February, 2008

Welcome and beneficial rain will move out of the area overnight being replaced by high pressure and sunshine this weekend.  We have had reports of snow over the higher terrain of SW Virginia and in the Smoky Mountains.  U.S. Hwy 441 has been closed due to heavy, wet snow over the mountians. It will feel more like spring the next couple of days as sunshine returns. Some areas could reach the middle 60's by Monday before our next chance of rain returns early next week. An early reminder that we set out clocks ahead one hour next weekend.....the night of March 8th.

Get the umbrella back out today as rain will develop across the region from West to East. It will start across the Plateau from late morning through midday, into the Valley from midday into the afternoon and into the Mountains from afternoon into the evening. Keep the coat handy as well as highs will only be in the upper 40s to near 50. Sunshine returns for Saturday (highs in the lower 50s) and Sunday looks picture perfect, sunny with low 60s.

Clouds will be on the increase tonight. With another weather system moving our way, look for a good chance for Rain to develop tomorrow. If the Rain arrives early enough, it may begin as a light mix. No problems are expected and it will quickly change to all Rain. The Rain will then taper off by Friday Night. This will lead to some GREAT Weather to enjoy this upcoming weekend.

There will still be a few flurries/light snow showers around to start the day for the Mountains, but this will move out by late morning as drier air moves into the region. Clouds will thin out as well area-wide through the afternoon bringing back some sunshine. It won't help temperatures much though as we will only top out in the upper 30s to low 40s. Clouds return tonight and moisture move in Friday (the could be a few early morning flurries or areas of light snow to start before sunrise...no problems though) in the form of a chilly rainfall. It looks warmer for the weekend.

The first decent snow of the season for east Tennessee missed most of the valley as expected.  We still could see some flurries and snow showers tonight as the system winds down. Reports of four to 20 inches of snow were received from the foothills of the Smokies to the top of Mt. LeConte. Some sunshine is expected tomorrow as we warm into the 40's. The 50's move in Friday along with a chance for rain.

Jill Steadman of Pittman Center (Sevier County) shares this winter wonderland with us.  Thanks Jill !!!

We will continue to see scattered snow showers across the higher elevations of the Plateau and Smokies into the afternoon with additonal light accumulation expected (especially in the Mountains), so travel could be impacted in spots here. We will only see a few spotty flurries or "LIGHT" snow showers at times here in the Valley the rest of the day mixed with periods of some sunshine at times. No ADDITIONAL travel probles are anticipated in the Valley.

Temperatures will be below freezing to start this morning, so please be careful for the morning commute (mainly bridges and overpasses) in the Valley areas. The heavier snows, as expected, were across the higher elevations of the Plateau and the Smokies and this is where the main travel problems will be today as the snow showers continue. The light snow/flurries in the Valley will taper off through the day and total accumulations here will be a dusting to less than an inch. Highs today will only be in the lower 30s in the Valley and upper 20s elsewhere.

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING is posted for elevations 2500ft. and above tonight where up to six inches of snow could fall.  A SNOW ADVISORY is in effect for the counties on the Cumberland Plateau where 1 to 3 inches of snow could fall by Wednesday afternoon. No advisories are posted for the valley locations including Knoxville but parts of the valley could get a dusting to nearly an inch.  Highs will barely get to the freezing mark on Wednesday followed by the 40's Thursday and the 50's on Friday.

There will be some BIG weather changes across our area today. We will start the day with rain and thunderstorms and temperatures in the low-mid 50s. A strong cold front moves through midday and then temperatures fall sharply with a gusty wind for the afternoon hours. We should see temperatures in the 30s just after sunset and wind chill values in the teens. Scattered snow showers will develop overnight into Wednesday morning as temperatures fall into the mid-upper 20s.

Southerly winds ahead of an approaching cold front will keep temperatures in the 50s overnight. Rain and a few thunderstorms are likely after midnight but mild air will stay through noon Tuesday. As colder air moves in during the afternoon Tuesday some temperatures could drop some 20+ degrees. Flurries and snow showers are likely Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. A light dusting is possible in the valley with  a WINTER STORM WATCH posted for the Smoky Mountains where 3-6 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday.

Today could be one of the nicer days this week with a mix of clouds and some sun and highs in the upper 50s to near 60, because BIG changes are headed our way for Tuesday. We will start the morning with showers/storms and temperatures in the mid 50s, but we will end the day in the 30s with a strong Northwest wind (15-30mph) and some light snow flurries/showers. The snow chances continue Tuesday night and we could see some accumulations in some of the higher elevation around the viewing area as temperatures will fall off into the upper 20s-lower 30s...stay tuned!

