Honestly, if you’ve spent more than a week in East Tennessee, you know the drill. One day you’re wearing shorts to the Sunsphere, and the next you’re digging through the garage for that one heavy coat you bought for a trip to Chicago. Right now, Knoxville is firmly in that "heavy coat" territory.
The current 7 day forecast knoxville tn is basically a masterclass in why we have trust issues with the sky. We are currently sitting in a deep freeze that would make a penguin think twice, but as always, there is a weird, rainy curveball waiting just around the corner before we dive back into the ice box.
The Immediate Shiver: Today and Tonight
If you stepped outside this morning, you probably felt that northwest wind cutting right through your jeans. It’s no joke. Right now, we’re looking at a high of 30°F for Thursday, January 15. The sun is out, which is a nice psychological trick, but with those 10 mph winds, it feels more like 21°F.
Tonight? Forget about it.
We are dropping down to 20°F. If you haven't dripped your faucets yet, tonight is the night. The National Weather Service in Morristown has been tracking a deep trough moving over the region, and it's brought some serious Canadian air with it. We might see some lingering flurries, but mostly it's just going to be cold and dry.
The Friday Fake-Out and Weekend Mess
Friday, January 16, is when things get annoying. We’re going to "warm up" to 46°F. On paper, that sounds like a relief. In reality, it’s just setting the stage for a messy Friday night.
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As the sun goes down, a new system is diving in from the Great Lakes. While the day stays mostly cloudy, the night brings a 65% chance of light rain. Because the low is dropping back toward 22°F, there’s a real possibility of that rain mixing with snow in the early hours of Saturday.
Saturday, January 17, is looking like a "stay inside and watch the Vols" kind of day.
- High: 45°F
- Low: 26°F
- Conditions: Partly sunny during the day, but those west winds will be gusting up to 16 mph.
Basically, it's going to be damp, breezy, and generally miserable for anything involving the outdoors.
Why the Mountains are Winning
While we’re dealing with rain and "meh" temperatures in the Valley, the higher elevations like Sevier and Blount counties are under a completely different script. The NWS issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Smokies earlier because they are actually getting the "good" snow. If you're planning a trip to Gatlinburg or want to see the peaks covered in white, this is your window. Just don't expect much of it to stick to the pavement in downtown Knoxville.
The Sunday Slump: Watching the Track
Sunday, January 18, is the day the local weather groups are obsessing over. There is a system moving up the Atlantic Coast, and the big question is how far west it’s going to "throw" moisture back into East Tennessee.
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Current data shows a high of 36°F and a low of 24°F.
The chance of precipitation is low—around 5% for now—but if that coastal system tracks even fifty miles closer to us, those "partly sunny" skies turn into "snow day" real fast. As of today, the experts are leaning toward a dry, cold Sunday, but keep an eye on the radar.
Early Next Week: The Deep Freeze Returns
If you thought 30°F was cold, wait until Monday and Tuesday. We’re moving into a very stable, very cold pattern.
Monday, January 19 (MLK Day), will be mostly sunny, but don't let the glare off the windshield fool you. The high is only hitting 38°F, and the low is plummeting to 17°F.
Tuesday, January 20, is even stingier.
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- High: 34°F
- Low: 17°F
- Humidity: 29% (Which means your skin is going to feel like parchment paper).
This is a classic "Canadian High" settling in. It’s dry, it’s crisp, and it’s going to stay that way until we get a bit of a recovery on Wednesday, January 21, when we finally climb back into the mid-40s.
What You Actually Need to Do
Most people check the weather just to see if they need an umbrella. This week, you need more than that.
First off, check your tire pressure. These 17-degree nights will cause your "low pressure" light to pop on faster than you can say "Market Square." It’s just physics.
Secondly, if you have outdoor pets, they need to be inside or have serious insulation. We’re hitting temperatures that are well below the "safe" threshold for most animals.
Finally, plan for the Friday night commute. That transition from a 46-degree afternoon to a 22-degree rainy night is the perfect recipe for black ice on the bridges over I-40.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Drip your faucets tonight and Monday night when lows hit the teens.
- Seal your windows with weather stripping today while the sun is out; that 17-mph wind will find every gap in your house by Saturday.
- Check the Sunday update on Friday evening, as that coastal system's track is the "X-factor" for potential snow.
Keep the salt handy, Knoxville. It's going to be a long, cold week.