Gatlinburg, TN Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is a humid subtropical city - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. July is the warmest month at 86°F (30°C) and January the coolest at 49°F (9°C), over 57.2 inches (1454 mm) of precipitation a year.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 86°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 49°F (9°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 97°F (36°C) high · -1°F (-18°C) low
- Wettest month: February (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (12.0 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 20°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 10 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 71%
Temperatures through the year
At its warmest, in July, Gatlinburg runs to 86°F (30°C) in the afternoon and back to 69°F (21°C) by dawn. January is the coolest month, with highs of 49°F (9°C) and lows near 33°F (0°C). Snow falls on roughly 10 days a year, mostly December through March.
Rain, sun and snow
February is the wettest month at 6.0 inches (153 mm) over 14 days; June is the driest. Sunshine averages 9.1 hours a day over the year, peaking in June at 12.0 hours. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 97°F (36°C) and the lowest daily minimum -1°F (-18°C).
How Gatlinburg compares
- Gatlinburg sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 60°F (16°C) as an annual average, 57.2 inches (1454 mm) of precipitation and 9.1 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49° | 33° | 13 | 5.6 in | 6.1 h/day | 10.0 h | 43% | 71% |
| February | 55° | 38° | 14 | 6.0 in | 6.4 h/day | 10.8 h | 51% | 70% |
| March | 62° | 43° | 14 | 5.6 in | 8.1 h/day | 11.9 h | 45% | 67% |
| April | 69° | 49° | 12 | 5.0 in | 9.7 h/day | 13.1 h | 42% | 66% |
| May | 76° | 59° | 15 | 4.9 in | 10.8 h/day | 14.0 h | 48% | 72% |
| June | 83° | 65° | 14 | 3.6 in | 12.0 h/day | 14.6 h | 48% | 70% |
| July | 86° | 69° | 17 | 4.2 in | 11.9 h/day | 14.3 h | 55% | 74% |
| August | 85° | 68° | 15 | 4.7 in | 11.3 h/day | 13.5 h | 50% | 75% |
| September | 81° | 63° | 11 | 4.1 in | 10.2 h/day | 12.3 h | 38% | 73% |
| October | 71° | 53° | 9 | 4.1 in | 8.9 h/day | 11.2 h | 30% | 71% |
| November | 60° | 43° | 10 | 3.9 in | 7.4 h/day | 10.2 h | 33% | 71% |
| December | 54° | 38° | 13 | 5.5 in | 6.0 h/day | 9.7 h | 41% | 73% |
Gatlinburg month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Gatlinburg's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 6.1 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
- Snow
- 3 days
February
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 6.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.8 h
- Snow
- 3 days
March
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 8.1 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
- Snow
- 1 day
April
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.1 h
May
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 14.0 h
June
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 12.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
July
- Rain
- 17 days
- Sunshine
- 11.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
August
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
September
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.2 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
December
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 6.0 h
- Daylight
- 9.7 h
- Snow
- 2 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Gatlinburg
Spring (March through May)
Spring is mild and warm here - highs near 69°F (21°C), nights near 50°F (10°C), and rain falls on around 41 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Gatlinburg brings hot afternoons: 85°F (29°C) by day, 68°F (20°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 47 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.7 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Gatlinburg settles into easy warmth: 71°F (22°C) by day, 53°F (12°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 31 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Winter runs cold here - highs near 53°F (12°C), nights near 36°F (2°C), and rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days, plus about 8 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How humid does Gatlinburg get?
How cold does Gatlinburg get in winter?
What should I pack for Gatlinburg?
How much sun does Gatlinburg get?
How many rainy days does Gatlinburg get in a year?
Best time to visit Gatlinburg
March to June and September to October is the sweet spot for Gatlinburg - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 74°F (23°C) in the afternoon and around 13 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in March.
Pack for Gatlinburg with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and proper waterproofs rather than an umbrella - wet days are the norm here. July nights average 69°F (21°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Gatlinburg temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.