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Hi All

February 2026 began with a volatile combination of a mid-level low from the Central U.S. and a powerful system moving up the East Coast, trapping Tennessee in a deep freeze. This convergence brought heavy snowfall to East Tennessee while much of the rest of the state was still recovering from a major winter storm just a week prior. On the morning of February 2, record-breaking temperatures hit 15-20°F below normal across the state. In particular, the Bristol/Tri-Cities airport recorded a low of -7°F, breaking its daily record by seven degrees and marking its first sub-zero temperature since 2015. This extreme cold and lingering ice led to widespread disruptions, forcing all but six counties in the state to close or delay their school systems.

Despite the early-month snow and ice, the broader story of the winter season was a persistent lack of moisture that has left much of the state significantly drier than normal. While frequent light precipitation occurred, it was insufficient to offset a growing deficit; Memphis and Chattanooga both recorded their 6th driest winter season in history, falling roughly 7 inches behind their normal totals. The situation is even more pronounced in southeast Tennessee, where some regions have seen a precipitation deficit of 10 to 14 inches since late August. Consequently, about half of Tennessee remains in at least Moderate Drought (D1), and parts of the state have started to see impacts from a long-term lack of meaningful rainfall.

Find out more in the attached full report and snapshots.

We hope everyone is having a good start to meteorological spring!

Andrew & Wil

Tennessee Climate Office
East Tennessee State University
Department of Geosciences

Publication Date

2-2026

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