Residents in Knoxville and surrounding areas in East Tennessee, along with parts of southwest Virginia and southwest North Carolina, should brace for potential severe weather, as forecasts by the National Weather Service predict a turbulent week ahead. National Weather Service Knoxville updated locals early this morning with expectations of today's weather transitioning from mostly cloudy to sunny skies, with afternoon highs cresting near a balmy 86 degrees, accompanied by blustering southwest winds of up to 30 miles per hour.
However, the outlook rapidly shifts, as tonight promises a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then only showers between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., and once again a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m., with increasing clouds and a low settling around 63, the southwest wind is unrelenting around 10 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph. The weather report anticipates tomorrow to bring a definite shift, with a 90 percent chance of showers and possible thunderstorms post 11 a.m., and new rainfall measures between 1 and 2 inches, a high near 72, and similarly robust winds.
According to the National Weather Service, the early part of the week looks dreary, with Monday seeing a 30 percent chance of showers mostly before 8 a.m. and a high near 58, followed by a partly cloudy night with lows nearing 35. Tuesday is forecasted to greet residents with frost before 8 a.m., yet it clears up, becoming sunny with a high around 54, while the night brings more areas of frost after 4 a.m. The week proceeds with an alternation of clear and rainy chances, rounding up with a rainy Friday, as showers are likely, though the sun may briefly emerge, pushing temperatures near 66 degrees.
The Hazardous Weather Outlook released by the National Weather Service Morristown TN station is indicative of the seriousness, especially for tomorrow when strong to severe storms are possible and damaging winds and heavy rainfall could become major concerns, incidents of severe weather and related damage from this system should be reported to the authorities, as the agency emphasizes that "spotter reports of wind damage or flooding are welcomed."
