The National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, has issued a wind advisory for parts of southwest North Carolina and east Tennessee, effective until 4 PM EST today, with southwest winds expected to reach speeds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph, as reported by NWS Knoxville. Residents in areas including Knoxville, Chattanooga, and surrounding cities are advised to anticipate potential disruptions from gusty winds that could knock down tree limbs and cause power outages.
Moreover, the weather outlook for the region includes a mixed bag of precipitation, with a chance of rain showers transitioning to snow showers tonight as temperatures drop, visibility might be affected, and unstable conditions could lead to tricky driving especially for high-profile vehicles, according to the same NWS update; residents should remain cautious and use extra caution while on the roads. By Thursday, conditions are expected to improve with cloudy skies clearing up, yet a potential for light snow in higher elevations is forecasted for Saturday night into Sunday, which could pose additional hazards, particularly for those planning to travel or engage in outdoor activities over the weekend.
Amid these conditions, the NWS has also published a hazardous weather outlook for the area that persists into the following week, noting the strong gusty winds continuing throughout the day with snow showers anticipated to conclude by Thursday daytime. The snow showers tonight are expected to bring marginal accumulations due to prior warm surface temperatures, and although most areas will not see significant snowfall, some parts could see up to an inch, especially in higher regions like the East Tennessee Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau.
In anticipation of these weather events, local authorities and emergency services are monitoring the situation, and their preparedness actions include advising the public to secure loose outdoor items and to brace for possible interruptions in power supply and transportation delays, residents are further cautioned to stay updated with weather reports as the week progresses to avoid being caught off guard by any abrupt weather changes, such as the wind advisory that stands until this afternoon, as NWS Morristown TN has reported.
