The National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, issued a series of advisories concerning gusty winds and hazardous weather conditions expected to sweep through the regions of southwest North Carolina, east Tennessee, and southwest Virginia. According to the forecast, showers are likely early today, but skies will soon clear with a noticeable drop in temperature expected by the evening. Winds from the west are predicted to pick up, reaching 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
A Wind Advisory is in effect until 4 PM EST this afternoon. The advisory warns that "west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph" as per NWS, could blow around unsecured objects and potentially cause tree limbs to fall and power outages to occur. Residents in the area are advised to secure any objects that can be affected by the wind and to exercise caution, especially when driving high-profile vehicles, which can be difficult under such conditions.
The weather outlook for later this week suggests partly sunny skies transitioning to clear conditions with temperatures in the low to mid-30s. By Wednesday, sunny weather is expected, with high temperatures creeping back up to around 46 degrees. As the week progresses, there's a slight chance of showers ahead of New Year's Day, followed by a return to mostly sunny skies with highs near 50 degrees.
Additionally, the weather service highlighted that much colder temperatures are expected for Tuesday, with wind chills dropping to near zero across the higher elevations Monday night. Residents in lower elevations across southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee are likely to experience wind chills in the single digits to teens. During this period, outdoor activities should be planned with care to avoid exposure to the biting cold.
