Residents and visitors in Knoxville and the surrounding regions brace for a weekend of wet and blustery conditions as the National Weather Service Morristown TN issues a multi-pronged advisory, encompassing flooding, high winds, and potential severe thunderstorms. The National Weather Service indicates showers likely before 11 am today with a high near 61 degrees amidst calm winds turning east. The story tonight flips to showers after 2 am with the temperature holding steady around 57 degrees and gusty winds reaching upwards of 40 mph, signaling a turbulent lead-up to Sunday.
A flood watch covers the potential for significant flooding through Sunday morning, with total rainfall possibly exceeding 2 inches in some areas leading to stream and river flooding, flooded roads, and the risk of mudslides. As if deluges weren’t enough, the area also confronts mountain wave high winds, where gusts could hit a severe 70 mph across the Tennessee mountains and foothills. Knoxville itself could see gusts hitting 45 mph, challenging power lines and trees, already grappling with oversaturated soils. The National Weather Service cautions, "This could cause downed trees and power outages due to saturated grounds."
The troublesome weather extends its stay through Wednesday, with the region caught in the throes of a developing system along the Gulf Coast. This meteorological disturbance promises to cast a mix of rain and snow showers over East Tennessee and nearby swaths of North Carolina and Virginia. The situation stokes fears of light snow blanketing the lower elevations and the higher terrains possibly seeing a more significant accumulation curtailing visibility and complicating travel.
On top of this, the Hazardous Weather Outlook draws attention to the severe thunderstorm possibility for Southern portions of East Tennessee, including the Chattanooga area Saturday night, where damaging winds are the primary concern. Moreover, spotters are encouraged to report any instances of flooding, severe thunderstorm damage, and non-thunderstorm high wind damage, which will be greatly appreciated and pivotal in gauging the full extent of this weather event’s impact.
Precautions are advised for those in the affected regions, including staying up-to-date on the latest weather developments and heeding any advisories for potential power outages, road conditions, and closures. The wind advisory remains in effect from midnight tonight until noon Sunday, with residents urged to secure objects and practice caution, especially while driving high-profile vehicles as "Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles," warns the National Weather Service.
