KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Cold temperatures are forecast to linger in East Tennessee for the next few days, with high temperatures hovering in the lower to mid-30s and lows in the teens. At the end of the week Friday, there’s a chance snow could move into our region and accumulate — creating hazardous travel conditions.
Low pressure will move along the northern Gulf Coast this week, drawing moisture northward into the cold air situated across the Tennessee Valley and accumulating snow is expected from Friday into Saturday. With cold air already in place in East Tennessee, ground temperatures will be cold enough for the wintry weather to stick, causing concerns on the roads.
The snow will spread across our area from southwest to northeast Friday morning into the afternoon. Once the snow begins, it is expected to continue through the rest of the day Friday and last overnight into early Saturday morning, gradually tapering off from west to east.
Once the snow arrives, roads will quickly become slick and snow-covered. Cold ground temperatures will allow the snow to stick to the pavement, especially on untreated and secondary roads. Travel is discouraged from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning, if possible.
Because of the orientation and placement of this low pressure system, snowfall totals will generally be pretty uniform across the area. Please remember that these numbers may change leading up to the event so check back for updates!
As of now, we expect at least 2″-4″ of snow across most of East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky, with some locations seeing closer to 6″ of snow. Regardless of the amounts, this snow will be impactful due to the cold ground allowing this wintry weather to cause travel impacts.
Ahead of Friday, people should prepare for cold weather and expected travel impacts on Friday and Saturday. That includes insulating pipes to prevent any from freezing and bursting, as well as preparing cars for cold temperatures and winter weather. People should also always have an emergency kit prepared with ways to stay warm, in case the wintry weather results in power outages.
People should also be aware that with several days between now and Friday — there is a chance for some of the details to change.
This story will continue to be updated as the anticipated system gets closer.
