The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for parts of southwest North Carolina, east Tennessee, and southwest Virginia, alerting residents to clusters of showers and potential severe thunderstorms later today and into the evening. These weather systems are expected to roll in from Middle Tennessee and could pack a punch with hail and heavy wind gusts.
According to the National Weather Service forecast, the odds for inclement weather are pegged at a 60% chance of precipitation today, with showers and thunderstorms most likely after 5 pm. The situation is primed to escalate tonight, with weather experts forecasting a 90% chance of storms before 11 pm, then likely showers, possibly accompanied by thunderstorms, between 11 pm and 1 am. The Knoxville area should expect patchy fog after these disturbances and temperatures lingering around 61°F, with light winds shifting from south to west after midnight.
The outlook, which includes a marginally severe threat over the Plateau and southeast Tennessee, warns of hail up to 1 inch and thunderstorm wind gusts near 50 mph, with a low-end tornado threat that should not be completely discounted. Residents should remain alert and stay updated on the latest weather conditions.
Further storms are forecasted for the week, with the pattern continuing through Friday. "While details aren`t certain, there could be some strong to
possibly some severe thunderstorms again on Friday," stated the outlook. The area also faces the potential of flooding due to heavy downpours or storms training over the same locations repeatedly.
Spotter activation may be required this afternoon and evening to provide real-time updates on severe weather conditions. Residents are urged to keep an eye on the skies and heed any warnings issued by local authorities, while also following guidelines from local, state, and CDC recommendations.
