Brace yourselves, Knoxville, as the National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a Wind Advisory through 10 AM EST this morning, particularly for your lofty mountains; expect gusts hitting the 40 to 50 mph range, as noted in their early morning update. The advisory covers a broad swathe, looking at Southwest North Carolina, East Tennessee, and even into Southwest Virginia, a region where the wind doesn't merely breeze through, it roars.
Today's showers, which are projected before 8 am with a high of 61 degrees and swift southwest winds between 5 to 10 mph, heralding gusts that could ratchet up to a robust 20 mph with an 80% chance of precipitation, this according to the National Weather Service, Knoxville. Tonight doesn't veer far from the wet trend with showers likely after 3 am, the temperature holding steady around 53 degrees and winds calming down, which is also when you'll likely appreciate putting those wind chimes back up, "Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible," states the report.
The upcoming days won't afford many dry respites as Tuesday brings showers and potential thunderstorms post-1 pm with a toasty high of 68 degrees; anticipate southwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, gusts flaring as high as 20 mph yet again, and brace for an absolute certainty of rain at 100%, as if the skies are more reliable than our daily alarms. The ongoing deluge continues into Tuesday night with the temperature taking a plunge down to around 40 and Wednesday promises a mix of rain and snow showers, though accumulation looks light on the mountain tops; no need to dig out the winter sled just yet.
Winds are also due to pick up after Wednesday's front, gusting across those higher elevations through Thursday—anticipate advisory worthy gales between 35 to 50 mph according to NWS, Knoxville; when they mention wind chills dipping into the teens and single digits, it's an earnest reminder to layer up or stay in with your steaming cup of choice. Thankfully, the spotters can stand down for now because spotter activation is not needed at this time, as the cold whips by, it's a small yet brisk comfort.
The rest of the week's outlook hints at a slight recovery in terms of climatic assaults; clear skies on Thursday with a cozy high of 41, partly cloudy nights, and a gentle rise in temperatures with the weekend ushering in potential showers but less of the biting winds we're about to endure—in other words, an almost typical December week in Knoxville, if not for the whims of the gusts that might just make you think twice about that umbrella.
