Residents across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia are keeping a watchful eye on the weather today, as the National Weather Service (NWS) in Morristown has extended a flood watch through late tonight in response to the potential onslaught of rain-heavy thunderstorms and persistent humid conditions. According to the NWS forecast, the area could see "heavy rainfall" from storms before 3 p.m. today.
Already, some locales have been saturated with 2 to 4 inches of rainfall in the past few days and with additional precipitation expected, concerns mount over creeks and streams potentially rising beyond their banks, and the threat of low-water crossings becoming impassable, and these concerns weighed down even more when you consider that, some parts of the central and southern Valley could experience heat index values in excess of 100 degrees which shouldn't be taken lightly as the flood watch alert advises citizens to monitor forecasts and be prepared to take action should conditions worsen.
The Knoxville area specifically is also bracing for the impact of such conditions with today's temperatures peaking near a steamy 89 degrees, coupled with sweltering heat indices that could reach up to 96. Tonight the chances of showers and thunderstorms are somewhat reduced, but not completely eliminated; a modest 20 percent chance of weather histrionics remains before and after a short 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. reprieve. Towards the weekend, the rain risk ramps up again with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday night, as per the forecast obtained from the NWS.
In their hazardous weather outlook, the NWS further warns of the possibility of severe storms today, with a special emphasis on this afternoon through evening, as the main concerns are "damaging winds as the main concern," and further notes that spotter reports of flooding and high winds will be welcomed—their call to action underlines the collaborative effort between weather services and the community in mitigating risks associated with these natural events even as Thursday presents continued threats, especially further north in Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, where hot and humid conditions intensify with expected heat index values approximately around 105 degrees.
