Published: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
By Meteorologist Mike Witcher | eastTNweather
If you liked Monday’s weather, you’re going to like today.
We’re looking at another warm but comfortable late-summer day with plenty of sunshine, relatively low humidity and temperatures generally in the low to upper 80s. A few spots across the Southern Valley could sneak into the lower 90s.
But there are some changes coming.
☀️ TUESDAY: Another Beautiful Day
We’re starting in the 50s and 60s across much of East Tennessee with some patchy fog around the region.
Once that burns away, expect plenty of sunshine.
Highs today:
- Northern Plateau: Low to mid 80s
- Central Valley: Mid to upper 80s
- Southern Valley: Upper 80s to lower 90s
Humidity remains manageable, so despite the warmer temperatures, we’re not dealing with much of a heat index outside of the Southern Valley.
If you’ve got practices, ball games, a walk around the neighborhood or plans on the lake tonight — you’re in great shape.
We’ll be around 82° by 7 PM with plenty of sunshine.
🌧️ Wednesday Forecast Has Changed
Here’s one of the bigger changes from yesterday’s forecast.
Some earlier model guidance suggested we could see better rain chances developing Wednesday.
That’s looking less likely now.
I’ve been telling you that model guidance is exactly that — guidance, not gospel.
As more data has come in, the overall trend favors a mostly dry Wednesday with only a few scattered showers possible.
So Wednesday is looking better!
⛈️ Thursday Is Now the Day to Watch
Our next cold front approaches East Tennessee Thursday, accompanied by an upper-level disturbance and increasing moisture.
That should give us our best coverage of showers and thunderstorms this week.
We could also have enough instability for a few stronger thunderstorms.
As of this morning, the Storm Prediction Center has not placed East Tennessee under an organized severe-weather risk, but that’s something I’ll continue watching as we get closer.
The bigger story may simply be:
Scattered storms + locally heavy downpours.
There’s going to be considerably more moisture available in the atmosphere by Thursday, so any stronger storm could put down a lot of rain in a short period of time.
🌡️ The Humidity Comes Back
Unfortunately, our stretch of really comfortable air doesn’t last forever.
Dew points begin climbing Wednesday and should remain in the upper 60s and lower 70s through much of the weekend.
Translation?
The air you can wear is coming back.
Temperatures also begin climbing again.
By Sunday and Monday, we’re looking at highs approaching the upper 80s and lower 90s, with heat index values potentially climbing into the mid and upper 90s — perhaps near 100° in a few locations.
So enjoy today’s comfortable air while we’ve got it!
🚤 Lake Forecast
If you’re trying to squeeze in some late-summer lake time:
TODAY: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Fantastic
WEDNESDAY: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Mostly good; isolated shower possible
THURSDAY: ⭐⭐ — Scattered storms; keep an eye on radar
FRIDAY: ⭐⭐⭐ — Some lingering shower chances
WEEKEND: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Lower rain chances, but hotter and more humid
And remember: don’t cancel outdoor plans simply because you see a rain percentage.
Timing, coverage, duration and intensity matter.
Use the interactive radar in the FREE eastTNweather app to navigate around anything that develops.
I’m meteorologist Mike Witcher.
Thanks for helping us continue to build East Tennessee’s all-digital, all-weather platform.
eastTNweather — Weather When You Want It.
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