The National Weather Service (NWS) in Morristown, TN, has issued a Freezing Fog Advisory this morning for portions of southwest North Carolina and East Tennessee, including the Knoxville area. According to the advisory, visibility is expected to drop to a quarter of a mile or less due to the freezing fog conditions.
Travelers in the affected regions should be wary, as weather officials warn that the low visibility "could make driving conditions hazardous." With a humidity sitting at a saturated 100 percent and winds placidly calm, the stage is set for an ethereal yet treacherous start to the day. The freezing fog has effectively cloaked the landscape. Commuters are urged, if driving, to "slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you," in words echoed by the National Weather Service.
Beyond the fog, the detailed forecast for Knoxville paints a picture of variability over the week. Today, after the fog lifts, expect a partly sunny sky with a high near 50. Patchy fog is expected to persist before 10 am Sunday, followed by a chance of showers on Sunday night. The imminent week ushers in a see-saw of shower chances and cloudy skies, with the mercury toggling between the high 20s and mid-50s.
Looking further ahead, the NWS's Hazardous Weather Outlook flags the woven quilt of potential weather hazards. Starting with the current freezing fog, the outlook extends a watchful eye toward a medley of meteorological disruptions, from showers to a slight chance of rain and snow showers by Friday night. While the advisory specifically covers the dense fog for today and tonight, other days bristle with the promise of weather that could impact the daily life of East Tennesseans.
