Knoxville rolled into Wednesday, February 18, 2026, under a blanket of clouds and temperatures already in the low 60s. By midafternoon, highs are expected to reach the mid-60s, helped along by southwest winds picking up to 10–15 mph with gusts near 30 mph. A slight chance of rain showers moves in late this afternoon and into the evening, so outdoor plans might get briefly interrupted by a passing sprinkle.
Evening And Overnight
By Wednesday night, February 18, rain chances climb to around 50% with a low near 58°F. Any showers that do develop overnight should stay on the lighter side, with new rainfall totals generally under one tenth of an inch. Thunder is on the table, but not especially likely. Winds ease back to around 5–10 mph after sunset, leaving the valley with a mild, somewhat damp night.
Thursday Into Friday
Thursday, February 19, is set to be the warmest day in this stretch, with valley highs rising into the low to mid 70s and scattered showers possible during the day. The stronger push of rain, along with a few thunderstorms, is expected Thursday night into Friday morning as a cold front moves through, with forecasters putting the Thursday night precipitation chance near 80%. Behind the front, Friday trends cooler, skies clear by around midday, and temperatures top out near 69°F before a cooler Friday night settles in.
Weekend And Next Week
Saturday, February 21, looks milder with a chance for spotty showers and a high near 61°F. Sunday turns noticeably cooler with a high around 46°F, followed by a Sunday night low near 27°F. On the backside of the system, there is a small chance for light snow in the highest elevations, although any accumulation appears minimal at this point. Early next week stays on the chilly side with highs mainly in the 40s.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Southwest winds will gust to around 30 mph today in typical valley wind corridors, while the tallest peaks in the Smokies could see gusts into the low 40s. Those wind speeds are not expected to trigger widespread wind advisories, but they can still push around high-profile vehicles and send loose outdoor items on an unplanned trip. It is a good day to secure patio furniture and use extra caution on exposed ridgelines.
Plan Ahead
Keep an umbrella nearby tonight and check updated forecasts before any late-night outings, since the main window for heavier rain and a few thunderstorms arrives Thursday night into Friday morning. For detailed timing and hourly conditions, see the National Weather Service Morristown forecast. For more background on this warm and then wet pattern, revisit our earlier coverage on how Knoxville warms to the upper 60s before late-night rain.
