East Tennessee weather is taking on a more summer-like feel to start the week, with Knoxville weather and surrounding areas seeing high temperatures soar into the upper 70s and even the low 80s in some spots this afternoon. From Chattanooga to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, it’s a warm and breezy day that feels more like late May than early spring. This brief taste of summer won’t last long though, as a cold front is expected to move through the region tonight.
This evening, a cold front will swing in from the northwest, bringing with it a Level 1 risk for strong to severe thunderstorms, especially along the Tennessee and Kentucky border. While the severe threat remains relatively low, isolated storms could pack gusty winds and small hail. The greatest risk will be after sundown and into the early overnight hours. Rainfall totals across most of East Tennessee—including Crossville, the Tri-Cities, and Knoxville—are expected to remain light, with less than 0.10″ of accumulation for most areas.
Behind the front, we’ll enjoy a refreshing cooldown. Tuesday and Wednesday will feel much more like spring, with highs in the low to mid 60s and overnight lows dipping into the upper 40s and low 50s. The good news? Sunshine will dominate both days. Expect bright, blue skies and low humidity, making it ideal for outdoor activities like gardening, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, or simply enjoying a patio lunch.
Looking ahead to Thursday, a ridge of high pressure begins to build back into the Southeast, setting the stage for a beautiful Easter weekend. High temperatures on Thursday will be seasonal, right around 70 degrees. By Friday and into the weekend, we warm back up into the mid to upper 70s and even low 80s across the Tennessee Valley and the foothills of the Smokies. Locations such as Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Chattanooga will see ideal spring conditions, making this one of the best Easter weekends in recent memory.
There is a stalled frontal boundary just to our northwest that could drift closer at times, so I’m keeping a slight 20% chance of a shower in the forecast from Friday through Easter Sunday. That said, most locations will remain dry. The weather for sunrise services on Easter Sunday looks fantastic, with morning temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s. By Sunday afternoon, we’ll be basking in sunshine with highs reaching the low 80s—a perfect setup for family gatherings, egg hunts, or a stroll through Market Square in Knoxville or the Riverfront in Chattanooga.
As we move beyond Easter, a more unsettled weather pattern is expected to return to East Tennessee. Early indications suggest the potential for several rounds of rain and thunderstorms during the following week. This could bring cooler temperatures and increased rain chances across the region, so it’s something we’ll be monitoring closely here at eastTNweather.
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Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy the beautiful weather ahead.
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE 7 DAY FORECAST
Looking past the 7 Day Forecast, the Climate Prediction Center has issues a forecast based on probabilities.
These maps don’t show you how far above or below, but rather an idea of how strong the signal is.
