An abnormally strong and cold upper-level low pressure system plunged southward through much of the central and eastern United States, bringing a blast of Arctic air. These historically cold temperatures impacted all of Middle Tennessee beginning late on December 22, 2022.
Every event with a place to put it; 47 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 OHX wrote it up.
An abnormally strong and cold upper-level low pressure system plunged southward through much of the central and eastern United States, bringing a blast of Arctic air. These historically cold temperatures impacted all of Middle Tennessee beginning late on December 22, 2022. As the Arctic front swept eastward through the area, temperatures plummeted with low temperatures on the morning of December 23rd in the single digits and even below zero. This front also brought strong winds, and the combination of very cold air and strong winds resulted in brutal wind chills with values of -15 degrees to -30 degrees common areawide through December 24th. While snow was observed with this system, it did not last long and snow accumulations of only 1 to 2 inches was found approximately in areas north of Interstate 40. However, this snow resulted in significant impacts by early December 23rd with numerous traffic accidents and road closures reported.
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 Nashville, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 22, 8:21 PM CST, 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 821 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 ...New UPDATE... .UPDATE... Issued at 804 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 The forecast remains on track with no changes at this time. At 8 PM CST, the cold front had moved across Nashville and was lined up roughly from Lafayette to Lebanon, Franklin, Columbia, and Lawrenceburg. The front will continue to blast its way eastward, crossing the Plateau and moving into East Tn around 10 PM. Temps remained in the 40s east of the front, but west of the front, snow was falling with temps dropping through the 20s and teens, including 15 degrees at CKV. Winds were gusting around 40 mph at times. Upstream reports from West Tn continue to support our forecast of mainly 1 to 2 inches for areas along and north of I-40, and generally less than 1 inch to the south. A few spots along the Highland Rim and Plateau may peak around 3 inches. But, travel problems from the sudden freezing of moisture on the roads is our main concern. Rapid formation of ice is likely, especially on bridges and other elevated surfaces. Slick roads have been reported across West Tn and we expect the same here, and these conditions will develop very quickly. Also, poor visibility will result from the combined snow and gusty winds. The back edge of the accumulating snow has reach the Mississippi River, so we still expect most of our accumulating snow to occur before midnight. But, slick travel is likely to stay around through the night. The gusty winds will help with some drying, but many slick patches will remain as temps plummet through the single digits, and below zero in some areas. If you must go out late tonight, prepare for dangerous wind chills. If you must travel, be prepared with extra blankets and cold weather gear in your vehicle. Gusty winds could bring down a few limbs and cause scattered power outages, but we do not expect major amounts of ice on trees and power lines. && .UPDATE... Issued at 629 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 Forecast generally on track and no changes will be made at this time. At 6 PM CST, the much ballyhooed cold front had reached northwest Middle Tennessee with snow reported at Dover and CLarksville, with temps slipping below 30. The front will continued to plow across the area this evening, reaching Nashville shortly after 7 PM, and reaching the PLateu around 10 PM. Light rain showers out ahead of the front will immediately change to swirling snow showers with frontal passage. Upstream reports indicate some slick elevated surfaces in West Tn with many areas having a light coating ts snow. Farther back in southern Missouri, some 2 to 3 inch amounts have been reported, which may line up with expectations along our northern border. Prepare for rapidly falling temps, gusty winds, and reduced visibility with snow showers. Slick travel is expected late this evening, especially bridges and overpasses. