The National Weather Service in Knoxville has issued a weather advisory highlighting an elevated fire danger across the southern Appalachian region for the remainder of the afternoon due to exceptionally dry air, as reported today. The dry conditions are expected to reduce afternoon relative humidity (RH) values into the 15 to 25 percent range, posing a threat of increased fire danger, particularly in parts of the southern Tennessee valley where RH could fall below 15 percent. The full advisory can be found on the National Weather Service website.
A special weather statement released by the National Weather Service Morristown TN adds that winds are likely to remain light today but the risk of fire persists due to the arid conditions, "An exceptionally dry air mass remains in place across the southern Appalachian region," the statement reads. Looking ahead, the weather outlook starting tomorrow through Saturday signals more challenges with a strong cold front expected Tuesday night into Wednesday potentially bringing severe weather alongside strong south to southeast winds that may warrant a High Wind Warning in the east Tennessee mountains and foothills.
The forecast for the Knoxville area, up until the weekend, includes sunny skies with highs gradually climbing from 47°F today to near 67°F on Tuesday, before the weather turns unsettled with the chance of showers and thunderstorms midweek. Tuesday night will particularly see showers, with a 100 percent chance of precipitation reported and wind gusts that could reach as high as 40 mph, according to the detailed forecast provided by the National Weather Service for Knoxville.
The NWS also cautions about the possibility of snow showers late Wednesday into Thursday, with a 50 percent chance of precipitation and continued breezy conditions Wednesday night a chance of rain showers before 4 a.m., then a chance of snow showers, and then the rest of the week will start to clear up until Friday night when another round of showers may hit the region with a 40 percent chance of precipitation.
