Does It Snow in Tennessee? See Snowiest Places, Timing, and Average Amount

Yes! It definitely snows in Tennessee. Despite being one of the least snowiest states in the country, the average annual snowfall in Tennessee is close to eight inches. This number varies greatly depending on which area of the state you are in. The southern and western parts of the state, as well as the Great Valley of East Tennessee, may only see four to six inches in a year. The mountains in the east and the Cumberland Plateau average about 10 inches annually, although the mountain peaks are often buried in eight times that amount.

What Is the Snowiest Place in Tennessee?

The snowiest place in Tennessee is Mount Le Conte in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The base of the mountain receives an average of 40 inches of snow, while its peaks see up to 80 inches a year, according to East Tennessee State University.

Mount Le Conte is the third-highest peak in the Smokey Mountains and boasts the highest guest lodge in the Eastern United States at 6,400 feet high. The mountain’s five peaks dominate the skyline just south of Gatlinburg, TN.

What Is the Snowiest City in Tennessee?

With an average annual snowfall of 12 inches, Bristol is the snowiest city in Tennessee. Situated on Tennessee’s border with Virginia to its north, it is the twin city of Bristol, VA, which lies directly over the state line. The city is also close to Tennessee’s eastern border with North Carolina. Only 45 miles of some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the Southeast separate Bristol from the state’s eastern border. Known as the birthplace of country music, Bristol has a population of 28,000. Tennessee’s snowiest city sits at an elevation of 1,676 feet.

What Is Tennessee’s Snowiest Major City?

Out of Tennessee’s three major cities — Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville — Knoxville has the highest amount of annual snowfall with 5.8 inches. Located in the Tennessee Valley between the Great Smoky Mountains to the east and the Cumberland Plateau to the west, Knoxville has a population of 195,889, making it the third-largest city by population in the state.

Nashville, Tennessee’s capital city, is the largest, with a population of 708,144. It averages about 3.9 inches of snow annually. Memphis, famous for being the home of the blues and the birthplace of Rock and Roll, sees the least snow at 3.1 inches a year. This musical haven has a population of 621,056, making it Tennessee’s second-largest city.

When Does It Snow in Tennessee?

Technically, it’s possible to see snow anytime from November through February in Tennessee. However, snow is unlikely outside of January and February. Most parts of Tennessee experience a humid subtropical climate. They have mild, wet winters and warm summers thanks to the state’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This mild climate is the reason Tennessee ranks as the 39th snowiest state in the country. The mountainous regions in the east, however, where we find Mount Le Conte, are the exception where a cool mountain climate persists.

How Much Does It Snow in January and February in Tennessee?

If you plan to travel to Tennessee for a white Christmas, you may be disappointed. Snow usually arrives in January in the Volunteer State. In fact, it snows more in January in Tennessee than in any other month. The state receives about 4 inches of snow on average in the first month of the year. February, Tennessee’s second snowiest month, gets about half that at an average of about 2 inches.

According to the Tennessee State Climate Summary, Mount Le Conte received a whopping 39.7 inches of snow in January 2022. Tennessee’s capital, Nashville, records 4.7 days of snow in January and averages just under an inch of snow during the month. While you’re more likely to need your rain boots than snow boots in February in Nashville, the average snowfall for the second month of the year in the city is about half an inch.

How Cold Does It Get in Tennessee?

With average highs of 48 degrees Fahrenheit and average lows of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, January is also the coldest month in Tennessee.

In Bristol, the snowiest city in the state, average lows in January are a frosty 26 degrees Fahrenheit. The city’s record low for January seems out of place in the subtropical climate of Tennessee at a numbing -21 degrees. The capital of Nashville enjoys a much more mild climate. With January temperatures ranging from 31-48 degrees Fahrenheit, the city’s less frigid temperatures may help explain the population difference between Bristol and Nashville.

Does Tennessee Get Tornadoes?

The Volunteer State’s rich culture, mild weather, friendly people, great musical scene, beautiful scenery, and world-famous cuisine don’t come without a slight catch. Tornadoes are a fact of life in Tennessee. From 1995-2023, the state averaged 32 tornadoes a year. However, the actual amount varies greatly year by year. For example, in 2020, 32 tornadoes resulted in a tragic 27 deaths. In 2021, four people died from the 66 tornadoes to hit the state that year. In contrast, there were only five tornadoes in 2022 and zero deaths, according to the National Weather Service.

Tennessee’s Snowiest Places Compared