Powell, TN climate
Powell has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 4 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Powell feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Powell weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 29° | 5.0" | 1.8" | 12 | 2 | 30° – 45° |
| February | 52° | 32° | 5.3" | 1.4" | 12 | 1 | 32° – 49° |
| March | 61° | 38° | 5.1" | 0.6" | 12 | 0 | 43° – 59° |
| April | 71° | 46° | 5.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 53° – 64° |
| May | 78° | 55° | 3.9" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 61° – 72° |
| June | 84° | 63° | 4.5" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| July | 87° | 67° | 4.6" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| August | 87° | 66° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 72° – 82° |
| September | 82° | 60° | 4.0" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 67° – 77° |
| October | 71° | 48° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 55° – 64° |
| November | 60° | 37° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 43° – 53° |
| December | 50° | 32° | 5.8" | 0.6" | 12 | 0 | 32° – 52° |
| Year | 69° | 48° | 55.0" | 4.4" | 132 | 4 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Powell
Powell gets 55 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 132 days a year.
About 210 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 5 and the first one by November 1. That leaves about 210 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 78% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Powell
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Powell, 73% of that work is heating and 27% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Powell and its neighbors
Powell borders 1 town with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.1°. Knoxville has both the coldest January nights (29°) and the hottest July afternoons (88°). Powell’s January low is 29° and its July high 87°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Powell compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Powell averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+1.8°). The shift is smaller than in 83% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Powell’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 32° to 52°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Powell’s climate
What is the coldest month in Powell?
January, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 29°.
What is the hottest month in Powell?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 67°. About 39 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Powell get?
About 4 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Powell?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 1, and the last spring frost by April 5.
What is the rainiest month in Powell?
December, with 5.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 55 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Powell itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Oak Ridge Atdd, TN (12 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.