The severe weather risk for East Tennessee has been upgraded to “enhanced,” which means residents could face more persistent and widespread bad weather, as well as a few intense storms, starting this afternoon.
“Severe weather and flash flooding are expected across the region this afternoon and tonight,” The National Weather Service’s Morristown office posted. “The risk of flash flooding has also been on the increase, and a Flood watch has been issued.”
The Morristown office posted weather maps that show much of the region as far east as Johnson City under a 30-44% chance of severe wind, over 58 mph. Knoxville faces a similar probability of severe hail of more than an inch in diameter.
The likelihood of a tornado in the area, meanwhile, is rated at 5-9% as of this morning.
What is the timing of the storms in Knoxville and East Tennessee?
The most severe weather is expected to hit as early as 1 p.m. in Sunbright (which was hit by serious tornado damage in April) and LaFollette, with a 2 p.m. start to the south of that in a swath from Kingston to Kingsport.