Most of the rain moves out this evening but a mostly cloudy sky is expected to remain the rest of the night. Monday looks great!  After a mostly cloudy start, a mix of clouds and sun will be the rule through midday with clouds increasing through the late afternoon. Our next chance of rain comes late Monday night and Tuesday morning before colder air brings a mix or some snow showers Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

A weak disturbance will push through the area this morning bringing plenty of clouds and the chance of an early flurry or sprinkle. Pesky clouds are likely this afternoon too with a small chance of patchy light showers. The clouds will keep most areas slightly below normal levels for this time of year. The average high in Knoxville is 54.  Monday looks great as high pressure holds on for one day before rain chances return Tuesday morning. Colder air brings the chance of a winter mix or snow showers Tuesday night into Wednesday.

As expected the clouds didn't really break up Saturday, therefore it was a chilly day in the low-mid 40s. The clouds will linger tonight and we could see a few sprinkles or light showers to start the day Sunday, otherwise the clouds will linger and so will the cooler temperatures (highs in the upper 40s-lower 50s). It may feel a little more like Spring on Monday, but Winter returns Tuesday.

We will see more clouds than sunshine this weekend, but temperatures will be pretty close to where we should be this time of year (upper 40s-lower 50s). There is a fast moving system headed our way early Sunday, but there isn't much moisture with it, so we probably won't see much more than a few sprinkles early Sunday. There will be a better chance of rain Tuesday and colder air will follow.

Plenty of clouds, some patchy fog and patchy drizzle are possible through the overnight hours. Some limited sun may bleed through on Saturday afternoon with highs near 50. A slim chance of a light mix enters the forecast Sunday morning but afternoon highs still return near 50 degrees. Right now Monday looks great followed by more rain on Tuesday.

I know it looked like we would see rain yesterday, but if you saw a radar loop, you saw that the rain/ice went right around East Tennessee through Kentucky to our North and Alabama and Georgia to our south. Today looks more likely that we will see rain, so grab the umbrella. Saturday looks drier and a weak system could bring a light rain/snow mix to the area early Sunday.

A Big HELLO goes out to the third grade students at Newport Grammar School in Cocke County.  I enjoyed my visit.  Thanks for having me and don't give up on the snow quite yet!!

It has been raining all day long in northern Alabama and Georgia. We've been hoping that rain would move  into east Tennessee but that has yet to be the case. We still have chances of showers tonight and tomorrow as low pressure moves our direction. Rain chances decrease by Saturday morning.  Other than a slight chance of a light mix on Sunday, most of the weekend should be on the dry side with temperatures at or above average levels.

Go ahead and grab the umbrella as you leave today. Rain chances will be increasing, especially during the afternoon/evening hours. It will be cool as well with highs in the mid-upper 40s, so grab the coat. If the rain moves in just a little earlier (mid-late morning), it could briefly start as a light Wintry mix along the Plateau or up into S.E. Kentucky, but it should quickly change to all rain. Rain looks more likely overnight into Friday with most of the weekend dry.

We are hoping for some breaks in the clouds tonight so you can see the Total Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse starts at 8:43pm and reaches totality at 10:01pm. You will still be able to see a partial eclipse until just after midnight. A mostly cloudy sky tomorrow will yield to a slight chance of a light mix along the plateau with a general cold rain expected in the valley Thursday afternoon through the overnight hours.  Temperatures will stay well above freezing so no major problems are expected. Scattered rain is possible Friday through early Saturday.

Look for another breezy day today with a mix of clouds (some sun) and a few sprinkles or light showers. It will be rather mild though with highs in the mid-upper 50s. Colder air moves in tonight and more moisture moves in tomorrow. Timing will be critical, but right now, it looks like some areas (especially along the Plateau and counties along the TN/KY border) could see a wintry mix to start the day Thursday...stay tuned!

It's a star gazers delight Wednesday night as a Total Lunar Eclipse takes place in the east Tennesee skies.  Here are the detais:
Partial Eclipse Begins: 8:43pm
Total Eclipse: 10:01pm - 10:51pm
Partial Eclipse Ends: 12:09am

Dry air will start the evening off but I do expect an increase in clouds overnight. A southwest breeze will help push highs into the 50's tomorrow as another weak but quick moving system heads our way. A few light showers are possible Wednesday afternoon. Hopefully we will see some breaks in the clouds Wednesday night so we can catch a glimpse of the Total Lunar Eclipse. Rain chances will increase again on Thursday. If the moisture arrives early enough it could start as a light mix before switching to all rain. Rain is likely Friday into Saturday morning too.