As of 6:35 a.m. EDT Thursday, March 26, 2026, Knoxville woke up to mostly clear skies and a mild 59°F. It will feel more like early summer by afternoon, with highs near 80°F and a stiff southwest breeze turning the day warm and windy.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
The National Weather Service Morristown expects southwest winds of 5 to 15 mph this afternoon, with gusts up to 30 mph. That is strong enough to shuffle unsecured patio furniture and make bike rides a bit of a workout. Secure lightweight outdoor items and plan for gusty conditions into the evening, according to the National Weather Service Morristown.
Rain Moves In Late Friday
Showers are likely to return after about 2 p.m. Friday, with around a 70% chance for many neighborhoods and generally light rainfall totals expected. Look for scattered, brief showers that could clip the late-afternoon and evening commute, so keeping the umbrella handy would not be a bad idea.
Sharp Friday Night Drop, Sunny Cooler Weekend
Behind the front Friday night, temperatures are forecast to tumble into the upper 30s, near 37°F, with north winds gusting close to 25 mph. Saturday will feel like a different season, cooler and sunnier, with highs near 59°F. If you have early outdoor plans, a jacket will be your friend.
Where This Fits
This pattern follows a recent warm stretch earlier in March, with this update zeroing in on the late Friday rain chance and the stronger than expected cooldown that follows. For background on that recent warm spell, you can catch up on how we got here.
Quick tips: tie down or move patio furniture before the gusty afternoon, allow extra travel time Friday evening in case showers develop, and keep a jacket ready for Saturday morning. Check the National Weather Service for any last-minute forecast tweaks that could affect your evening plans.
