As Knoxville gears up for a sweltering Independence Day, the National Weather Service has issued a detailed forecast predicting a hot and partly sunny holiday week. With the mercury set to rise near 94 degrees today and a heat index even higher, at an eyebrow-raising 99, the NWS advisory suggest that locals keep hydration on their to-do list and perhaps a fan at the ready, especially with the southwest wind making only a mild 5 mph cameo in the afternoon. The official weather update, last checked this morning, points to calm winds prevailing through much of the evening.
Tonight's partly cloudy skies with lows around 75 aren't giving us much relief and for those betting on a breeze; the winds won’t be doing us any favors—expect them to remain as calm as the surface of your neighborhood pool. The Independence Day forecast gets a slight shake-up with a 20 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms throwing some natural fireworks into the mix, but otherwise, it’s mostly sunny with a repeat of today’s high heat and tranquil winds. The evening continues the trend with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, so those planning late-night activities might want to keep an eye on the sky.
Friday's looking a tad more generous for precipitation enthusiasts—with a 70 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm or two from the morning agenda through the afternoon. The skies aren’t clearing for the weekend, as Saturday brings a 30 percent chance of further showers and thunderstorms, but at least the temperature dips slightly to a more manageable 89 degrees during the day.
Come Sunday, get ready to slap on the sunscreen again as we head back to a sun-soaked 90-degree day, but don't toss your umbrellas just yet—the NWS warns that early next week could get showery again with chances of thunderstorms hitting 30 to 50 percent. It may just take the edge off the consistently high temperatures, topping out at 92 degrees on Monday and slightly cooler at 88 by Tuesday.
