Tennessee’s Five Little Winters...and more!

Murfreesboro, TN—It’s a rite of passage for anyone setting foot in Tennessee during the spring: the sudden chill that creeps in just when warm weather seems here to stay. These aren’t just cold snaps—they’re legendary. Known collectively as Tennessee’s Five Little Winters. These unpredictable swings in temperature serve as both a quirk of nature and a nod to the folklore passed down through generations.

Each pocket of the state has its own identity, shaped by the rugged mountains of the east, the rolling hills of the middle, and the flatlands of the west. But no matter the terrain, all Tennesseans know to brace for the five seasons within a season. Rutherford County serves as our guide, offering a model for this fascinating cycle.

• Redbud Winter arrives first—usually in late March or early April—as those tiny purplish-pink blossoms begin to dot the landscape. Just when spring fever kicks in, a chilly blast reminds everyone not to ditch their coats just yet.

• Dogwood Winter follows in late April, heralded by the creamy white blooms of Tennessee’s famous dogwood trees. It’s a cruel trick of nature: the days warm up just enough to tempt everyone outside, only for temperatures to dip again.

• Locust Winter lands in early May, when locust trees begin their quiet transformation. By this time, Tennesseans are growing impatient with these setbacks—did winter not get the message?

• Blackberry Winter is the most notorious, arriving in mid-May when blackberries are in full bloom. It’s the last gasp of cold before summer truly takes hold, bringing one final round of shivers before the air turns thick with humidity.

• Whippoorwill Winter—also called Britches Winter—comes in late May. Though subtle, it can still be enough to make people second-guess their wardrobe choices.

Old-time weather watchers had their own ways of predicting these little winters. In the 1980s and ’90s, Dewayne Trail, a Rutherford County agriculture extension leader, became something of a local celebrity, sharing his folklore-based forecasting on WGNS radio. Woolly worms, rising smoke, and the behavior of spiders were all part of his toolset. Perhaps our grandparents held secrets we’ve long since forgotten—connections to the natural world that elude today’s modern forecasters.

Tennessee’s seasons are layered with tradition, and newcomers to the state quickly learn to embrace its unpredictable patterns. Who knows? If you’ve brought your own weather lore from a far-off place, Tennessee’s fabled winters may be due for a fresh chapter.

One thing’s certain: if you’ve made it through all five little winters, you’re officially a Volunteer Statesman.