Snow will move into the area later Friday evening and night (Jan. 6, 2017), and this map shows the current forecasted snowfall totals expected. Snowfall accumulations will be greatest along the Northern Plateau of East Tennessee and the Cumberland mountains of Southwest Virginia. With surface temperatures below freezing, snow will accumulate on untreated roads. This may result in in negative travel impacts to motorists. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)
Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 a.m. Jan. 6.
A few inches of snow are possible in the Knoxville area from Thursday through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.
The potential snowfall ranges from 1.7 inches in Norris to 3.0 inches in Knoxville from Friday to Saturday morning, the NWS said.
The forecast calls for a possible 2.2 inches in Kingston, 1.6 inches in Wartburg, 3.7 inches in Maryville, and 5 inches in Gatlinburg.
A winter weather advisory was in effect from 7 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday.
Then, a winter storm watch is in effect from 1 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
On Thursday, the National Weather Service said light snow accumulations were expected from late Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. The heaviest accumulations of a few inches are expected along the northern plateau and Cumberland Mountains of southwest Virginia.
Elsewhere in valley locations, light snowfall between one half of an inch to an inch is expected before tapering off sunrise Friday morning.
“With surface temperatures below freezing, snow will accumulate on untreated roads,” the National Weather Service said. “This my result in negative travel impacts to motorists, especially during the Friday morning commute.”
There were light snow flurries in Oak Ridge on Thursday evening, and a heavier snow fell Friday morning. On Friday, the City of Oak Ridge said the Public Works Department has pre-treated level one and two streets with brine. (You can read the city’s Winter Weather Plan here: http://bit.ly/2i08Xtf.)
The Tennessee Department of Transportation spread brine on Pellissippi Parkway on Thursday.
Anderson County government offices closed at 10 a.m. Friday because of the weather. Anderson County Schools were closed Friday due to the weather.
Oak Ridge Schools said it has staff closely monitoring the weather and the roads. If a decision is made to dismiss early, a notification will be posted on Twitter and through Skylert.
Roane County Schools will dismiss students at 1 p.m. Friday.
“However, you may pick your child up at any time, and it will not affect attendance or exam exemptions,” Roane County Schools said. “Buses will run, and schools will be serving lunch. Please use caution when traveling.”
Friday morning, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said some roadways in Anderson County were becoming snow-covered.
“We are expecting up to one inch with this first band of snow moving through into the afternoon,” the Sheriff’s Department said. “Please note that this system is not part of the stronger system that is expected to move into the area tonight (Friday night). We will post more information when it becomes available. If you are traveling today, please use caution on snow-covered roads and allow yourself extra time.”
The Sheriff’s Department said it has upgraded to a level one snow plan.
“Deputies will be changing to four-wheel-drive vehicles and will continue to answer calls as normal,” the Sheriff’s Department said. “Motorist involved in single-vehicle non-injury crashes where the vehicle is not in the roadway are asked to contact their insurance company and file a report at a later date.”
On Thursday, the National Weather Service said another more significant winter storm may bring widespread heavy snowfall to the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. It’s expected to bring heavy snowfall to mountains in East Tennessee and western North Carolina, and possibly to parts of the Eastern Tennessee valley and southwest Virginia.
“In the mountains, four to eight inches with higher amounts along the peaks will be common,” the National Weather Service said Thursday. “A potential of two to five inches is expected, with the potential for more (if) the track deviates farther to the west.”
With the subfreezing temperatures, the potential for light snow to quickly accumulate by the evening rush hour commute on Friday is a real possibility.
“Given the subfreezing temperatures, roads and surfaces will be primed for snowfall accumulations, and any road surface that is untreated will become treacherous overnight,” forecasters said.
Among other counties, the winter weather advisory applies to Anderson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, and Union counties, and affected cities include Clinton, Knoxville, Lenoir City, Maryville, Sevierville, and Oak Ridge.
Here is the forecast for Oak Ridge through Monday, as of Thursday, courtesy of the National Weather Service:
- Thursday night—Snow showers likely, mainly between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
- Friday—A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 10 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 30. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday night—A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 18. North wind around 10 mph.
- Saturday—Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 30. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday night—Mostly clear, with a low around 11. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
- Sunday—Sunny, with a high near 32.
- Sunday night—Partly cloudy, with a low around 15.
- Monday—Sunny, with a high near 40.
See the seven-day forecast for Oak Ridge here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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