With a low-pressure system moving in from the northwest and Hurricane Joaquin preparing to make landfall on the eastern coast, forecasters are calling for a wet and cold weekend in Northeast Tennessee.
Meteorologist Andrew Pritchett, with the National Weather Service office in Morristown, said the low-pressure system will mix with the tropical moisture and rain bands that will move inland from the hurricane’s landfall.
“It’s going to be a wet forecast,” Pritchett said. “As far as exact amounts, we don’t have definite predictions yet because we are still watching these systems develop.”
Through Saturday and into Sunday rainfall totals of 3-5 inches can be expected in Carter County with some localized amounts as high as 6-7 inches not being out of the question, he said.
One thing that is certain, he said, is that northeast Tennessee is in for a heavy rainfall this weekend.
“Along the mountains of northeast Tennessee, southwest Virginia and western North Carolina are under warnings,” Pritchett said. “That may be the area that receive the brunt of the rainfall.”
The forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of rain tonight and an 80 percent chance of rain through the day on Saturday. On Saturday night the potential for rainfall drops slightly to 70 percent before falling to a 50 percent chance of rain on Sunday.
Flood warnings for Carter County will be in effect from Saturday through Monday morning, Pritchett said.
“We are concerned with the possibility of flash flooding as well as river flooding,” he said. With the rainfall that has already fallen over much of the area in recent days, the potential for flooding increases due to the ground being saturated.
Residents are being warned to keep an eye out for streams and rivers to rise or local flash flooding to occur, Pritchett said. “Especially if you live in an area prone to flooding be aware of the warnings and monitor the weather,” he said.
While the possibility of thunderstorms over the weekend is not out of the question, Pritchett said the “primary impact” from the weather systems will be the rainfall.
In addition to the rain, the weather systems will also bring a drop in temperatures to the region.
“It’s going to feel colder than it should for this time of year,” Pritchett said. “On Saturday I think we’ll be lucky to break 60 degrees.”
“I told my wife it will be good chili weather,” he added. “If you have outdoor plans make sure you have a coat and an umbrella, especially those folks that might be headed to ball games over the weekend.”