Friday, May 1, 2026, started on a gray, chilly note in Knoxville, with morning temperatures stuck in the upper 40s. The good news: most of the day stays dry, and the afternoon rebounds nicely to a seasonable high near 72°F under partly sunny skies. The catch: a cooler weekend is lining up, and higher terrain could flirt with frost early Sunday morning.
Today Through Sunday
Today, Friday, May 1, 2026, brings partly sunny skies, a high near 72°F, and light north winds around 0–5 mph. Tonight turns mostly cloudy with a low near 49°F.
Saturday, May 2, cools things down a bit, with a high near 65°F and a slight chance of rain showers, mainly between about 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Skies should clear out Saturday night, when temperatures drop to around 41°F. Sunday, May 3, looks sunny and crisp, with a high near 68°F. According to the National Weather Service Morristown, the cooler pattern hangs on through the weekend.
Frost Advice For Gardeners
If you are tending tender plants, plan to cover them or move containers indoors for Saturday night into Sunday, May 3. The UT Extension calendar pegs Knoxville’s average last spring frost at April 22, so any frost now would arrive a bit later than usual.
Colder pockets in higher elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest are the most likely spots to slip down to freezing, while lower river-valley neighborhoods around Knoxville should mostly avoid frost-level temperatures.
Looking Ahead
By Monday, May 4, the chill backs off. Highs jump to around 76°F, and southwest winds could gust up to 25 mph. Showers and thunderstorms become more likely late Tuesday into Wednesday, with the highest chances Tuesday night and Wednesday. Forecasters say it is still too early to pin down the risk for strong storms with confidence.
According to the National Weather Service Morristown, forecast models should sharpen the details on timing and storm coverage as the system gets closer.
Practical Tips
For weekend plans, protect sensitive plants on Saturday night and be ready for a chilly start early Sunday. Looking ahead to Monday, check the wind forecast and secure lightweight patio furniture or decorations before those stronger gusts arrive.
As next week unfolds, keep an eye on updated local forecasts and any alerts for the Tuesday–Wednesday window, and be prepared to tweak event times if storms start to line up with your plans.
