Chattanooga Sees First Snow of Season, But Dangerous Wind Chill Is Biggest Concern

Region remains under winter weather advisory as temperatures plummet and winds pick up

Jan. 31, 2026 at 1:15pm

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Chattanooga received a light dusting of snow on Saturday, the first snowfall of the season for the area. However, the bigger story is the dangerous wind chill that has moved in, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 5 degrees and wind chills potentially below zero in some high-elevation areas. The National Weather Service is warning residents to limit time outdoors, especially at night and in the early morning, due to the hazardous conditions.

Why it matters

While the snow itself was not a major event, the combination of plummeting temperatures and high winds creates a potentially dangerous situation for the Chattanooga community. The National Weather Service is urging caution, as the extreme wind chill can quickly lead to frostbite and hypothermia if proper precautions are not taken.

The details

Chattanooga saw between a half-inch to one inch of snow on Saturday, with the heavier snowfall on the eastern side of Hamilton County. The snow was followed by strong winds, with gusts up to 35 mph reported. Temperatures are expected to drop to 14 degrees overnight, with wind chills as low as 5 degrees in the Chattanooga area and potentially below zero in some higher-elevation regions. The National Weather Service has warned residents to limit time outdoors, especially at night and in the early morning, due to the hazardous conditions.

  • The snow fell on Saturday afternoon.
  • A winter weather advisory remained in effect until 7 p.m. on Saturday.
  • Temperatures are expected to drop to 14 degrees overnight Saturday into Sunday.
  • Temperatures may rise as high as 36 degrees on Sunday before potentially dipping into the high teens overnight Sunday into Monday.

The players

David Hotz

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Morristown, which covers East Tennessee.

Tennessee Department of Transportation

The state agency that has spread 73,000 tons of salt, helped more than 3,600 motorists, and traveled more than 600,000 miles treating and plowing roads in response to the recent winter weather.

Tennessee Valley Authority

The U.S. government-owned utility that generates the power used by most local utilities in the area and is monitoring the bitter cold to keep electricity flowing.

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What they’re saying

“You're dropping down into the single digits and probably some places near zero with a really high gust. For the Chattanooga proper area, that's going to be the biggest story.”

— David Hotz, Meteorologist

“If you're out traveling today, try to get a feel for the road conditions before you travel, especially if you're going to travel outside of Chattanooga.”

— David Hotz, Meteorologist

What’s next

The National Weather Service is recommending that residents limit their time outdoors, particularly at night and in the early morning, due to the dangerous wind chill conditions expected this weekend.

The takeaway

While Chattanooga saw its first snowfall of the season, the real story is the extreme cold and wind that has moved into the region, creating potentially hazardous conditions. Residents are urged to take proper precautions, such as dressing warmly and limiting time outside, to stay safe during this winter weather event.