Good morning, East Tennessee! We’re waking up to a damp start across the region, with morning showers and mild temperatures in the 50s and 60s to kick off this Tuesday. But don’t let the gray skies fool you—sunshine is on the way, and big changes are in store for our weather pattern as we head toward the Easter holiday weekend.
As the morning showers move out, the sun will break through, helping to dry things out quickly. But that’s not the only change you’ll notice—today will also turn quite breezy. As a strong pressure gradient tightens over the region, expect westerly winds around 5 to 15 mph, with gusts reaching 30 mph or higher, especially in the higher elevations of the Smokies and foothill communities of East Tennessee. This gusty setup will make it feel a bit chillier than what we’ve been used to recently.
High temperatures today will top out in the low to mid 60s, making for a day that’s nearly 15 degrees cooler than what we saw earlier this week. If you’re in Knoxville, expect highs around 64 degrees by the afternoon. Those living in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge will stay a bit cooler due to elevation and gustier winds. In Chattanooga, you’ll feel the breeze too, but temperatures could be slightly warmer, closer to the upper 60s.
As we move into Wednesday, the cooler weather sticks around. We’ll stay dry and sunny, with highs again in the mid 60s. Wednesday morning lows will dip into the upper 30s and low 40s in some areas, so be ready for a crisp start.
By Friday, seasonal weather returns. Highs will climb into the low 70s across East Tennessee, with plenty of sunshine and calm conditions. As we head into Easter weekend, a ridge of high pressure builds over the region, bringing back a taste of summer. Temperatures will soar to the upper 70s and low 80s on Saturday and Sunday. This warm-up will be felt across the board—from Crossville on the Cumberland Plateau to Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, and Knoxville.
I’m keeping an eye on a stalled frontal boundary to our northwest that may try to dip into our region. If it does, it could bring a few isolated showers, especially across the Northern Valley and the Cumberland Plateau. However, at this time, most of East Tennessee should remain partly cloudy and dry, making for a fantastic weekend to enjoy outdoor plans, including Easter egg hunts and sunrise services.
Looking beyond the 7-day forecast, the Climate Prediction Center is calling for a warmer-than-average pattern for East Tennessee through the next few weeks. Along with that warmth, we may also see slightly above-average rainfall chances developing later in the month. This suggests we could shift into a more active weather pattern as we move deeper into spring.
As always, stay up to date with your local forecast by checking in with Mike Witcher and eastTNweather—your 24/7 trusted weather platform for all of East Tennessee. Whether you’re in Knoxville, Chattanooga, The Great Smoky Mountains, or the Tri-Cities, we’ve got your forecast covered on Roku TV, Amazon Fire, the eastTNweather app, our website at easttnweather.com, and across social media.
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Happy Easter Week, and enjoy the sunshine ahead!
