TENNESSEE — Tennessee’s first measurable snowfall of the season varies widely depending on location, with higher elevations often seeing flakes much earlier than lower-lying areas.
On average, the state’s earliest snow is recorded in the mountains of East Tennessee, while Middle and West Tennessee usually wait until winter is well underway, according to the National Weather Service.
In the higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains, such as Clingmans Dome and Mount Le Conte, snow can arrive as early as late October or early November.
These areas, which sit more than 6,000 feet above sea level, often receive several snowfalls before winter officially begins.
Knoxville and the surrounding Tennessee Valley typically see their first measurable snowfall in mid to late December, though light flurries are possible earlier in the season.
Cities like Nashville in Middle Tennessee generally don’t see accumulating snow until late December or January, while Memphis and much of West Tennessee often wait until January or even February before experiencing their first measurable snowfall.
Climatologists note that Tennessee’s snowfall patterns are highly influenced by elevation and regional geography.
While the state averages only a few inches of snow annually in many lower-lying regions, East Tennessee’s mountains can receive several feet each season.
Overall, Tennessee’s first snow of the season tends to arrive in late fall in the Smokies, mid-December in the eastern valleys, and not until the heart of winter for much of Middle and West Tennessee.