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Friday Night) Issued at 235 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 Sure is difficult to believe at this time tomorrow we'll be 40 degrees colder, but it's coming. At forecast time, we're socked in with cloud cover and radar is fairly quiet. Some activity is starting to rear its head in western KY and far NW Tennessee and this is going to be our brief rainmaker for later this afternoon and evening before the cold air gets here. METARs across southern Illinois and west of the bootheel region of Missouri are already showing teens and single digits and with models continuing to be very consistent with timing, I don't think we're going to change anything there. However, we are starting to pick up on the potential for some additional forcing behind the front when the cold air gets here and we start to transition from rain to snow. This added feature could signal underperforming of the models in regards to snowfall totals, especially for areas north of I-40 and on the Cumberland Plateau. Several spots along the KY/TN state line are pushing 3 inches. On top of this, ground temperatures are pretty warm, so the question is how are we going to get snow to stick? Well, if it comes down hard and fast, we can get those accumulations, no doubt. My first concern lies with the melting snow and rain just before the cold air gets here. Temperatures look to drop below freezing FAST and while the wind will help to dry up some of that liquid, any additional water on area roadways is going to freeze, causing an icing situation. For these reasons, we've decided to push out a Winter Storm Warning for areas along and north of I-40 from 6 pm this evening until 6 am tomorrow morning. Included in this, we will mention gusty winds as we are only expected to have a brief period with the fropa of wind advisory level winds. Gusts of 30-40 mph will be likely and this is where I believe the biggest threat lies. By tomorrow morning, with winds this high and temperatures near or even just below zero, wind chill values are going to be running between -20 and -30 degrees. This is DANGEROUS and potentially LIFE-THREATENING. Exposure is the greatest enemy here as frostbite can occur within 15-20 minutes. So, we will continue with the Wind Chill Warning, as well. In fact, there's an outside chance it may need to be extended, but we'll deal with that in the next forecast package. Please, if you can, stay inside tomorrow. If you have to be outside, do it in short bursts and cover exposed skin. Many people have never dealt with this type of weather, so they may be inclined to test it out. Don't. This is nothing to mess around with. Accumulating precipitation should come to an end on the Plateau before sunrise tomorrow, but I wouldn't be surprised to continue to see flurries across the north and on the Plateau for a good portion of the day tomorrow. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through next Thursday) Issued at 235 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 Temperatures will remain below freezing for the next several days. We've been advertising that we'll climb back above freezing Monday afternoon, but I really don't think that's going to be everywhere and even if we do, it could only be for an hour or two. Tuesday is our best first chance for widespread afternoon temperatures above freezing (back into the low 40s). This is only going to add to the effects of this arctic air system, with almost 5 full days below freezing. Here's the kicker: this time next week? We could be back into the 60s. It's going to be a ride. Please prepare before the snow and the cold air gets here this evening. Protect your family (dress in layers and cover all skin), protect your home (pipes, spigots) and protect your pets (bring them indoors). && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 629 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 Rapidly changing conditions expected over the next few hours as light rain transitions to snow, with a significant decrease in temps and increase in wind speeds. All TAF sites currently have MVFR to IFR cigs, which will continue until 18Z for CKV/BNA/MQY. Expect vis drops as -RA transitions to -SN, with vis improvements between 05Z and 07Z for CKV/BNA/MQY and 09Z for CSV as the -SN moves out. Southwesterly winds will quickly increase in speed and become northwesterly within the next few hours, with gusts upwards of 25 to 35 kts possible. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 2 14 7 25 / 90 0 0 0 Clarksville -1 12 5 22 / 100 0 0 0 Crossville -3 7 1 18 / 100 0 0 0 Columbia 1 15 5 26 / 80 0 0 0 Cookeville -1 9 4 20 / 100 0 0 0 Jamestown -4 6 1 18 / 100 0 0 0 Lawrenceburg 1 15 5 25 / 60 0 0 0 Murfreesboro 1 14 5 25 / 80 0 0 0 Waverly -1 12 5 23 / 90 0 0 0 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Friday for Cheatham-Clay- Cumberland-Davidson-Dickson-Fentress-Houston-Humphreys-Jackson- Macon-Montgomery-Overton-Pickett-Putnam-Robertson-Smith-Stewart- Sumner-Trousdale-Wilson. Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Friday for Bedford-Cannon- Cheatham-Clay-Coffee-Cumberland-Davidson-De Kalb-Dickson- Fentress-Giles-Grundy-Hickman-Houston-Humphreys-Jackson-Lawrence- Lewis-Macon-Marshall-Maury-Montgomery-Overton-Perry-Pickett- Putnam-Robertson-Rutherford-Smith-Stewart-Sumner-Trousdale-Van Buren-Warren-Wayne-White-Williamson-Wilson. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM CST Friday for Cannon-De Kalb- Grundy-Hickman-Perry-Rutherford-Van Buren-Warren-White- Williamson. && UPDATE.......13 SHORT TERM...Unger LONG TERM....Unger AVIATION.....Adcock
