textproduct: Morristown

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 638 PM EST Thu Jan 15 2026

- A few flurries, and maybe a stray snow shower, will continue through this afternoon. No impacts expected.

- Bitter Wind Chills the rest of the day and into tonight with values teens across the valley and single digits to below zero in the east TN mountains.

- Another chance for rain and/or snow showers returns Friday night into Saturday, especially over the higher elevations. Light accumulations possible.

- Cold and mostly dry conditions will return Sunday into early next week, with warmer temperatures Wednesday and Thursday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1238 PM EST Thu Jan 15 2026

A very shallow cloud deck at around 4 to 5K feet remains across the area but with dry air at the surface. A few flurries are managing to work there way down to the surface prior to evaporation. Isolated flurries, and perhaps a stray snow shower, will continue through this afternoon. Drier air moves in this evening and all wintery activity ceases. Very cold Chills we be in place through the rest of today and overnight, with values from the single digits to teens. Please be well prepared if you plan to spend time outdoors, even then it's best to limit any time spent outdoors as hypothermia is a real concern. Overnight lows will range from the lower teens north of I-40, and upper teens south of 40, with single digit temps in the east TN mountains.

We see a rebound in temps on Friday as southerly flow returns ahead of our next system. Near normal highs are expected but with increasing clouds through the day. Then, increasing POPs by mid to late afternoon as a strong shortwave begins to move into the area. Precip is expected to begin as all rain across valley locations, with a rain/snow mix developing Friday night along and north of I- 40. All rain expected across the southern TN valley. Minor snow accumulations less than half an inch are possible across the Cumberland Plateau, northeast TN, and the lower elevations of southwest VA.

For the east TN mountains, precip may begin as snow Friday afternoon, and remain snow, but only at our highest elevations (above 5000 to 6000 feet). At these elevations, a few inches of snow are possible. Latest HREF probs show around 70 to 80% probs for at least 1 inch of snow at these highest elevations. The chance for 3 inches drops down to around 40%. Again, only above 5000 feet. Elevations from 3000 to 5000 feet across the east TN and southwest VA mountains, have low to moderate probs to see 1 to 2 inches.

Precip moves out Saturday and colder air moves in on Sunday behind the cold front. Sunday through Tuesday will be dry with well below normal temperatures with highs mostly in the 30s. Low temps will range from teens Sunday night, to near single digits on Monday night, back to teens on Tuesday night.

Temperatures then moderate for Wednesday and Thursday as high pressure returns to the area, along with slight chances for precip by Thursday.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 638 PM EST Thu Jan 15 2026

VFR can be expected with lighter winds or calm conditions overnight and higher CIG height. Flow turns primarily out of the southwest for Friday, with possible gusts at CHA and TYS.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Chattanooga Airport, TN 21 51 35 47 / 0 10 70 10 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 18 48 36 45 / 10 20 80 10 Oak Ridge, TN 18 46 33 44 / 10 20 80 10 Tri Cities Airport, TN 15 44 31 43 / 0 10 70 30

MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE.