Knoxville woke up to clear skies and comfortably mild temperatures on Thursday morning, April 2, with local observations showing roughly 72°F and light winds to start the day. That calm beginning will not stick around for long: a strong spring warm-up is expected to push highs into the mid 80s later Thursday, with the chance for a few isolated afternoon showers or thunderstorms as gusty southwest winds pick up. A larger system late Saturday into Sunday could bring steadier rain and a sharp cool down that may produce frost early next week.
Afternoon Storms And Gusty Winds
Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Morristown are calling for highs near 85°F on Thursday, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Southwest winds of 0 to 15 mph are likely, and gusts could reach about 25 mph this afternoon. Any storm that manages to fire up could bring brief heavy downpours, gusty winds and small hail, with higher elevations favored for seeing more coverage.
Weekend Rain And A Quick Cool Down
A deeper trough arriving late Saturday into early Sunday (April 4 to 5) raises the odds for more widespread showers and thunderstorms, with showers and storms likely Saturday and heavier precipitation possible from late Saturday night into Sunday morning. The forecast discussion notes that some spots could pick up around an inch of rain, which would be enough for localized ponding or nuisance flooding in low lying areas. Sunday will feel noticeably cooler, with highs in the upper 60s and lingering morning showers before drier, chillier mornings return early next week.
What To Know And Do
If you have outdoor plans for the holiday weekend, it is a good idea to build in a wet weather backup for Saturday evening and Easter Sunday morning and to bring waterproof layers. Secure loose patio furniture before Thursday's gusts arrive, and check for updates if you are traveling Saturday night, since watches or warnings could be issued if storms trend stronger. Gardeners and plant lovers should keep in mind that the cool snap next week could bring frost Monday through Wednesday mornings, so be ready to cover tender plants if needed.
We previously covered this late week warmup, and this update refines the timing for the weekend rain and adds the early week frost risk, so see our earlier coverage on the record-busting warmup. We will post updates if conditions change or if any watches or warnings are issued.
