TENNESSEE — While Tennessee is not typically associated with heavy snowfall, historical weather data show that it is entirely possible for parts of the state to receive a foot of snow or more from a single storm in January under the right conditions.
January is climatologically the coldest month in Tennessee, increasing the likelihood that precipitation will fall as snow rather than rain. When sufficiently cold air is already in place at the surface and through the lower atmosphere, a strong winter storm moving across the Southeast can produce significant snowfall totals, according to the National Weather Service.
Past storms demonstrate this potential. Middle Tennessee, including Nashville, has recorded January storms producing 8 to 12 inches of snow in less than 24 hours…