Knoxville woke up to fog, mist, and a mild 57°F (14°C) early Monday, March 16, 2026, but the calm is not sticking around. A line of showers and thunderstorms is sweeping east across the valley, set to bring pockets of heavy rain and gusty winds through the morning commute. Temperatures will fall sharply through the day, with much colder air arriving overnight and mountain snow possible from Monday afternoon into the night.
Showers And Thunderstorms This Morning
Showers and thunderstorms are likely today, with a daytime high near 53°F and temperatures dropping toward the low 40s by afternoon. West winds around 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, are expected, and heavier cells could produce 0.75 to 1 inch of rain in spots. These timing and rainfall estimates come from the latest forecasts from the NWS Morristown.
Advisories And Wind Risks
The National Weather Service has a Wind Advisory in effect for many counties into the morning, and higher ridges are under a High Wind Warning through mid-morning. NWS forecasters warn that "Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution," per the NWS Morristown. Loose outdoor items should be secured, and residents should be ready for possible scattered power outages where trees or limbs come down.
Colder Air And Mountain Snow
Behind the front, very cold air will surge in on Monday and linger across the area through Wednesday morning, pushing low temperatures into the 20s by Monday night. Snow levels are expected to drop below about 2,000 feet, with light accumulations possible in the Smokies and other higher East Tennessee terrain Monday afternoon into the night, while valley accumulations are expected to be near zero. Forecasters lay out the conditional tornado threat and the mountain snow details in their National Weather Service discussion.
How To Plan The Day
Secure patio furniture, trash cans, and anything else that might blow around, build in extra travel time during the gustiest periods, and avoid driving high-profile vehicles if you can while winds are strongest. If you are heading into the Smokies Monday afternoon or evening, be prepared for snow and slick roads on higher routes. For background on this week's pattern and earlier timing, check out our earlier pattern breakdown.
