Jan 30th-February 1st 2026 Arctic Blast/ULL Snow OBS Thread.

[bearman]

As I was walking I heard 2 explosions I assume it was transformers but the snow is so fluffy and dry it seems strange that that would cause a transformer to blow. I also walked out to a main road that had been treated, and I could not tell a difference between it and the ones in our neighborhood.

[John1122]

Just now, bearman said:

As I was walking I heard 2 explosions I assume it was transformers but the snow is so fluffy and dry it seems strange that that would cause a transformer to blow. I also walked out to a main road that had been treated, and I could not tell a difference between it and the ones in our neighborhood.

At these temps the pre-treatment is way less effective. Could the sounds have been a wreck? 

[Stovepipe]

2 minutes ago, bearman said:

As I was walking I heard 2 explosions I assume it was transformers but the snow is so fluffy and dry it seems strange that that would cause a transformer to blow. I also walked out to a main road that had been treated, and I could not tell a difference between it and the ones in our neighborhood.

I heard two rounds of gunfire earlier, around midnight.  I figure either rednecks were drunk and celebrating or the toilet paper shortage wars have already broken out.

[John1122]

The HRRR snow expansion down the valley and along the foothills is happening before our eyes in real time. 

[Hurricaneguy]

6.5” in Greeneville!! It’s been snowing non stop since 4pm. And it’s pouring still right now. Officially our biggest snow in 12 years 

[John1122]

I'm down to 14 degrees and it's back to absolutely pouring down again. Vis around 1/4th mile. The radar doesn't even look impressive but even seeing returns at all on the Plateau when the DGZ is almost to the surface, is impressive. 

[Stovepipe]

HRRR still good through 2pm for snow in most areas and some far longer than that in the east.  Showing a 4 to 7 inch gradient over Knox still!  I'm likely between 3 and 4 currently at 19.6 degrees.  We reeled us in a good one!

[zbrown89]

Not gonna lie been a long time lurker and this is my first time posting but it is 26.2 degrees here in north Ringgold…I could be way off but this is odd to me and I am curious to learn about this radar imaging. Thanks for your patience and time.


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[bearman]

13 minutes ago, zbrown89 said:

Not gonna lie been a long time lurker and this is my first time posting but it is 26.2 degrees here in north Ringgold…I could be way off but this is odd to me and I am curious to learn about this radar imaging. Thanks for your patience and time.


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If you are wondering if there is really mixture there, no there is not. I am not sure how the tech is supposed to work and determine what is falling, but it is not real accurate. 

[Stovepipe]

The super heavy dbz stuff looks to have wobbled over to west Knox, Loudon, and NW Blount.  The overall blob is growing towards Madisonville and Tellico Plains.

Oscillating between periods of peas with dimes and dimes with nickles here.  Pretty dang good rates even when the radar shows relatively lower.

[zbrown89]

If you are wondering if there is really mixture there, no there is not. I am not sure how the tech is supposed to work and determine what is falling, but it is not real accurate. 

Ty appreciate it


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[WintryMixmaster]

Some solid very fluffy snow falling here, a mixture of small snowflakes and larger nickel-sized ones blowing in the wind. Feels very Christmas-y! 2 inches on the ground

[Hurricaneguy]

If you believe the avg of the short res models there is a chance 6-8'' of snow will still fall over Greene Co before things wrap. I'm speechless  

[Hurricaneguy]

I also I cannot recall a time I've witnessed 12 straight hours of steady to heavy snowfall.   

[WintryMixmaster]

Wind is picking up too, temperature is down to 19.2 degrees with moderate snow, oscillating between lighter and heavier

[Kasper]

Approaching 3 inches in Athens and it has been moderate the last hour.  Will be warning criteria soon!

[fountainguy97]

18.9. Got several hours of sleep during the slower rates. I'd guess 5" out there. Still snowing pretty well.

[McMinnWx]

 

10 minutes ago, Kasper said:

Approaching 3 inches in Athens and it has been moderate the last hour.  Will be warning criteria soon!

Just stepped outside, and I’m amazed. Can’t believe it. 

[WintryMixmaster]

Radar shows the moderate to heavy rates over Blount County now, not sure if any of those bands are expected to redevelop over Knox. A few more hours of the current light snow would probably get us to the forecasted 3-5" range though

Temperature has dropped to 18.3 degrees since my last post just 20 minutes ago

[Stovepipe]

New little band to the west of the main blob is pouring snow currently, 17 degrees.

[dwagner88]

Well we didn’t get nothing! Can’t tell how much but everything is white outside. Still coming down lightly. It does appear to be under an inch at this point. 

[BlunderStorm]

Woke up a bit ago. Looks like the Clinch river valley has been fighting a dry slot aloft the entire night. That said, it has never stopped snowing per radar and the DGZ is very close to the ground accumulating as individual crystals. If you were to glance out a window you'd think it was fog lol. Haven't taken a measurement but it looks like I'll be north of 5 inches by dawn. Temp is ~12.3F with a DP of ~8.2F. No wind, it's incredibly peaceful out there. Might take a walk before dawn.

[Hurricaneguy]

Almost 7.5” Greeneville!! Biggest snowstorm in 22 years. We may have a shot at double digits now. 

[Vol Man]

Looks like 5" between Kingsport and Blountville 

[Stovepipe]

Generally smaller flake size with some bigger ones mixed in, but still steady light to moderate snow at 16 degrees.  HRRR still looks on track from what I can tell.  We have a solid 4 inches with 5 in the grass as of 6am.

Edit: And windy!  Snow sometimes blowing sideways.  The roof snow blow off is real.

[WintryMixmaster]

19 minutes ago, Stovepipe said:

Generally smaller flake size with some bigger ones mixed in, but still steady light to moderate snow at 16 degrees.  HRRR still looks on track from what I can tell.  We have a solid 4 inches with 5 in the grass as of 6am.

Edit: And windy!  Snow sometimes blowing sideways.  The roof snow blow off is real.

I wish I lived in the northern part of the county lol, I have around 3 inches on the grass and 2-3 on other surfaces. It looks like most of the accumulation happened before around 4:30 AM, we've had significantly lighter rates after that. HRRR does show another pulse of more moderate snow hitting us later this morning, which may be needed if the total is going to hit 4" in my backyard

[Stovepipe]

It's a tiny flaked sand blaster at 15 degrees here and a healthy radar.  I don't think my weather station is picking up on the wind speed or gusts.

[bearman]

I think I have 4 inches here at my location in the Grass.  I woke up at around 2 o'clock and it was snowing the hardest I have seen in terms of flake size, at least since I can remember.  Now was it in terms of water content no, but the flakes were huge.  If we get more during the day it will bring us over the 4-inch mark. 

[WintryMixmaster]

3 minutes ago, Stovepipe said:

It's a tiny flaked sand blaster at 15 degrees here and a healthy radar.  I don't think my weather station is picking up on the wind speed or gusts.

What site do you use for radar?

[BlunderStorm]

Truly one of the great memorable storms for the eastern half of the Tennessee Valley unfolding. Snow rates are rising again here. 11F, winds picked up to 5mph from due north.