Knoxville, Tennessee – Residents across eastern and central Tennessee could see renewed winter travel concerns as a late-January pattern increases the likelihood of accumulating snow from the Appalachian foothills into the Cumberland Plateau and Mid-State.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, eastern and central Tennessee are included in a slight risk for heavy snow from Saturday through the following Friday, signaling a higher chance for one or more organized winter systems during that timeframe. The risk is greatest away from the immediate southern valley floors, where colder air is more likely to hold.
In East Tennessee, including Knoxville and surrounding Knox and Blount counties, below-normal temperatures increase confidence that precipitation falls mainly as snow, particularly during overnight and early morning hours. That could lead to slick stretches along Interstate 40, Interstate 75, and key mountain routes.
Across the Cumberland Plateau, including Cookeville and Crossville, elevation-driven enhancement may allow snow to accumulate more efficiently, increasing travel hazards on U.S. Route 127 and Interstate 40. Farther west in central Tennessee, including Nashville, colder air lingering in place could support snow impacts on Interstates 24, 40, and 65 during heavier bursts.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation urges residents to monitor road conditions, limit non-essential travel during snow, and prepare vehicles with winter safety supplies. With colder air expected to persist, any snow that falls may linger between systems.
More detailed timing and potential winter weather advisories are expected as the late-January window approaches, with clearer impacts emerging by early next week.
