Skies are mostly cloudy and hovering around 64°F at the KDKX observation site this morning, but Knoxville will warm into the mid-70s before a cold front swings through later today. Showers are expected to pop up late this afternoon, with temperatures slipping back into the mid-60s by early evening. West winds will turn noticeably breezy, with gusts near 25 mph, especially across exposed ridges and bridges.
Afternoon Showers And The Evening Commute
Rain chances ramp up after 2 p.m., with the best odds north of Interstate 40 and along the valley corridors. Most neighborhoods are looking at only about a tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain. Showers should hold on into the evening before gradually tapering off, while overnight lows dip into the mid-30s in the colder spots. Drivers may want to pad a little extra time into the late-afternoon commute and be ready for brief visibility drops on wet roads, according to the National Weather Service Morristown.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Through the afternoon, winds out of the west will strengthen, with gusts in the 20 to 30 mph range across the Tennessee Valley and higher gusts over the mountains and ridgelines. As the wind swings around to the north tonight, it will feel noticeably cooler and could knock around any unsecured outdoor items, so it is a good idea to lock down that patio furniture before the afternoon peak. A March 7 preview tracked similar gusty setups this month and flagged the potential for travel issues.
Weekend Cool Down And Fire Weather
Behind the cold front, Saturday will turn cooler and much drier, with highs near 59 and overnight lows near or below freezing in northern locations and higher elevations. That sets the stage for possible frost both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Afternoon relative humidity is expected to fall into the 20 to 30 percent range, and forecasters caution that today’s light rain will not erase the recent dry stretch, so elevated fire weather concerns will hang on in some areas. For detailed timing and any updates, check the latest from the National Weather Service Morristown.
By Sunday, things should quiet down, with a sunnier stretch settling in through early next week. Temperatures are forecast to rebound into the 70s and low 80s by Tuesday. Gardeners will want to shield sensitive plants from frost this weekend, and anyone with late-night plans may want to peek at the latest forecasts before heading out.
