Knoxville woke up Monday, July 13 to air that felt more like a sauna than a summer morning, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures hovering near 70°F at McGhee Tyson Airport. Dew points are also near 70°F, which means the air is loaded with moisture and any strong shower can wring it out fast, leading to rapid runoff. Local forecast guidance points to a growing threat of heavier storms from late morning into the afternoon, when training cells could sit over the same spots and dump quick, intense rainfall. With some ground already saturated from recent rains, that setup raises the risk of urban and flash flooding during the peak storm hours.
Flood Watch Through This Evening
The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a Flood Watch through 8:00 p.m. EDT Monday, July 13 for Knox County and much of East Tennessee, according to NWS Morristown. The watch states that "flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible" and urges residents to keep up with later forecasts and be ready to act if Flash Flood Warnings are issued. Areas that have already soaked up recent downpours, including low-lying neighborhoods, creeks and streets with poor drainage, are most likely to see problems.
Afternoon Downpours Could Snarl The Commute
Showers and thunderstorms are most likely between about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., with a high near 83°F and light northeast winds. Most spots can expect between a quarter and a half inch of new rain, but neighborhoods under slow-moving or training storms could see higher totals in a hurry. That kind of burst can quickly lead to standing water on roads, reduced visibility and slower commutes, so plan on extra travel time and do not try to drive through flooded streets.
Tuesday And The Rest Of The Week
Tuesday, July 14 trends warmer and somewhat drier, with a high near 86°F and only spotty afternoon storm chances. Some patchy morning fog is possible. By midweek, temperatures climb into the upper 80s and low 90s with mostly sunny afternoons and only isolated showers returning, per our earlier coverage of the region's stormy shuffle. Wednesday and Thursday look more like a standard Tennessee summer pattern, with brief afternoon pop-up showers or storms as the main source of any lingering rain.
Safety Tips
Turn around, do not drown: never drive through standing water, even if it looks shallow. Move vehicles off low-lying streets if possible, and keep phones charged so you can receive Flash Flood Warnings from local officials and the National Weather Service. If you live in a flood-prone area, consider moving valuables to higher floors until the threat passes.
