KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — For those who are ready for cooler temperatures and apple cider, fall is fast approaching. However, a drought in the area is expected to delay peak fall foliage in East Tennessee.
Storm Team 6 chief meteorologist Ken Weathers explained that the drought has grown quickly over the past six weeks with a large portion of the region from the Southern Plateau to the Southern Valley now in “severe drought” conditions, while most from along and south of the I-40 corridor now in “moderate drought” conditions. The only areas not in any type of drought are the counties along the Tennessee/Kentucky border.
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Knoxville saw well below half of what the average is for the past 30 days, with places like Loudon, Kingston, Oak Ridge Wartburg and Pikeville seeing around 20% to less than 30% of the average over the last 30 days.
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The drought has grown quickly over the past month and a half due to this dry stretch with a large portion of the region from the Southern Plateau to the Southern Valley now in “Severe Drought” conditions, while most from along and south of the I-40 corridor now in “Moderate Drought” conditions. -
This map explains more of the reason why so many areas are dry as this shows the percentage of average rainfall over the past 30 days. This means places like Loudon, Kingston, Oak Ridge Wartburg and Pikeville have only seen around 20% to less than 30% of what is average over the last 30 days. Knoxville has had well below half of what our average is for the past 30 days.
