Knoxville is waking up under a blanket of clouds Tuesday, with temperatures stuck in the upper 20s to low 30s. The chill eases a bit this afternoon, when readings climb to around 46°F under mostly cloudy skies. Southwest winds stay on the tame side for now, but they are set to pick up tonight, especially along ridge tops and in the Smokies. Rain chances jump by midweek, with the main round moving in Wednesday night into Thursday, so anyone with evening travel or outdoor plans will want to factor in gusty winds and a soggy stretch.
Afternoon And Tonight
This afternoon is expected to top out near 46°F with mostly cloudy skies and a gentle southwest breeze around 0 to 10 mph. Tonight, that breeze turns into a more noticeable wind, increasing to 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph possible over the higher elevations and 20 to 25 mph in the Tennessee Valley. Wind chills will bite the hardest in the mountains, where values could slip into the single digits. According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, the strongest gusts could be enough to trigger wind advisories over the highest terrain.
Wednesday Night Into Thursday
A stationary boundary setting up over the region will crank up rain chances Wednesday night into Thursday, with showers becoming likely and Thursday highs climbing into the upper 50s to near 60°F. The wettest stretch looks to be Wednesday night through Thursday morning, when steady rain is most likely across much of East Tennessee. If you have midweek plans, expect wet pavement and generally damp, gray conditions. For a bit of context on the recent pattern shift and earlier windy bursts, check out our report on the howling winds as temperatures jumped.
What This Means For Your Commute
By Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, a combo of slick roads and gusty crosswinds could slow things down, particularly for high-profile vehicles and trailers. Mountain corridors like the Foothills Parkway and sections of U.S. 441 may deal with stronger gusts and pockets of low cloud cover, so lower-elevation routes could be the safer, less stressful choice when possible. There are no watches or warnings in effect for the Knoxville area at the moment, but conditions over the ridges can change quickly, so it is wise to check for updates before heading toward the Smokies.
Weekend Outlook
The pattern dries out by Friday, setting the stage for a milder and mostly sunny weekend. Highs should reach the mid to upper 60s on Saturday and the low to mid 60s on Sunday, with cool nights dipping into the low 40s. It is shaping up to be a solid window for outdoor plans, especially after the midweek mess, but travelers using mountain passes earlier in the week should keep an eye on the latest forecasts.
