Right now, if you step outside in Strawberry Plains, you're going to feel a bite. It’s currently 27°F, but with the wind moving in from the southwest, it actually feels like 21°F.
Honestly, that’s just January in East Tennessee for you.
People think the South is all sunshine and sweet tea year-round, but Strawberry Plains has a way of keeping you on your toes. We're sitting at an average elevation of about 978 feet, tucked right into that sweet spot where the Great Valley meets the foothills. That geography does weird things to the clouds.
The Current State of Weather for Strawberry Plains TN
Tonight is crisp and clear. No snow is falling yet, though the humidity is hanging around 62%. If you’re looking at the week ahead, Sunday, January 18, is looking like a bright one with a high of 36°F, but don’t let the sun fool you into leaving your coat at home.
The wind is picking up.
By Monday, we’re looking at gusts hitting 13 mph from the west. The real story, though, is the temperature drop. We’re headed for a low of 15°F Monday night. That is "pipes-freezing" territory, especially if you live in one of the older farmhouses closer to the Holston River.
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What the Next 10 Days Look Like
If you've got plans, keep an eye on next weekend.
- Tuesday (Jan 20): Sunny, high of 33°F, low of 15°F.
- Wednesday (Jan 21): Clouds move in, warming up to 46°F.
- Saturday (Jan 24): This is the one to watch. There’s a 75% chance of snow overnight with a low of 27°F.
Basically, we're transitioning from "dry cold" to "messy cold."
Why Our Weather Is So Moody
You've probably noticed that the weather for Strawberry Plains TN doesn't always match what’s happening in Knoxville or Jefferson City, even though they’re just a stone's throw away.
That’s the mountain effect.
The Appalachian range to our east acts like a giant wall. Sometimes it traps the cold air in the valley—a fun little phenomenon called cold-air damming—and other times it leaves us bone dry while the mountains get hammered with snow.
In the summer, it’s the opposite. The humidity settles in the low spots near the river and just... sits. It gets "soupy." July highs usually hit around 89°F, but with that Tennessee humidity, it feels more like you’re walking through a wet wool blanket.
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Dealing with the Extremes
We get a lot of rain here—about 44 inches a year on average.
Most of that hits in the spring. March is historically our wettest month, which is why the local flood risk is actually rated quite high in certain zones. If you’re near the 500-year flood plain, you already know the drill.
Severe storms are the bigger threat. Since 1980, Tennessee has seen dozens of billion-dollar weather disasters, mostly from severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. In Strawberry Plains, we’re often in that corridor where warm Gulf air slams into the colder northern fronts.
It makes for some spectacular—and slightly terrifying—lightning shows.
Survival Tips for the Strawberry Plains Climate
- Watch the West Wind: When the wind kicks up from the west like it's doing this week, the "feels like" temperature drops way faster than the thermometer suggests.
- Drip the Faucets: When we hit that 14°F or 15°F low (like we're seeing in the 10-day forecast), those old crawl spaces aren't enough protection for your plumbing.
- The Snow Probability: We have a 70% to 75% chance of snow coming next Saturday and Sunday. In this town, that usually means the grocery store will be out of bread and milk by Thursday. Beat the rush.
- Allergy Check: Even in January, the tree pollen can start creeping up if we get a few warm days. Keep the antihistamines ready for those random 50°F spikes.
The weather for Strawberry Plains TN is never just one thing. It’s a mix of valley fog, mountain winds, and the occasional blast of Arctic air that reminds us we aren't in the Deep South just yet.
Stay warm out there tonight. That 21°F wind chill isn't joking around.
Next Steps for You:
Check your outdoor spigots today before the temperature drops to 15°F tomorrow night. If you're planning to travel next Saturday, January 24, keep a close watch on the 75% snow forecast for the evening as it may impact road conditions on Hwy 11E.