What are the winters like? (Kingsport, Bristol: house, buy, schools)

[conleysd]

We have lived in west Tennessee which rarely snows and middle Tennessee is pretty much the same. Do you guys get a lot of snow in the winter?

[fivekitten]

ha ha...I just moved to the tri-cities from Buffalo, NY area and everyone here said it was the worst winter ever this year. I thought it was glorious! (except the storm that left the electric out for 3 days...that was awful!).

Not much snow. Had maybe 3 or 4 inches a couple times. Usually just a dusting - but it does snow. I think I shoveled once. They predict snow far more than they actually have it.

I think it's only a problem if you live on a hill. Then the roads are slippery. They certainly don't plow/salt here like they do in NY. In NY if it was five below and six feet of snow feel they'd still have to go to school. They seem to close them real easy here - thinking because so many people live in elevated areas so ice and hills become a problem. My kids don't mind.

[TopshelfTom]

I visited Kingsport in February right in the middle of a major snow storm that was hammering the east coast -- except the area of New York that I live in (go figure). It wasn't really bad, except for the whole no salting the roads and plowing thing....it was still easily drivable if you took your time...so if that was the worst it had been in years... it must not usually get too bad.

[anidez28]

Winters are not too bad here. past winter I had 10 inches in south JC (near buffalo mountain)on dec 18-19 thats most we have seen in the town in a while.

[donsabi]

The local news reported on several days this past winter that it was warmer in Vermont. I think Alaska even had better winter weather this past year. I am sure glad I hung onto those warm winter clothes from years of living the north. NE TN can produce some pretty bad winter weather.

[DubbleT]

Coming from West TN you're probably going to think it's pretty cold. A decent winter coat and some good gloves are a must.
Probably an ice scraper, and maybe some lock de-icer for your car if you park outside. I haven't needed to shovel yet, no sidewalks in front of my house and the driveway is usually melted off pretty quick when it does snow.

Lots of snow days here this past winter. When I first moved here this was a little odd to me because schools would close for a snow day and I'd look outside and wonder why because it really didn't look bad at all. After I'd been here a while and had to drive on some of some of those secondary roads during any kind of snowy weather I had a much better understanding.

A couple of days we had enough snow and ice that I had to get a ride from co-workers with SUVs because my poor car couldn't cope with the unplowed roads, especially on any kind of slope. The next car I buy I will definitely buy with snow in mind.
I saw that the Wal-mart on the Virginia side of Bristol was selling some sort of snow chains and I considered getting some. I just wasn't sure if it was worth the hassle and the expense for something that might be seldom needed. Also couldn't figure out if they were legal r not in TN, anybody know?

[kamoshika]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

Also couldn't figure out if they were legal r not in TN, anybody know?

Per Tenn. code: "It is permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions on any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other condition tending to cause a vehicle to skid."

[lostinaurora]

winter are great. im from east tennessee (south eastern part) and the north eastern part gets alot more snow and ice than we did in the southeastern parts. i call NE TN my home tho. JC elizabethton area is great!!!!!