KNOXVILLE—Commuters and early risers found themselves in a fog this morning as a Dense Fog Advisory blanketed swathes of the Southeast. The National Weather Service in Morristown issued the advisory, which remains in effect until 10 a.m. EDT, after visibility was reduced to a quarter mile or less. This foggy curtain descended upon parts of southwest North Carolina, East Tennessee, and southwest Virginia, as reported by the NWS.
The challenge of navigating through dense fog is significant, especially for drivers venturing out in the murky morning hours. The NWS warned in a statement that, despite its brevity, drivers should slow down, use headlights, and maintain ample distance from other vehicles. Whether traveling by foot or wheels, the advisory emphasizes caution until the fog lifts and normal visibility resumes. The NWS alert didn't mince words about the expected visibility challenges for travelers, urging extra caution and reduced speeds during these opaque hours.
The NWS outlook beyond today's mist doesn't predict further weather woes. The chance of hazardous conditions is low from Thursday through Tuesday, suggesting this pea-souper may be the week's main event. After the fog clears, Knoxville should expect gradually sunny skies with temperatures climbing to a high near 81 degrees by afternoon.
Looking ahead, the forecast turns from tame to turbulent with a chance of showers and thunderstorms rolling in from tomorrow night through the weekend. "A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm," states the NWS, gearing up folks for a classic spring showdown of atmospheric instability. Come Friday, those probabilities ratchet up to a 50% chance of rain, increasing to 70% into the night.
Citizens might want to keep the umbrella close by, as the weekend promises similar forecasts of showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, with a serene—and deceptive—high near 79 on Saturday. Going into next week, the pattern of potential precipitation sticks around, mixing sunny breaks with stormy interludes.
