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Weather & Climate in Mountain City, TN
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Mountain City experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 47.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 12.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40. The city sits at an elevation of 2,390 feet.
Temperature
34°F Jan (1°C)
71°F Jul (22°C)
| Annual Average | 53.4°F |
| 1% below US avg | |
| January Average | 34°F (1°C) |
| July Average | 71°F (22°C) |
| Sunny Days | 305 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,390 ft (728 m) |
| Area | 3.4 sq mi (8.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 675/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.4696°N, 81.8049°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Johnson County County |
| Nearest Airport | Foothills Regional (MRN) 46 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 40.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 28.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 88.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 6.7 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
52 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.2.
| Nov 10, 2012 | 6 km W of Blackey, Kentucky | M4.2 | 134 km | 17 km |
| Aug 17, 1990 | 9 km NNW of Loyall, Kentucky | M4.0 | 150 km | 1 km |
| Feb 12, 1994 | 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia | M3.4 | 41 km | 5 km |
| Jun 26, 1995 | 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia | M3.4 | 43 km | 2 km |
| Jun 4, 2023 | 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina | M3.2 | 138 km | 0 km |
| Jun 5, 1998 | 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina | M3.2 | 137 km | 9 km |
| Sep 13, 2017 | 11 km NE of Peterstown, West Virginia | M3.2 | 148 km | 18 km |
| Nov 8, 1990 | 5 km SW of Blackey, Kentucky | M3.2 | 130 km | 0 km |
| Apr 29, 2018 | 10 km WSW of Bean Station, Tennessee | M3.1 | 143 km | 21 km |
| Jul 7, 1995 | 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee | M3.0 | 4 km | 10 km |
| Apr 13, 2001 | 11 km W of Sneedville, Tennessee | M3.0 | 138 km | 0 km |
| Aug 4, 2007 | 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M3.0 | 112 km | 9 km |
| Jan 1, 1993 | 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina | M3.0 | 71 km | 2 km |
| Aug 14, 2009 | 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia | M2.9 | 60 km | 16 km |
| Jan 22, 1995 | 0 km WNW of Pulaski, Virginia | M2.9 | 111 km | 9 km |
| Aug 25, 2013 | 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina | M2.9 | 36 km | 9 km |
| Feb 15, 2005 | 12 km NNW of Raven, Virginia | M2.8 | 81 km | 11 km |
| Jul 4, 2009 | 3 km E of Narrows, Virginia | M2.8 | 132 km | 0 km |
| Mar 6, 2006 | 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina | M2.8 | 78 km | 4 km |
| Feb 12, 2021 | 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee | M2.8 | 76 km | 3 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
1 hurricane (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 1.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 1 | — | 207 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
125 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 8 fatalities, 192 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 7, 1998 | EF4 | 77 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 90 km | 13.6 mi | 2 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 24 km | 19.6 mi | 3 |
| Jul 10, 1980 | EF3 | 57 km | 1.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | EF3 | 44 km | 8.4 mi | 1 |
| May 26, 2022 | EF2 | 96 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 89 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 95 km | 4.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 19 km | 12.0 mi | 2 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF2 | 83 km | 8.8 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF2 | 94 km | 1.7 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF2 | 69 km | 4.9 mi | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF2 | 54 km | 1.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 7, 2005 | EF2 | 91 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | EF2 | 96 km | 3.7 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF2 | 93 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1989 | EF2 | 59 km | 15.0 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1979 | EF2 | 81 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jan 25, 1975 | EF2 | 35 km | 3.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | EF2 | 76 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 acres, 2000).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2000 | BRUSHY RIDGE | 12,405 | 68 km |
| 2007 | LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) | 7,151 | 72 km |
| 2016 | CHESTNUT KNOB | 6,418 | 96 km |
| 1987 | SAMS BRANCH | 5,872 | 100 km |
| 1991 | BRADSHAW | 5,029 | 95 km |
| 1987 | KIWIS CREEK | 4,879 | 87 km |
| 2001 | CROCKETT BRANCH | 4,702 | 94 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 4,610 | 87 km |
| 2001 | MOUNTAIN FORK | 4,393 | 98 km |
| 2022 | LOST BEAR RX FY2022 | 4,276 | 93 km |
| 2017 | WHITE CREEK | 4,166 | 71 km |
| 2016 | CLEAR CREEK | 3,493 | 88 km |
| 1987 | SOUTH FORK OF TUG RIVER | 3,490 | 100 km |
| 1991 | JOHNSON HOLLOW | 2,987 | 87 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 2,976 | 64 km |
| 2000 | TIPTON HILL | 2,661 | 61 km |
| 1987 | RAYSAL | 2,658 | 95 km |
| 2001 | PUCKETT RIDGE | 2,291 | 94 km |
| 2007 | UNNAMED | 2,242 | 11 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 2,194 | 68 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F (1°C) | 3.6 in | |
| February | 34°F (1°C) | 3.9 in | Coldest |
| March | 42°F (5°C) | 4.7 in | |
| April | 50°F (10°C) | 4.1 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 4.8 in | Wettest |
| June | 65°F (18°C) | 4.4 in | |
| July | 71°F (22°C) | 4.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 68°F (20°C) | 4.3 in | |
| September | 62°F (17°C) | 4.0 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 3.9 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 3.9 in | |
| December | 35°F (2°C) | 3.4 in | Driest |
Mountain City has a seasonal temperature swing of 37°F / from 34°F in February to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.8") and December the driest (3.4").