially atop the Cumberland Plateau, including Sewanee, where temperatures dipped just below freezing.
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 Jan 7, 5:33 PM CST, 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 533 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 .UPDATE... For 00Z TAFS. && .NEAR TERM...(Tonight) Issued at 244 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 An upper level system will slide across the TN Valley while the associated sfc low will pass us to our south overnight. Recent AMDAR sounding from BNA (18Z) showed dry air is still stubborn in the low to mid layers, and is delaying the widespread rainfall as previously anticipated by now across our forecast area. Scattered stratiform rainfall is currently ongoing and anticipated to increase in coverage as we head into tonight as that dry layer erodes. Will note that we have received reports of a graupel/rain mix within stronger radar reflectivites due to the colder air aloft. Anticipating a rain/snow mix to occur later tonight, starting around 10pm in the higher elevations and become more widespread by midnight. After midnight, temps will fall into the mid 30s across much of the forecast area but make it to freezing in Southern Middle TN and up in northern Jackson County. This is where wrap around precip from the departing low will change over to snow and provide light accumulations, less than half of an inch. No accumulations are anticipated elsewhere at this time. With sfc temps above freezing for most of us tonight and the fact that highs today reached the 40s, not anticipating any major travel impacts. .SHORT TERM...(Friday through Saturday night) Issued at 244 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 As previously mentioned, temps will be able to fall to freezing in Southern Middle TN and up in Jackson County overnight and into early Friday morning. This is where light snow accumulations are possible, mainly less than half of an inch. Elsewhere, temps will remain above freezing and stratiform rain will persist. Current trends have all precip exiting the forecast area by late Friday morning as the system departs for the mid Atlantic. Behind the departing system, high pressure will start to build into the region, not only bringing drier but a good push of colder air. Northwesterly flow through the profile will bring good CAA in on Friday, putting daytime highs only in the lower 40s. N/NW sfc winds will gust 15-20 mph. Skies will remain cloudy overnight but lows will still drop into the mid/upper 20s. With dry conditions prevailing, there will not be any winter weather to worry about. On Saturday, a disturbance will slide into the TN Valley, reinforcing the cold air. Daytime highs will top out in the upper 30s to lower 40s and overnight lows will fall further into the lower 20s. .LONG TERM...(Sunday through Wednesday) Issued at 244 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 A weak, mostly zonal upper flow should be in place across the central and eastern CONUS for the start of a new week. West of there, troughing was moving across the Desert SW, as another system nears the southern continental divide. This trough, big picture wise should move across Texas and the southern states, reaching the coastal Carolinas on Wednesday. This system as it forms over the southern Rockies, should induce development of a surface low along the TX coast on Monday. This next low should head to the ENE, reaching the SE coast late Tuesday. The models were in somewhat better agreement between one another compared to yesterday. The model/MOS blends were still trending on a drier side, but not as dry. Stayed with a wetter solution as in the previous forecasts, which will bring another wintry mix to the area early next work week. The ECMWF normally slower, was the quickest one in moving the precip area across the Tennessee Valley on Monday, with the GFS/Canadian slower. Went with an in-between solution timing wise, starting the precip Monday morning. This precipitation will be all snow at the start, given low temperatures in the mid/upper 20s. This could cause winter weather issues, especially if measurable precip falls on an already cold surface. Temperatures will warm into the low/mid 40s, resulting in the precip becoming all liquid by the early afternoon. The precip should continue Mon night into Tue. Temperatures will fall to or below freezing late Mon night, bringing another risk of more wintry conditions. The precip should end by daybreak Tue, with more clouds than sun expected in the day. Depending upon how much (if any wintry precip accumulates), high temps later that day could rise into the mid/upper 40s. A caveat on this potential wintry situation. Have stayed close to the blend's temperatures which have performed well as of late. Some guidance has been hinting that temperatures (especially the ECMWF) could be warmer by early next week. This would result in more liquid precip, and lessen winter weather related impacts. Clouds should finally decrease Tue night with lows in the mid/upper 20s. With more sun expected, the mid week should feature high temperatures finally rising to or above seasonable levels (around 51 degrees). Even warmer conditions are forecast for Thursday, with highs in the low/mid 50s. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) Issued at 533 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 Steady rainfall will continue this evening and tonight as ceilings gradually lower from MVFR to IFR. In heavier areas of rain, brief LIFR conditions may occur. As early as 1-2Z, but most likely from 2-4Z, both terminals will see a transition to a rain/snow mix, and AWWs will likely be required. No accumulations are expected, as surface temperatures should remain above freezing. The mixed precipitation should taper off early tomorrow morning from west to east, leaving behind moderate north winds 10-15 kts with occasional gusts up to 25 kts and MVFR ceilings. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...NONE. TN...NONE. && NEAR TERM...JMS SHORT TERM...JMS LONG TERM...RSB AVIATION...30 For more information please visit our website at weather.gov/huntsville.
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Huntsville AL 301 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-081215- Lauderdale-Colbert-Franklin AL-Lawrence-Limestone-Madison-Morgan- Marshall-Jackson-DeKalb-Cullman-Moore-Lincoln-Franklin TN- 301 PM CST Thu Jan 7 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north Alabama and portions of southern middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight... Rainfall is expected to become a rain and snow mix before transitioning to light snow late tonight into early Friday morning. Temperatures should remain above freezing overnight. Most areas will not receive any snowfall accumulations, however, the higher elevations of northeast Alabama and southern middle Tennessee could receive up to an inch of accumulation. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... Another storm system may bring light snow to the area Monday. Some light accumulations of snowfall may be possible. .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.
3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snow accumulated up to 2 inches in Winchester and Sewanee atop the Cumberland Plateau.
Snow accumulated up to 0.5 inches 9 miles WSW of Fayettville.
Snow accumulated up to 0.3 inches in Lynchburg.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, January 2021
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: 936962, 936963, 936964.