Good morning and happy Friday, East Tennessee!
Happy Friday, folks! As your local meteorologist, I’m dropping the latest weather update for Friday, July 18, 2025.—right now!
And wow, it’s another steamy one! We kicked off the morning with warmer temps than even yesterday, and yesterday was already toasty. The heat and humidity are sticking around all day, so let’s break it down. This easy-to-grab blog dives deep into today’s forecast for Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the Great Smoky Mountains, then looks ahead to the weekend and beyond—so let’s get into it!
Today, Friday: A Steamy Start with Hot Afternoon Storms
We’re starting off with morning temps in the 70s—warmer than yesterday’s already warm start—paired with dew points in the 70s, making it feel thick and muggy right out of the gate. By lunchtime, expect temps to climb into the mid to upper 80s, with afternoon highs settling in the low 90s. But here’s the kicker—it’s that heat index that’ll get you, pushing close to 100°F again. That sticky air will make it feel like a sauna, so take it easy, stay hydrated, and find some shade. On the rain front, today should bring a little better coverage of showers and storms—great news since we need the moisture! We’ve got high pressure parked across the southeastern U.S., pumping in that fuel for the day. At the surface, a stalled boundary is draped over the Ohio Valley and Kentucky, giving us a focus for more storms. In the mid-levels, energy is riding over that front to our north, setting the stage. While we’ll see some action, the best coverage will be to our north, though spots south of there aren’t off the hook. The Storm Prediction Center has flagged a Level 1 risk for damaging wind gusts—very isolated, but some storms could turn strong to severe. Rainfall will be heavy but patchy, so not everyone will get soaked. If you’ve had rain the past 2-3 days and get more today, watch for localized flash flooding. Stay on top of it all with the eastTNweather app—download it now at https://onelink.to/easttnweather for real-time updates!
The Rest of the Story: Weekend and Beyond
Looking ahead, Saturday and Sunday will echo today’s vibe. We’ll keep those elevated rain chances, with locally heavy rainfall that could spark localized flash flooding concerns. It’s not a reason to cancel outdoor plans, but definitely stay weather-aware—keep the eastTNweather app handy to track what’s coming. The pattern holds with that stalled boundary and Gulf moisture feeding into our area, so expect a mix of sun and storms, though no washout is in sight.
Next week, a ridge starts building in, cranking up the heat and humidity even more. That means the heat index could edge close to Heat Advisory criteria, hitting around 105°F—yikes! While we’ll still have a chance for afternoon storms, they’ll be more isolated, with the best spots along the Cumberland Plateau and the Smoky Mountains. No major storm systems are on the horizon, so it’ll be a typical summer routine of heat with scattered showers. The Climate Prediction Center backs this up, hinting at sustained warmth with average to slightly above-average rainfall—classic July in the Southeast!
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE 7 DAY FORECAST
Extended Outlook: More Heat, Average Rain Chances
Beyond the 7-day forecast, the pattern looks to hold steady with above-average heat and near-normal rain chancesaccording to the latest guidance from the Weather Prediction Center. So we may not get a ton of relief from the heat anytime soon — but at least we’re not trending bone-dry.
Why This Weather’s Happening
That steamy start comes from high dew points and that stubborn high pressure over the Southeast, locking in the humidity. The stalled boundary to our north and mid-level energy are teaming up to spark those afternoon storms, with heavy rain possible in spots. The building ridge next week will amp up the heat, keeping us in that summer groove. For Knoxville locals, Chattanooga outdoor fans, and Smoky Mountain visitors, this helps you plan and stay safe.
Your Weather Authority: The eastTNweather App
The eastTNweather app is your go-to for East Tennessee weather. Launched in October 2023 after 20 years at WBIR, it delivers three daily video forecasts, a live morning chat, and updates on MikeWitcherTV and ETNWeather. Free on Roku, Amazon Fire, eastTNweather.com, and the app, it’s a lifesaver with Interactive Radar showing past, current, and future weather. Download it now at !
Stay Connected with eastTNweather
I’m here to keep you in the know and safe. Pop over to eastTNweather.com, grab the app, or follow me on social media for the latest on today’s steam and the week’s forecast. Have a great Friday, enjoy your weekend, and check back in—let’s roll with this summer weather together!
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Meteorologist Mike Witcher
eastTNweather – Weather When You Want It