Damaging Winds and High Wind in Tennessee, December 18 to 19, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1251 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1229 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

- Wind Advisory for strong mountain winds; meanwhile widespread
  showers, and isolated thunder in the south are expected this
  afternoon into early Friday morning.

- Colder temperatures behind a front on Friday, but rebound
  quickly over the weekend and remain mild next week with mainly
  dry conditions.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1229 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

So far, wind obs in the mountains have not been too impressive and
under Advisory criteria, with even Cove Mountian only touching 40
mph with the latest ob. The winds are expected to increase as we
go through the afternoon, as the NAM shows the 850 mb LLJ around
50 kt in the next few hours, and HREF probs of 40+ kt gusts rising
over a larger area across the mountains and foothills. Can't rule
out an isolated gust to 55 mph on some mountain peaks, but the
probability of reaching this high is low in the HREF. For the TN
Valley, we have had a surface inversion this morning that has been
preventing winds from reaching the ground at most spots. Looking
at the model soundings, that inversion lingers well into the
evening until the arrival of a line of showers. The timing of this
line appears to be between 03-07Z based on the CAMS. Stronger
portions of the line could bring winds aloft down to the surface,
with 40 to 50 mph gusts possible. There is some elevated CAPE
tonight, enough to warrant a mention of isolated thunderstorms,
but not enough for a widespread severe threat. The intensity of
the line will be diminishing as it moves from the Cumberland
Plateau through the TN Valley.

On the backside of the system early Friday morning, the potential
window for snow between the exiting moisture and building cold air
appears to close quickly behind the surface front. The upper
trough follows closely behind the front, and so dry air aloft builds
in rapidly and ends any precip chances by sunrise Friday morning.

Colder temperatures follow the strong cold front on Friday, with
highs in the 40s. Highs rebound back to the 50s for Saturday and
Sunday. A weak disturbance may bring some light rain Saturday
night into Sunday but with low probabilities of measureable
rainfall. High temps should be mostly in the 50s for next week.
There are some more weak disturbances shown in the models that
bring low rain chances next week, mainly Tuesday-Wednesday, but
these appear to have little to no impacts, if they happen at all.
The general pattern late in the week of a large ridge over TX/LA
will favor dry and mild conditions around Christmas.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1229 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

CHA is expected to have prevailing MVFR cigs through the rest of
the afternoon, with downslope winds at TYS and TRI maintaining VFR
cigs. A line of showers will spread across the area from west to
east from approximately 03-07Z ahead of a cold front. MVFR to IFR
conditions are expected with the showers, along with gusty winds.
The front will follow shortly after the line of showers, shifting
winds to west and lifting vis and cigs.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             36  50  29  58 /  90   0   0   0
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  36  45  27  58 / 100  10   0   0
Oak Ridge, TN                       33  45  26  55 /  90   0   0   0
Tri Cities Airport, TN              36  42  25  56 /  90  10   0   0

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...Wind Advisory until 4 AM EST Friday for Blount Smoky Mountains-
     Cocke Smoky Mountains-Johnson-Sevier Smoky Mountains-
     Southeast Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast Monroe-Unicoi.

VA...NONE.
&&

DISCUSSION...DGS
AVIATION...DGS

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1257 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-191800-
Cherokee-Clay-Scott TN-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins-
Sullivan-Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen-
Northwest Cocke-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene-
Southeast Greene-Washington TN-Unicoi-Northwest Carter-
Southeast Carter-Roane-Loudon-Knox-Jefferson-Northwest Blount-
Blount Smoky Mountains-North Sevier-Sevier Smoky Mountains-
Sequatchie-Bledsoe-Rhea-Meigs-McMinn-Northwest Monroe-
Southeast Monroe-Marion-Hamilton-Bradley-West Polk-East Polk-Lee-
Wise-Scott VA-Russell-Washington VA-
1257 PM EST Thu Dec 18 2025 /1157 AM CST Thu Dec 18 2025/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North
Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Strong gusty winds up to 55 mph will be possible in the East
Tennessee mountains and immediate foothills this afternoon into
tonight. A few spots in the northern Cumberland Plateau will
approach 40 mph gusts.

A line of showers will move across the area tonight. Stronger
portions of this line may be capable of producing 40-50 mph wind
gusts, which may blow down some weak trees and tree limbs.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not needed at this time.