865  
FXUS64 KMRX 171926  
AFDMRX  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN  
326 PM EDT THU SEP 17 2026  
   
..NEW DISCUSSION  
 
   
KEY MESSAGES  
 
UPDATED AT 322 PM EDT THU SEP 17 2026  
 
- HOT. WILL BECOME LESS HOT NEXT WEEK. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND  
FIND SHADE WHEN POSSIBLE WHEN OUTDOORS, ESPECIALLY IN LARGE  
OUTDOORS SPORTS VENUES.  
 
- INCREASING RAIN CHANCES FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN THIS WEEKEND INTO  
NEXT WEEK WITH THE VALLEY LESS LIKELY TO SEE RAIN, SIMILAR TO A  
TYPICAL SUMMER PATTERN.  
 
 
   
DISCUSSION  
 
ISSUED AT 322 PM EDT THU SEP 17 2026  
 
AS OF THIS WRITING THERE ARE LARGE CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS IN SOUTHWEST  
VIRGINIA AND SOUTHERN KENTUCKY PRODUCING SHOWERS AND A FEW  
THUNDERSTORMS. A FEW GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS,  
PAIRED WITH LIGHTNING. A CHANGE OF PACE FROM THE ABSOLUTELY  
SUPPRESSIVE RIDGE WE'VE HAD THE LAST FEW DAYS THAT STYMIED ANY  
ACTIVITY.  
 
SPEAKING OF THE RIDGE, THE HEAT DOME OF DOOM, I MEAN THE LARGE AND  
IN CHARGE PILE OF HOT AIR, IT IS GRADUALLY SHIFTING ITS CENTRAL AXIS  
WEST TOWARDS ARKANSAS. AS A CONSEQUENCE WE'RE GETTING ENOUGH  
MOISTURE NOW FILTERING IN TO BEGIN SPARKING A FEW SHOWERS AND  
THUNDERSTORMS WHERE THE OPPRESSIVENESS AND DRY AIR HAS LESSENED  
ENOUGH. TODAY THAT'S SOUTHERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA,  
MAYBE A SPOT OR TWO IN TENNESSEE. AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND AND  
EARLY NEXT WEEK, AND THE RIDGE CONTINUES ITS TWO STEP TO THE LEFT,  
THIS AREA WILL EXPAND TO THE WHOLE OF THE AREA AND EVERYONE WILL  
HAVE A SHOT FOR A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO. NOT EVERYONE WILL GET RAIN  
THOUGH, WE'RE STILL IN A SUMMER PATTERN SO ITS STILL HIT OR MISS  
STYLE. NEXT WEEK WE'LL LOOK TO THE MIDWESTERN WEATHER PATTERN TO  
SEE IF A FORECAST TROUGH CAN SPARK BETTER STORM COVERAGE DOWN HERE  
BETWEEN MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY, PRIMARILY DURING THE AFTERNOON  
HOURS STILL. FOR NOW NOT EXPECTING SEVERE STORMS, BUT ANY DECENT  
THUNDERSTORM COULD PACK BRIEF GUSTY WINDS INSIDE THE CORE.  
 
TRACKING CHATTANOOGA'S CONSECUTIVE 90F RECORD, NEXT WEDNESDAY'S  
FORECAST HIGH IS 89, AND THE DAY AFTER IS 87. SO PERHAPS AN END IS  
IN SIGHT FOR THE WORST OF THE HEAT.  
 
 
   
AVIATION  
 
(18Z TAFS)  
ISSUED AT 136 PM EDT THU SEP 17 2026  
 
A FEW POPCORN SHOWERS ON RADAR NOW AND A FEW MORE THIS AFTERNOON  
EXPECTED, BUT NOT EXPECTING TERMINAL IMPACTS. VFR CONDITIONS  
SHOULD GENERALLY REIGN SUPREME THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH THE  
EXCEPTION OF ANOTHER BOUT OF FOG AT TRI-CITIES TOMORROW MORNING.  
INCLUDED A TEMPO FOR IFR FOG DURING THE MOST LIKELY TIMEFRAME. VFR  
BY OR SHORTLY AFTER 12Z, AS IS TYPICAL.  
 
 
   
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS  
 
CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT, TN 74 98 74 98 / 10 10 0 40  
KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AIRPORT, TN 72 95 71 94 / 10 20 20 30  
OAK RIDGE, TN 71 95 71 93 / 10 20 10 30  
TRI CITIES AIRPORT, TN 68 89 67 88 / 20 50 20 40  
 
 
   
MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES  
 
NC...NONE.  
TN...NONE.  
VA...NONE.  
 
 
 
 
DISCUSSION...WELLINGTON  
AVIATION...99  
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