textproduct: Morristown

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1233 PM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

- Slick road conditions may persist through Friday morning for northern portions of the area as cold temperatures continue.

- Snow accumulations above 2500 feet in SW VA and the E TN mountains from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued.

- Gusty west winds can be expected over the East TN mountains Friday afternoon through Saturday, and a Wind Advisory has been issued.

- Very cold Saturday and Saturday night, but warmer temperatures are expected next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1233 PM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

Cloud cover today has been persisting longer than the models indicated. Some counties continue to report icy conditions and travel problems as temperatures have been slow to rise. The situation won't improve through Friday morning as temperatures will drop into the upper teens and 20s tonight, and remain below freezing until mid to late morning on Friday. Cloud cover will be increasing as well Friday morning, so there won't be much sunshine to help the situation.

A shortwave trough in the NW flow aloft will cross the area Friday afternoon through Friday night. Falling temperatures aloft will generate scattered to numerous showers in SW VA and NE TN, starting as a rain/snow mix in lower elevations before a change to all snow by midnight. Higher elevations will have an all snow event, and the upslope NW 40 kt 850 mb winds will enhance lift for additional accumulation. NBM has trended upward with these snow amounts in the latest runs. A Winter Weather Advisory will be issued, for 1-4 inches mainly above 2500 ft. Some higher peaks could see greater amounts. With the strong NW flow winds, a Wind Advisory will also be issued for the East TN mountains as gusts of 40-50 mph are expected at times.

Behind the trough and surface cold front, temperatures on Saturday and Saturday night will be very cold in northern sections, with highs in the 20s and lows in the single digits in SW VA and the East TN mountains. Conditions will be close to a Cold Weather Advisory, but will let later shifts issue if needed.

A welcome warming trend is still on track for next week as a large ridge builds across the eastern Conus, with highs in the 60s for much of the area during the mid-week period. Low rain chances may return on Wednesday and Thursday.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 537 PM EST Thu Feb 5 2026

MVFR conditions will likely be in place for much of the period at TRI, although cigs may jump to VFR at least briefly at times tonight and/or early Friday. Light rain will also likely move in late at TRI. TYS and CHA will most likely see VFR conditions for the period. Winds will be light overnight, but then will become gusty from the west and southwest by Friday afternoon.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Chattanooga Airport, TN 29 59 31 44 / 0 0 0 0 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 24 49 26 35 / 0 20 10 0 Oak Ridge, TN 25 50 25 35 / 0 20 10 0 Tri Cities Airport, TN 21 39 19 28 / 0 80 60 10

MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NC...NONE. TN...Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Friday to 7 AM EST Saturday for Blount Smoky Mountains-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Johnson- Sevier Smoky Mountains-Southeast Carter-Southeast Greene- Unicoi.

Wind Advisory from 4 PM Friday to 7 PM EST Saturday for Blount Smoky Mountains-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Johnson-Sevier Smoky Mountains-Southeast Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast Monroe-Unicoi.

VA...Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Friday to 7 AM EST Saturday for Russell-Washington VA-Wise.