The National Weather Service in Knoxville reports that the city is currently experiencing fog and mist with a visibility of four miles and a high level of humidity at 94%. The temperature stands at a mild 59°F, and the wind remains calm, providing a brief moment of tranquility before the advent of impending thunderstorms. The barometer reading is a steady 30.07 in, and the dew point hovers close to the temperature at 57°F.
Looking at the detailed forecast for the day, there is a 50% chance of showers paired with thunderstorms under cloudy skies and a high reaching near 71°F. The wind, albeit light initially, is predicted to pick up to a modest pace of 5 to 10 mph as the morning progresses. Rainfall is expected to be less than a tenth of an inch, albeit, higher amounts could occur where thunderstorms take hold. Tonight, the chance of precipitation soars to 80%, bringing more showers and the potential for thunderstorms after 4 a.m., along with patchy fog cropping up after 1 a.m. The low temperature is expected to be in the vicinity of 61°F, with a continual southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, and gusts that might ascend to as high as 20 mph.
Continuing into the weekend, "showers and thunderstorms likely before 10am, then a chance of showers," describes the NWS forecast. The phenomenally capricious weather will leave residents oscillating between the shelter of their homes and the deceptive embrace of a clearing sky as Saturday unwinds. It will be mostly sunny by afternoon, with highs close to 70°F.
Apart from the immediate conditions, the National Weather Service's Morristown station issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the region, applied to areas spanning southwest North Carolina, east Tennessee, and southwest Virginia. While there are no expectations of hazardous weather from Saturday through Thursday, "A few strong storms will be possible this evening into the overnight hours," indicates the outlook. If storms are realized, gusty winds could pose as the primary threat to the area's denizens.
The weather service provides a reminder that no spotter activation is necessary at this time. As the region braces for what could be a tempestuous night, details are continually updated on the NWS website for those seeking the latest advisories and potential changes in the atmospheric drama unfolding over Knoxville.
