Knoxville residents should brace for a rainy day followed by gusty winds through the end of the week, according to a forecast by the National Weather Service in Knoxville. The area will likely see showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. today, with light and variable winds shifting southwest and increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. "Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 pm. High near 65," the NWS reports, noting an 80% chance of precipitation with new rainfall amounts stacking up between a quarter and a half of an inch.
By tonight, the stormy weather is expected to continue through the early morning hours with "Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 am, then a slight chance of showers between 2 am and 3 am," as per the National Weather Service weather outlook. With a steady evening temperature predicted around 62 degrees Fahrenheit, Knoxville residents should remain mindful of potential higher precipitation amounts in the area during thunderstorms.
Wednesday will bring cloudy skies that will gradually clear to reveal increased temperatures nearing 65 by noon and then dipping to approximately 54 in the evening. A west wind will bring cooler air, ranging from 5 to 15 mph and possibly gusting up to 25 mph—a precursor to the windy conditions that dominate the weather narrative through the end of the week.
The NWS further warns that although spotters will likely not need to activate, strong winds will be the central hazard post-storm. "Breezy winds are expected to develop area-wide Wednesday afternoon and through the end of the week," emphasizing the East Tennessee mountains where gusts might reach up to 45 mph. The NWS cautions coming colder air will send wind chills plummeting into the low to mid-30s across valley locations and possibly into the teens in higher elevations through Friday. Additionally, "light snowfall accumulations are likely in higher elevations of the East Tennessee mountains and southwest Virginia," with some areas potentially seeing up to 3 inches of snow.
The upcoming weather conditions remind the residents in Knoxville and surrounding areas to prepare for sudden changes and take necessary measures to stay warm and safe, especially when traveling through higher elevations prone to strong winds and snow accumulation.
