Sunny and mild ahead of First Alert Weather Days for bitter cold air by late week

Meteorologist Ben Cathey tracks a cold front to bring rain to some snow and bitter cold air by the end of the week.
Published: Dec. 20, 2022 at 3:28 PM EST|Updated: Dec. 20, 2022 at 10:10 PM EST
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Tomorrow is really the last nice day before the cold front arrives. The rain arrives Thursday with some snow and bitter cold air arriving by Friday morning which kicks off our WVLT First Alert Weather Days.

Join us on the WVLT First Alert Weather app for iPhone or Android, so you can stay informed on the go and in between newscasts. We share custom videos, plus you can choose to get messages from us on the latest conditions and forecast.

WHAT TO EXPECT

With a mostly clear tonight, temperatures drop to the upper 20s again, but more frost develops on a clear, calm, cold night.

Wednesday is mostly sunny to partly cloudy, with a few more clouds in the afternoon and evening. The high will inch up a little more to 51 degrees, with a light breeze. A few showers move in Wednesday night, and we’ll continue to see spotty to scattered rain Thursday.

LOOKING AHEAD

The main line of rain moves in late Thursday at an 80% coverage. Overnight, the freezing line creates a scattered change to light to moderate snowfall in our area but that quickly tapers off to spotty snowfall by the morning.

What is widespread is the Arctic air that moves in Friday and starts our First Alert Weather Days. Gusts increase 30 to 40 mph at times Friday and Saturday, and with highs in the teens Friday and then low 20s Saturday, that can make it feel like single digits to zero at times! The dangerously cold air continues at night, with lows in the single digits, which means it feels well below zero. It’s important to make sure everyone has a safe heat source, and try to protect outdoor pets, plus drip faucets on the exterior walls of your home in hopes they won’t freeze.

In your First Alert 8-day Planner, winds back off Saturday afternoon to evening, but we’re still dropping to 12 degrees by Christmas morning! Christmas Day is mostly sunny, with a high of only 28 degrees. Temperatures gradually climb back up next week.

Tuesday evening's First Alert 8-Day Planner
Tuesday evening's First Alert 8-Day Planner(WVLT)