The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Knoxville and surrounding areas, forecasting a mix of showers and potential snow accumulation as a strong cold front moves in. Today, locals can expect showers before 11:00 a.m. with a high near 51 degrees, while gusts may reach up to 20 mph. By tonight, the chance of precipitations rises to 70%, with a low around 32 degrees and additional showers likely before 1:00 a.m.
Sunday's weather is set to turn colder with predictions of rain and snow showers before 11:00 a.m. subsequently giving way to snow showers between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. then a chance of flurries after 1:00 p.m. Knoxville should brace for a high near 36 and a low around 11 with northwest winds gusting as high as 20 mph. The NWS warns of significant snowfall accumulations particularly in the mountains of southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee, urging residents to consult the Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Watch that have been issued. Residents of the Cumberland Plateau and western areas of Lee and Wise counties in Virginia can expect at least a rain and snow mix overnight heading into Sunday with any snow accumulations anticipated to be light through that time.
Temperatures are expected to plunge Sunday night, introducing a period of dangerously cold air that will persist through midweek. Many locations will experience several days with temperatures remaining below freezing. The NWS cautions that near zero wind chills are likely across much of the region, cautioning that values could drop to around 15 below zero in the mountains, which emphasizes the severity of this Arctic incursion.
Going into the Martin Luther King Day, a respite from the precipitation is expected with sunny skies and a high near 24., Monday night will see partly cloudy conditions with temperatures hovering around 15 degrees. Snow showers may revisit the forecast Tuesday night, albeit with a slight chance. As the week progresses, sunny to partly sunny skies will raise daytime temperatures slightly.
Spotter information provided by the NWS mentions appreciating snowfall reports from Sunday through Monday, indicating they are relying on community contributions to monitor the impact of the cold front. Residents can contribute vital information regarding snow accumulations that could aid weather forecasting and advisories.