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 242 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-232045- Stewart-Montgomery-Robertson-Sumner-Macon-Clay-Pickett-Houston- Humphreys-Dickson-Cheatham-Davidson-Wilson-Trousdale-Smith-Jackson- Putnam-Overton-Fentress-Perry-Hickman-Lewis-Williamson-Maury- Marshall-Rutherford-Cannon-De Kalb-White-Cumberland-Bedford-Coffee- Warren-Grundy-Van Buren-Wayne-Lawrence-Giles- 242 PM CST Thu Dec 22 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect from 6 pm this evening through 6 am tomorrow morning. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for several counties south of I-40 this evening and tonight. Light rain will develop across Middle Tennessee this afternoon, with the rain rapidly changing to snow late this afternoon and evening before ending. Snow accumulations ranging from a dusting in southern Middle Tennessee up to 2 inches are possible, with pockets of up to 4 inches near the Kentucky/Tennessee state line and especially on the northern Cumberland Plateau. Any snow accumulation or leftover rain water on area roadways will quickly freeze into ice tonight as temperatures drop, causing hazardous travel conditions overnight and Friday. A Wind Chill Warning also remains in effect for all of Middle Tennessee from late this evening through midday Friday. Gusty winds up to 40 mph will cause wind chills to drop as low as 25 degrees below zero at times. Such cold wind chills could rapidly cause hypothermia, as well as cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Outdoor pets and other animals should be brought indoors or given extra protection and shelter to survive these cold wind chills. Dangerously cold temperatures are also expected across Middle Tennessee tonight, with temperatures rapidly falling from the 50s to near zero. Such a rapid temperature drop combined with gusty winds up to 40 mph could cause exposed or unprotected pipes to rupture, as well as result in isolated power outages. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Dangerously cold temperatures will continue across Middle Tennessee through early Monday, with lows in the single digits and highs only in the 10s and 20s. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for up to 85 hours, which could cause exposed or unprotected pipes to rupture, as well as result in isolated power outages. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local and state guidelines. 27
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
38 extreme cold/wind chill, 5 winter storm, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous sources across Robertson County reported 1.5 to 2 inches of snow with the highest totals near White House.
Snow totals around one inch along with strong winds and wind chills well below zero degrees across Cheatham County resulted in treacherous travel conditions. I-40 Eastbound in Cheatham County was closed for a period of time due to multiple vehicle accidents near mile marker 188. Any potential injuries is not known.
Snowfall accumulations of 1 to 1.5 inches along with strong wind gusts and wind chills well below zero caused significant impacts in the Nashville metro area. Numerous traffic accidents were reported late on the 22nd as roads became treacherous with numerous lanes blocked, particularly along I-40. Thousands of power outages were also reported with 38,000 households without power just in Nashville during the beginning of the winter storm. Thousands of power outages continued well into December 24th as the Tennessee Valley Authority ordered rolling blackouts in order to handle the power demand during the extreme cold temperatures. Any potential injuries is not known.
Snow, strong winds, and wind chills well below zero resulted in treacherous road conditions across Sumner County. One multi-vehicle crash along State Route 6 Eastbound forced the closure of the roadway. Thousands of power outages were also reported across Sumner County. Any potential injuries is not known.
Snowfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches across Smith County along with strong winds and wind chills well below zero resulted in treacherous road conditions. A single vehicle crash along I-40 Eastbound near mile marker 258 blocked all lanes of traffic according to TDOT. Any potential injuries is not known.
