Good morning, East Tennessee! It’s Thursday, July 31, 2025, and as your local meteorologist, I’m rolling out the latest weather update—right now!
Happy Friday-Eve!
It’s going to be another hot day today, but relief is on the way, just in time for the weekend and the first days of August. Oh, it’s the last day of July—wow, this summer is flying by! This easy-to-grab blog dives deep into today’s forecast for Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the Great Smoky Mountains, then lays out the rest of the story in detail—so let’s jump in and get ready!
Today, Thursday: A Warm Start with More Heat and Incoming Storms
We started the day off with patchy dense fog, especially where we had some heavy rainfall on Wednesday—that’s where the fog is thickest, so drive carefully if you’re out early. Temps kicked off in the 70s, giving us a warm and muggy start to the day, and that trend will hold as the sun climbs. By now, around 9:52 AM EDT, we’re already nearing the mid-80s, and by lunchtime, expect temps to push into the upper 80s. Afternoon highs will top out in the low 90s, with that heat index creeping close to 100°F—hot, but not quite Heat Advisory level, which is good news to pass along. It’s still a scorcher, though, so stay hydrated, seek shade, and slap on sunscreen, as the UV Index could hit 9-10, risking a sunburn in 15-20 minutes without protection. The big story today is a cold front sliding in, sparking off showers and storms this afternoon and evening. These could bring heavy rain and flash flooding with torrential downpours, so keep that in mind as you hit the road. Track them with the eastTNweather app’s Interactive Radar, showing past, current, and future views—download it now to stay safe!
The Rest of the Story: Friday through Sunday
Looking ahead, Friday, August 1, will feel the shift as that cold front moves through. Highs will dip to the upper 80s, and with drier air settling in behind the front, the heat index will drop to a more comfortable 90-95°F—finally, some relief! We might see a few lingering showers or storms early in the day, but they should taper off quickly. The weekend—Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3—will be even better. Lows will dip into the 60s overnight, and highs will settle in the mid-80s, well below our average for early August. That drier air will make it feel fantastic, with the heat index staying around 85-90°F—perfect for outdoor plans. There’s a chance for a few pop-up storms, but I wouldn’t anticipate much at this point, so it’s looking like a mostly dry and enjoyable weekend.
The Rest of the Forecast: Next Week and Beyond
Next week, we’ll continue to enjoy this cooler, more comfortable pattern, with highs staying in the 80s and lows dipping into the 60s—right at or below average for this time of year. The drier air will persist, keeping humidity in check and the heat index manageable, likely around 90-95°F. We’ll still have a few pop-up storms, especially in the afternoons, as summer heat triggers some lift, particularly along the Cumberland Plateau and Smoky Mountains. The Climate Prediction Center suggests this below-average trend could hold for the next 7-10 days, with rainfall tapering off after the front’s initial push but remaining near average overall.
Looking toward mid-August, the pattern should settle into a typical late-summer rhythm. Highs will likely creep back toward the upper 80s to low 90s, with heat index values hovering around 95-98°F as humidity starts to creep up. Afternoon storms will become more frequent, driven by daytime heating and passing disturbances, offering a balanced mix of sun and rain. No major heat waves are on the horizon, and the recent cold front’s influence should prevent a return to excessive heat for now. The weather should feel pleasant, with occasional showers keeping things green. For Knoxville locals, Chattanooga outdoor fans, and Smoky Mountain visitors, this means enduring today’s heat, then enjoying a refreshing weekend and a mild week ahead.
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE 7 DAY FORECAST
Why This Weather is Happening
That warm, muggy start and lingering heat come from a ridge of high pressure that’s been trapping warm air, driving today’s highs close to 90°F. The cold front sliding in today will break that pattern, bringing rain and relief by pulling in cooler, drier air from the northwest. It’s a classic summer transition—hot now, but a welcome change is coming. Stay alert!
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, its Interactive Radar gives you a two-hour window of past, current, and future weather—perfect for tracking today’s storms. Download it today!
Stay Connected with eastTNweather Every Day
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 heat and the week’s forecast. Have a great Friday-Eve, beat the heat, and check back in—let’s make this last day of July a good one together!