Updated Jan. 31, 2026, 10:50 a.m. ET
A winter storm warning is in effect for Knoxville and East Tennessee – and the forecast for the next few days includes “brutally cold” wind chills.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect through 1 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. Snowfall totals will vary. In Knoxville, 4 inches is now predicted, while Gatlinburg could get up to 12 inches.
The weekend promises to be another cold one, as well, with possible wind chills between 5 degrees above zero and 5 degrees below zero prompting a cold weather advisory from 5 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 until 1 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s what else to know going into this latest winter storm.
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McGhee Tyson Airport flights suspended through 4 p.m.
Table of Contents
- McGhee Tyson Airport flights suspended through 4 p.m.
- Police warn of slick roads
- Cold is a concern, too
- Why roads are so slick
- When will the worst weather start?
- Knox County Schools cancel weekend activities
- KAT buses to start late, run Severe Snow Routes on Saturday
- Warming centers open through Feb. 2
- Knoxville TN weather radar
- How much does it normally snow in Knoxville?
- Reminder: Shovel the show early and often
Runways are closed at Knoxville’s airport through 4 p.m. because snow is piling up. The closure was extended just before 11 a.m.
“If you’re traveling today, please expect flight delays, and check your flight status at flyknoxville.com,” the airport shared.
Flights at the airport are showing a mixed bag of on time, delayed and canceled.
At least 25 flights were changed because the runway closure, according to McGhee Tyson Airport spokesperson Becky Huckaby.
The runway may open before noon, depending on the snow and the safety evaluation of the runway. Passengers should look for updates at flyknoxville.com or by checking with their airline.
The airport itself remains open. Passengers can wait for their flights in the terminal with normal access to shops and restaurants, according to Huckaby.
Police warn of slick roads
The Knoxville Police Department asked drivers to stay home, if possible. Many roads have not been cleared and are slippery.
“If you can, stay home and off the roads. If you absolutely must travel, be careful and take it slow,” the department shared.
A great way to check the roads is through the Tennessee Department of Transportation interstate cameras. Find out how here.
Cold is a concern, too
In addition to the region’s winter weather warning, a cold weather advisory has been set by the National Weather Service through 1 p.m. Feb. 1.
Temperatures today and Sunday are expected to be frigid in East Tennessee. The high on Jan. 31 in Knoxville is just 22 degrees, accompanied by wind gusts of up to 25 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. The low is 9 degrees.
Knoxville will remain below freezing all day on Sunday, Feb. 1. The high is 29 degrees and the low is 12 degrees, with a wind chill of 9 degrees, according to the most recent forecast.
If you’re heading out to play in the snow or go sledding today, remember to wear warm layers of clothes and cover all exposed skin. Consider limiting outside time for your pets due to the cold conditions.
Why roads are so slick
Roads in far East Tennessee are snow-covered, the National Weather Service reported, and will get worse.
This weekend’s snow will be “dry,” meaning blowing snow could hamper visibility, said Anthony Cavallucci, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Morristown. Even without last weekend’s ice in the form of freezing rain, roads are likely to be dangerously slick once an initial layer of snow melts from salt treatment, then freezes and is covered by more snow.
The cold temperatures mean the snow will stick around.
When will the worst weather start?
The flurries started this evening and will really pick up after midnight, Anthony Cavallucci, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Morristown, said on Friday afternoon. Expect the snow to continue through the first half of Saturday.
Knoxville has a 99% chance of getting more than two inches of snow, a 70% chance of getting more than four inches of snow and a 40% chance of more than six inches of snow.
Already cold temperatures on Saturday will feel even worse with wind chills near zero at times from Saturday through Monday morning, and as low as -10 degrees at higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service.
While Knoxville and areas to the east of it are included in the winter storm warning for more significant amounts of snow, Oak Ridge is just far enough west to be included in a separate winter weather advisory until 7 p.m. Saturday, with just up to 3 inches of snow forecast, though still the potential for slick roads as a result.
Knox County Schools cancel weekend activities
All Knox County Schools-sponsored activities – athletics and extracurriculars – that had been scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1, are canceled, the school district announced Friday afternoon. KCS buildings are closed for activities and community use across the weekend.
KAT buses to start late, run Severe Snow Routes on Saturday
Knoxville Area Transit buses are continuing to operate as usual on Friday, expecting bad weather conditions to arrive tonight, but that could change if road conditions later in the day require detours or suspension of service, KAT announced.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, the start of bus service will be delayed. The first buses will leave Knoxville station at 9:15 a.m. and will operate on Severe Snow Routes, which serve the major corridors of Knoxville. The routes in service will be:
- Route 11 – Sutherland/Kingston Pike
- Route 12 – Western Avenue
- Route 20 – Central
- Route 22 – Broadway
- Route 31 – Magnolia
- Route 41 – Chapman Highway.
To view Severe Snow Routes, visit www.katbus.com/schedules-maps/snow-routes/.
During Severe Snow Routes, all passengers ride for free. Note that KAT can return to regular Snow Routes before a passenger’s return trip, in which case the passenger will be required to pay the fare for that portion of their trip.
Get real-time updates at:
Warming centers open through Feb. 2
Knoxville’s warming centers will be open nightly through Feb. 2.
Knoxville Area Transit will provide free bus rides to warming centers every day they are open starting at 3 p.m. Warming centers do not do background checks or ask for IDs. They close their doors for the night between 8 and 9:30 p.m., depending on location.
- Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley St. (accepts pets)
- Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pike (not open Jan. 31; accepts pets)
- Eternal Life Harvest Center, 2410 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. (does not accept pets; if location reaches capacity, it will open another warming center at 1801 Western Ave.)
In addition to the city’s three warming centers, the ReLAUNCH warming center, located in the old Foyer space at 409 N. Broadway, will be open every night until Feb. 28 regardless of temperature.
Knoxville TN weather radar
How much does it normally snow in Knoxville?
Annually, Knoxville does not typically receive a heavy volume of snow. On average, the area has just 4.6 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service climate data.
Reminder: Shovel the show early and often
As a native Tennessean, I’ve had little need to learn the proper way to shovel snow. Heck, until last year I didn’t even have a snow shovel at my house. My education in snow shoveling changed last year when I learned you shouldn’t wait to clear a driveway.
I started off thinking it would be silly to shovel while it was still snowing. Why would I want to shovel twice?
But I soon learned it was silly to wait. Trying to move 4 or 5 inches of snow is backbreaking work, like shoveling gravel. I ended up working three times as hard.
Tips from the National Weather Service for shoveling snow:
- Dress warmly – cover those fingers and toes
- Remember to stay hydrated
- Take frequent breaks
- Move only small amounts with each shovel pass
And I’ll add one:
- Shovel early and often. Don’t wait for the snow to stack up.
— Tyler Whetstone
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