Knoxville woke up under a gray blanket this morning, with patchy fog and mist holding early temperatures near 61°F and cutting visibility in low-lying spots. The murk should burn off through mid-morning as a light northeast breeze kicks in, giving way to mostly sunny skies and a high near 81°F this afternoon. Most of the metro is expected to stay dry, but valley roads and shaded bridges could stay slick where fog hangs on a bit longer, so build in a few extra minutes for the drive. If you are heading up into the hills later, keep an eye out for fast-moving pop-up cells that could bubble up over the higher ground.
Afternoon Storm Risk
Forecasters at the National Weather Service Morristown say an incoming disturbance could trigger isolated to scattered showers and a few thunderstorms this afternoon across the Southern Appalachians and into northeast Tennessee, mainly over the higher terrain. Any stronger storm could toss down small hail and bring brief gusty winds. For Knoxville itself, the odds are slim, with the metro carrying only about a 10 percent chance of rain. Still, anyone planning time outside in the foothills will want a quick duck-under spot handy in case storms flare late in the day.
This Week
Skies settle down again tonight, with mostly clear conditions and a low near 56°F. Wednesday is on track to be sunny with a high near 80°F. A drier, warmer pattern then builds in through the rest of the week, with highs climbing into the mid-80s by Thursday and Friday and humidity running lower than what the region has dealt with recently. The next notable shot at showers and thunderstorms looks to return Sunday into Monday, mainly targeting the mountains and foothills.
Commuter Notes
Expect patchy fog to slow the morning rush; stick with low beams and leave extra stopping distance wherever visibility drops. If your plans take you into the mountains this afternoon, be ready for brief, spotty storms and steer clear of exposed ridgelines if lightning starts to pop. For a deeper look at how the weather pattern is shifting from recent muggy days, check out our mugginess gives way to sunny stretch.
