The National Weather Service in Knoxville is advising residents to hunker down for what looks to be a wet and windy weekend, with severe weather possibly shaking things up by Saturday night. Today's overcast skies will make way for clear conditions, with the temperature predicted to drop to around 44 by the end of the day, and winds gusting up to 20 mph making for a breezy afternoon, according to the forecast.
However, the tranquility is set to briefly pause, as Friday night's forecast includes a 30 percent chance of showers, threatening to start ahead of a heavier onslaught over the weekend. By Saturday, the chance of rain leaps to a near-certainty, with a 90 percent likelihood of showers that could intensify, and south winds are expected to potentially kick up to gusts as high as 30 mph. The National Weather Service Morristown TN cautions that another 1.5 to 3 inches of rain could cascade down Saturday into Sunday.
The weather outlook isn't showing a silver lining just yet, as Monday, Washington's Birthday, although sunny, is projected to hit a high of only near 40. Looking ahead into next week, rain and even snow showers could make a comeback, with "a chance of rain and snow showers" on Tuesday night and Wednesday, and "a chance of precipitation" standing at 40 and 50 percent, respectively. The forecast from NWS Knoxville paints a picture of a region unable to fully escape to dry out the wintry mix just yet.
As the weekend approaches, the National Weather Service emphasizes the importance of detailed reports from spotters, noting that "Detailed reports of flooding or severe thunderstorms this week will be appreciated." Residents should prepare for possible disruptions, including downed trees and power outages, particularly in mountainous regions where the wind's might is expected to be the strongest. Keeping informed and prepared seems to be the recurring theme as East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southwest North Carolina brace for uncertain conditions.
