Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Knoxville/Tri Cities, TN
Issued by NWS Knoxville/Tri Cities, TN
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424 FXUS64 KMRX 121101 AFDMRX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Morristown TN 701 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 656 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026 - Showers and storms will be more widespread today. Locally heavy rainfall is the main threat due to elevated PW values of around 2 inches. Then showers and storms become more isolated on Sunday. - Early next week will be dry with rain chances returning to the higher elevations by midweek. - Above normal temperatures expected through the forecast period. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 237 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026 Widespread showers and storms are expected today as a shortwave moves into the Tennessee Valley. A stationary boundary is currently over East and Middle Tennessee and will be lingering over the region or nearby today. Deep layer moisture advection is likely today with high pressure over the Atlantic bringing southerly surface winds and a trough to the west bringing higher level moisture from the Gulf. NBM has high rain chances today with scattered showers and storms starting in the morning hours and becoming widespread and numerous by early afternoon. CAMs have more isolated activity in the morning hours becoming scattered to numerous in the afternoon. A few strong to severe storms will be possible this afternoon with good instability around 2000-2500 J/kg. With weak shear and high freezing levels the primary threat will be gusty winds. With good moisture advection, Pwat values will be elevated around 2 inches so heavy downpours will be likely at times that may cause some isolated flooding. Steering flow around 10-15 knots should help keep showers and storms moving, so overall the flooding threat is low. By Sunday, the shortwave has moved east and a weak ridge builds into the Lower Mississippi Valley. Therefore, showers and storms will be more isolated on Sunday lingering to the east and northeast near the mountains. Showers may end completely by early or mid afternoon. Early next week, a ridge will be over the Southeast. Monday looks dry with low chances of showers and storms returning Tuesday and Wednesday in and near the east Tennessee mountains. Tennessee Valley locations will remain dry. Thursday and Friday rain chances will be isolated in the Tennessee Valley and maybe scattered in and near the terrain. Afternoon highs will be above normal throughout the forecast period with mainly upper 80s expected near Tri-Cities and lower 90s for Knoxville and Chattanooga areas, generally about 7 to 10 degrees above normal. Today, Chattanooga broke the record for consecutive days with a high temp of 90 or greater at 39 days. The streak may be broken today with the forecast at 89 for Chattanooga since convection may begin in the morning hours. If the timing ends up later or coverage is not as widespread as expected, the streak may continue. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 656 AM EDT Sat Sep 12 2026 MVFR ceilings have taken over at CHA and are now anticipated at TYS in the coming hours as well. They were left out of TRI for the time being but still possible. Improvements back to VFR are anticipated by late morning or early afternoon. Also, rain coverage will increase area-wide with potential reductions back to MVFR possible at all sites. Winds will be generally from the southwest at 10 kts or less. Rain will then gradually decrease through the evening with potential for fog at places that receive rain. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Chattanooga Airport, TN 89 71 93 70 / 60 20 0 0 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 86 69 90 68 / 60 30 10 0 Oak Ridge, TN 85 68 90 67 / 70 20 0 0 Tri Cities Airport, TN 85 66 85 64 / 80 60 30 0 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ DISCUSSION...McD AVIATION...BW