Image by National Weather Service in Morristown
A few inches of rain are possible starting Monday in areas hardest hit by the drought, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.
That would be a reversal of a months-long trend as a drought persists in the Southeast. The Knoxville area hasn’t had more than one inch of rain in more than four months, or 142 days, the National Weather Service said. The last time Knoxville had more than one inch of rain was July 5.
The Weather Service said a slow-moving upper-level storm system will start affecting the region during the early to middle part of next week.
“Good chances for some beneficial rains will exist late Monday through Wednesday evening,” forecasters said.
There could be a widespread rainfall total of between two to three inches over the areas hardest hit by the drought, forecasters said. There could be more rain along the mountains, the National Weather Service said.
It’s not clear if that would be enough to help firefighters, who have been battling between about 50 to 90 fires across Tennessee this month. They’ve said the previous light rains haven’t helped. But the last rainfall, on Wednesday night, was less than about 0.1 inches in East Tennessee, much less than the few inches possible in this forecast.
The current rainfall totals that are forecast from Monday through Wednesday show 1.5 to 2 inches are possible in Anderson, Knox, Loudon, and Roane counties, and most of Morgan County.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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