While the forecast calls for plenty of precipitation for the Christmas holiday, those dreaming of a white Christmas will have to keep dreaming and settle for a wet one according to the National Weather Service.
A slow moving cold front began pushing its way into the area last night, bringing with it the potential for rain, thunderstorms and damaging winds.
The high today is expected to reach the low 70s with rain showers likely and the possibility for some thunderstorms according to Meteorologist Anthony Cavallucci with the National Weather Service’s office Morristown.
“Some of those storms could be pretty strong, especially in the afternoon,” Cavallucci said.
The storm system is expected to have sustained winds out of the south at 10-15 miles per hour with gusts up to 25 miles per hour, Cavallucci said.
Before arriving in Northeast Tennessee, Cavallucci said the weather system moved through Arkansas where it damaged property and resulted in one death. “A tree fell on a resident,” he said.
The storms associated with the weather system were expected to move into the area this morning and taper off into rain showers in the late afternoon and evening hours.
The overall chance for rain today and tonight is 70 percent, Cavallucci said. The overnight low tonight is expected to be in the upper 50s.
On Christmas morning, the forecast continues to be wet, with the chance of showers expected to once again be around 70 percent.
The high for Christmas day is expected to reach around 70, Cavallucci said. As the day continues on Friday, the chance for showers decreases, dropping to only 30 percent for the overnight hours. The low Friday night is once again forecast for the upper 50s.
The temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are well above average for the region, Cavallucci said.
“Normal high would be about 46 and a normal low about 26,” he said.
In addition to the temperatures, rainfall for the year is also above average.
“We’re just almost two inches above normal for the year,” Cavallucci said, adding that did not include any calculation for rainfall expected through the end of December.