Knoxville is waking up inside a cloud on Monday, with dense fog turning the morning commute into a crawl. Visibility is dropping to a quarter mile or less in some valleys through 10:00 AM EDT on Monday, March 9, 2026, and early temperatures are hovering around 50°F. The good news: the fog is expected to lift by late morning, clearing the way for a warm, mostly sunny afternoon with a high near 75°F. If you are heading out early, give yourself extra time - conditions should be much better by the afternoon rush.
According to the National Weather Service Morristown, a Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 10:00 AM EDT and warns that "visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog." The advisory's safety guidance is blunt: "If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you." Forecasters say the worst visibility will be in low-lying spots and river valleys early this morning.
Afternoon Warmth, Late-Night Showers
By midday, the sun is expected to break through, with light southwest breezes around 0–10 mph and a top temperature near 75°F. With humidity edging up, the afternoon will feel more like April than early March. Clouds creep back in later, and a chance of showers returns late Monday night, with about a 30–40% chance of rain between roughly 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM and a few thunderstorms in the mix. Commute-threatening storms were already flagged earlier in the week.
Big Swing By Wednesday Night
The warmup keeps building into Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs climbing into the upper 70s and low 80s and putting parts of the region on the edge of record territory. The National Weather Service Morristown warns that a strong cold front arrives Wednesday night, bringing showers and thunderstorms that could become widespread and include gusts up to 30 mph. Forecasters note a risk of damaging winds or an isolated spin-up tornado in some western counties. Behind the front, temperatures tumble, dropping into the low 40s by Thursday morning.
Simple precautions go a long way: use low beams in fog, ease off the gas, and leave extra stopping distance. As storms loom later this week, keep an emergency kit and phone charger handy, secure patio furniture and loose items in wind-prone spots, and consider moving outdoor plans indoors Wednesday night. Keep an eye on local alerts and road conditions, and be ready for the timing and intensity to shift on short notice.
