Residents of Knoxville and surrounding areas should brace themselves for a range of weather conditions over the next week. According to the National Weather Service, today promises to be sunny with a high of 54 degrees amid north winds blowing at 5 to 10 mph. However, the clear skies are set to invite widespread frost after 5 am, dipping temperatures to a low around 31 degrees tonight.
As we progress into Wednesday, we can expect to thaw slowly from the night's frost with sunny skies pushing highs near 65 degrees. This decent weather is forecasted to turn briefly sour come Thursday, with an 80 percent chance of showers and possible gusts reaching 20 mph. It's wise to prepare to possibly split these gentle warming periods with necessary rain gear and caution on slick roads.
The end of the week shows no sign of calming down, with the NWS predicting showers and a potential thunderstorm Thursday night, followed by a continued 50 percent chance of precipitation on Friday, including possible afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures during these periods will hover around highs of 60 degrees and lows in the upper 40s.
If that wasn't enough to keep us on our toes, temperatures on Friday night will dip to a low around 41, with a slight chance of thunderstorms before 8 pm. Weekend forecasts give us a reprieve, offering partly sunny skies on Saturday and a return to full sunshine by Sunday, with highs climbing to a comfortable 68 degrees. It's advisable to not only split our attention between the sunshine and showers but also the potential need for late-night and early-morning frost protection as we start the week.
The NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook further alerts residents and gardeners of a widespread frost and freeze extending from tonight into Wednesday morning, advising precautions to protect vulnerable plants. Higher elevations are expected to face a hard freeze, with potential light snow accumulation on Friday night, significantly above 3,000 feet. With weather conditions swinging from one extreme to another, preparation seems to be the prudent approach.
