A mild climate year-round makes Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge ideal destinations. These two mountain towns are only five miles apart, so they share weather just like they share great hospitality. Keep this weather roundup handy when you’re planning your Smoky Mountains vacation.
Spring
The fickle season produces the year’s most variable weather.
- March temperatures range from the 30s to the 60s. Occasional snow flurries aren’t unusual.
- In April, average daily highs reach the 70s, with nights well above freezing. That old saying about “April showers” is true here, with an average of four inches of rain this month.
- May’s highs hit the 70s and 80s, with overnights in the 50s and average rainfall still at four inches.
Summer
Daytime heat moves in, reminding y’all that you’re in the steamy South.
- June, July, and August all average highs in the 80s and 90s and lows in the 60s. Time to hit the water parks!
- Hot days spark frequent showers and thunderstorms. Never fear. Showers tend to be short-lived, and they feed rivers for rafting and fishing.
- Want to cool off? Higher elevations are cooler. Temperatures at the highest peaks rarely reach 80.
Fall
Expect comfortable temperatures and low humidity, perfect for leaf-peeping.
- September’s average high is 78 degrees and its low is 58. In high elevations, frosts start appearing late this month.
- October temperatures average a high of 69 and a low of 46. October is the driest month, averaging less than three inches of rain.
- In November, autumn colors still blaze as temperatures drop. The average high of 59 degrees can inch higher. Overnight readings hover near freezing.
Winter
The National Park Service notes winter’s mildness. More than half the days in winter months have highs of 50 degrees or warmer.
- December’s average high is 50 and the average low, 32.
- January and February have highs averaging 47 to 51 degrees, and lows averaging 27 to 31.
- January is the snowiest month, with an average snowfall of 2.4 inches. Some accumulation can reach up to seven inches of snow. Bring your snowboard or skis!
