Knoxville is starting Wednesday under cloudy skies near 70 degrees, but the calm-looking morning is a brief prelude to a soggy and stormy day. Showers should pick up before 10 a.m., with thunderstorms becoming more likely from late morning through the afternoon and rain continuing into tonight.
The high is expected to reach about 72 degrees before temperatures ease back toward the upper 60s later in the day. The National Weather Service puts the chance of precipitation at 90%, with roughly a quarter- to half-inch of rain possible during the day and another half-inch to three-quarters of an inch overnight.
Storms Arrive As Mountain Winds Pick Up
Rainfall could make for slick roads and brief ponding in poor-drainage spots, although overall flood risk remains low. A Wind Advisory remains in effect through 7 p.m. for parts of the Smokies and nearby foothills, where common gusts may reach 35 to 45 mph and a few exposed locations could briefly see gusts near 50 to 60 mph.
The wetter forecast is a sharper turn than the warm setup outlined in Hoodline's earlier Knoxville forecast. Drivers and anyone heading into the mountains should be ready for reduced visibility, heavier downpours and sudden wind shifts.
Thursday Brings A Brief Weather Reset
Thursday should turn partly sunny with a high near 73, although a few lingering showers are possible early. Friday looks sunnier and mild near 71, setting up a much cooler weekend.
Cooler Weekend Ahead
Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be mostly sunny, with highs near 61 and 60. Overnight lows drop to about 38 Saturday night and 37 Sunday night, while Monday and Tuesday rebound into the lower and mid-60s under sunny skies.
