Another round of wintry weather could impact Greene County and the rest of East Tennessee this weekend, though significant uncertainty remains about how the system will develop and how far west it may reach.
Unlike last week’s winter storm that stretched from Texas to Maine, this system is expected to develop along the East Coast. Early forecasts show Greene County currently has about a 75% chance of receiving more than two inches of snow. The highest forecast is for up to 4″ of snow between midday Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Forecasters say the storm is expected to form over the Atlantic Ocean and could intensify rapidly into what is known as a bomb cyclone, a powerful storm system that strengthens quickly. If that occurs, it could evolve into a nor’easter capable of producing several inches of snow from the Carolinas to New England.
The western edge of the storm may extend into the Tennessee Valley and portions of Virginia and West Virginia. Snow could begin developing Friday afternoon, with the greatest snowfall potential expected to remain east of Knoxville. Significant accumulation is possible in the mountains, with accumulating snow also possible across parts of East Tennessee.
As the weekend approaches, forecasters expect to have a clearer picture of the storm’s exact track and potential impacts.
Regardless of snowfall amounts, very cold conditions are expected. An arctic air mass moving into the region is forecast to bring dangerous wind chills near or below zero Saturday and Sunday, with wind chills ranging from 10 to 20 degrees below zero in the higher elevations. Overnight low temperatures this weekend are expected to fall into the single digits.
Residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as details become clearer in the coming days.