A CoCoRaHS observer near Red Boiling Springs measured 1.2 inches of snow.
Numerous sources across Wilson County reported 1 to 1.5 inches of snow with the highest totals near Green Hill and Mount Juliet.
An ASOS station at Clarksville Outlaw Field measured a minimum wind chill of -25 degrees.
Treacherous road conditions as snow, strong winds, and wind chills well below zero moved into the area resulted in numerous traffic accidents across Overton County with one multi-vehicle crash along State Route 136 Northbound forcing the closure of the roadway. Extent of injuries is not known.
A member of the public near Gainesboro measured 1.5 inches of snow.
A weather station near Waverly measured a minimum wind chill of -25 degrees.
An AWOS station at Pulaski Abernathy Field measured a minimum wind chill of -20 degrees.
A weather station near Dover measured a minimum wind chill of -22 degrees.
A weather station near Vanleer measured a minimum wind chill of -28 degrees.
A weather station near Byrdstown measured a minimum wind chill of -20 degrees.
A weather station near Short Mountain measured a minimum wind chill of -26 degrees.
A weather station near Phiferes measured a minimum wind chill of -28 degrees.
An ASOS station at Crossville Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -26 degrees.
A weather station near Collinwood measured a minimum wind chill of -21 degrees.
An AWOS station at Nashville John Tune Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -25 degrees. The measured low temperature at Nashville International Airport of -1 degree was the first time the station had measured a temperature below zero since February 5, 1996.
An AWOS station at Portland Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -26 degrees.
A weather station near Smithville measured a minimum wind chill of -22 degrees.
An AWOS station at Smyrna Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -22 degrees.
A weather station near Linden measured a minimum wind chill of -22 degrees.
A weather station near Lafayette measured a minimum wind chill of -23 degrees.
A weather station near Celina measured a minimum wind chill of -19 degrees.
A weather station near Erin measured a minimum wind chill of -19 degrees.
A weather station near Kingston Springs measured a minimum wind chill of -22 degrees.
An AWOS station in Columbia measured a minimum wind chill of -24 degrees.
An AWOS station at Tullahoma Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -24 degrees.
An AWOS station at Lewisburg Ellington Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -19 degrees.
An AWOS station at Livingston Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -28 degrees.
A weather station near Franklin measured a minimum wind chill of -24 degrees.
A RAWS station at Pickett State Forest measured a minimum wind chill of -23 degrees.
A weather station near Hartsville measured a minimum wind chill of -21 degrees.
An AWOS station at Lawrenceburg Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -21 degrees.
A weather station near Lebanon measured a minimum wind chill of -25 degrees.
A weather station near Centerville measured a minimum wind chill of -19 degrees.
A RAWS station at Meriwether Lewis State Park measured a minimum wind chill of -18 degrees.
A weather station near Cookeville measured a minimum wind chill of -20 degrees.
An AWOS station at Shelbyville Bomar Field measured a minimum wind chill of -21 degrees.
An AWOS station at McMinnville Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -21 degrees.
An AWOS station at Springfield Airport measured a minimum wind chill of -27 degrees.
A weather station near Stone measured a minimum wind chill of -20 degrees.
An AWOS station in Sparta measured a minimum wind chill of -19 degrees.
A weather station near Tracy City measured a minimum wind chill of -15 degrees.
A weather station near Carthage measured a minimum wind chill of -17 degrees.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, December 2022
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: 1061460, 1061451, 1061452, 1061454, 1061455, 1061458, 1061461, 1061318, 1061453, 1061459, 1061311, 1061307, 1061326, 1061305, 1061321, 1061298, 1061329, 1061302, 1061331, 1061303, 1061327, 1061304, 1061324, 1061320, 1061315, 1061300, 1061310, 1061299, 1061317, 1061301, 1061316, 1061319, 1061333, 1061306, 1061328, 1061313, 1061334, 1061309, 1061314, 1061322, and more.