Updated October 2026
Fort Donelson National Battlefield Weather by Month
Fort Donelson National Battlefield is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 88°F and a low of 69°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 46°F and an average low of 27°F. May is the wettest month, with about 6 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January and February, at about 1.3 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 4.2 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Fort Donelson National Battlefield can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
88°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
27°F avg low
Wettest month
May
6.0 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.5 h of daylight
Average weather at Fort Donelson by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46°F | 27°F | 4.2 in | 1.3 in | 9.8 h |
| February | 51°F | 30°F | 4.8 in | 1.3 in | 10.7 h |
| March | 60°F | 38°F | 5.2 in | 0.4 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 70°F | 47°F | 5.7 in | 0.0 in | 12.9 h |
| May | 77°F | 57°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in | 13.9 h |
| June | 84°F | 66°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in | 14.5 h |
| July | 88°F | 69°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in | 14.3 h |
| August | 88°F | 68°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 13.4 h |
| September | 82°F | 60°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 71°F | 48°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in | 11.0 h |
| November | 60°F | 38°F | 4.3 in | 0.1 in | 10.0 h |
| December | 50°F | 31°F | 4.6 in | 0.7 in | 9.5 h |
| Year total | 54.8 in | 3.8 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00402589, 4.2 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Fort Donelson is at that time of year.
Fort Donelson weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 46°F in January, between 50°F in December and 51°F in February, with average lows between 27°F and 31°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 13.6 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 3.3 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.5 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 60°F in March to 77°F in May, with average lows between 38°F and 57°F. Together the three months average 16.9 inches of precipitation, about 31% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 0.4 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 13.9 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 84°F in June to 88°F in August, with average lows between 66°F and 69°F. Together the three months average 12.6 inches of precipitation, about 23% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.5 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 82°F in September to 60°F in November, with average lows between 38°F and 60°F. Together the three months average 11.7 inches of precipitation, about 21% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 0.1 inches for the season. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.0 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Fort Donelson National Battlefield traditionally experiences mild to moderate winters and hot summers with an average high of 90 degrees in the summer and 40 in winter; average lows in the winter are 30 degrees but single digits are not unusual. Rainfall in the area averages 53 inches a year with an additional 6 inches of ice/snow. Violent thunderstorms and severe weather can take place at any time of year but are most common in December and spring time.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Fort Donelson
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 36.49°N, 87.92°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Fort Donelson National Battlefield →
Weather and crowds together
July, the warmest month, sees about 1.1× the visitors of the park's average month. September is the busiest month of the year and December the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Fort Donelson National Battlefield. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Fort Donelson.
Where to stay near Fort Donelson
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Top-rated places to stay near Fort Donelson
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, with an average high of 88°F and an average low of 69°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.2 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, with an average low of 27°F and an average high of 46°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 6 inches of precipitation. September is the driest, at about 3.6 inches. The station records about 54.8 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 4.2 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 3.8 inches of snow a year. January and February are the snowiest months, at about 1.3 inches each. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 5 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00402589), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.