Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Knoxville, Tennessee Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Knoxville weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Knoxville, TN
Sunday, July 5 at 3:36 AM
73
°
Clear
Feels like
81°
Humidity
92%
Wind
3 mph
Sunrise
2:24 AM
Sunset
4:55 PM
Knoxville, TN
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastKnoxville, TN: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 71 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit with a 23% chance of precipitation at 4 PM.
L 71°H 93°
Knoxville, TN
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    23%
    —
    93°71°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Heavy Rain
    75%
    0.12″
    87°72°-6°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    T-storm w/ Hail
    37%
    —
    83°70°-4°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Thunderstorm
    18%
    —
    88°67°+5°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    20%
    —
    91°68°+3°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    63%
    —
    93°70°+2°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Light Showers
    59%
    0.46″
    91°71°-2°
Knoxville, TN
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°65°83°100°12a6a12p6pnow 74°high 93°low 71°PRECIP %
Knoxville, TN
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WNW
290° · backing 32°
Direction
WNW
290°
Sustained
3
mph
Gust
4
mph
Peak 24h
12
avg 3
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 3 · pk 12 @ 10:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 154SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Knoxville, TN
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
981.5
-2.1 mb in 3h · falling rapidly · 28.98 inHg
Now
981.5
mb
3h
-2.1
mb
12h
-3.8
mb
24h
-3.8
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 982–988
9759809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW987.9981.7981.7
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Knoxville, TN
Air quality
44
AQI
Good
↓-36 in 6h▲Peak ~50 @ 2 PM

AQI 44 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 36 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply. PM2.5 at 18.3 µg/m³ (AQI 68) with a 0.95 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 2 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
18.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
19μg/m³
NO₂Good
20μg/m³
OzoneGood
42μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 18.3 µg/m³ (AQI 68) with a 0.95 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.95
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³410
Knoxville, TN
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
26.3mi
UNLIMITED
74 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
07:36 UTC · Knoxville, TN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
07:36 UTC · Knoxville, TN · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Knoxville, TN
Satellite · infrared · animated
Knoxville, TN
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Knoxville, TN
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:55 AM
Sunrise
2:24 AM
Daylight
14h 31m
Sunset
4:55 PM
Civil dusk
9:27 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Knoxville, TN
The moon
Waning Gibbous
75% illuminated
Moonrise
11:51 PM
Moonset
11:48 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Knoxville, TN
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Knoxville at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 3°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 23 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 37902, 37909, 37912, 37914, 37915, 37916, 37917, 37918 +10 more

15-Day Forecast — Knoxville

  1. Sun93°72°23%
  2. Mon87°72°75%
  3. Tue83°70°37%
  4. Wed88°67°18%
  5. Thu91°68°20%
  6. Fri93°70°63%
  7. Sat91°71°59%
  8. Sun81°68°40%
  9. Mon88°67°20%
  10. Tue86°65°14%
  11. Wed90°67°9%
  12. Thu78°69°20%
  13. Fri79°68°34%
  14. Sat88°67°46%
  15. Sun89°68°48%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Knoxville

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Knoxville

SPC has placed Knoxville in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

Knoxville peaks at about 77°F in July and bottoms near 37°F in January; December brings the heaviest rain (4.9 inches) and October the least (2.4 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January37°4.6″16
February40°4.1″15
March48°4.8″17
April57°4.0″16
May65°3.5″17
June74°3.8″17
July77°4.5″22
August76°4.4″22
September71°2.7″14
October60°2.4″10
November48°3.7″13
December40°4.9″16

Regional context

In Knoxville, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 37°F and July near 77°F — a 41°F seasonal arc — with about 47.5 inches of precipitation over 197 rainy or snowy days.

Rainfall in Knoxville stays even across the calendar: December tops out at 4.9 inches over 16.2 rainy days, and October still logs 2.4 inches across 9.8 — a narrow range for Knoxville. That even rhythm groups Knoxville with places like Powell, TN, Halls, TN and John Sevier, TN.

Once Knoxville passes mid-March, overnight freezes fade and peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be sown. Knoxville's heat-lovers — tomatoes, peppers, squash — hold off until Knoxville's frost risk clears, 10-14 days on. Frost returns to Knoxville near mid-December, ending the tender-crop season. Knoxville's low ground holds frost later into spring than Knoxville's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Powell, TN, Halls, TN, John Sevier, TN, Karns, TN, Rockford, TN.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the emergence of mayapple colonies across Tennessee woodlands, their umbrella-shaped leaves unfurling in shaded forest floors.

Wood thrushes return to Knoxville's deciduous forests by early May, their flute-like songs echoing through the canopy during evening hours.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Knoxville?
Knoxville's last spring frost lands near mid-March, and in Knoxville the first fall frost follows around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Knoxville?
Knoxville sees its heaviest rain in December (around 4.9 inches), part of roughly 48 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Knoxville?
July is Knoxville's warmest month, averaging about 77°F.
What is the coldest month in Knoxville?
Knoxville bottoms out in January, with a mean near 37°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Knoxville?
Time tomatoes in Knoxville for two weeks after mid-March; peas and greens start at Knoxville's frost line.
How many rainy days does Knoxville get?
Expect roughly 197 wet days a year in Knoxville.
What hardiness zone is Knoxville?
Knoxville's USDA zone comes from its January mean (37°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Knoxville?
Knoxville's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Knoxville?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Knoxville in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Knoxville?
Current conditions for Knoxville and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Knoxville forecast updated?
The Knoxville forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Knoxville?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Knoxville are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Knoxville?
The next few days in Knoxville's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Knoxville, Tennessee occupies a humid subtropical zone, with January means near 37°F and July around 77°F — a 40°F swing.

Yearly precipitation in Knoxville totals around 48 inches, spread over about 197 days of rain or snow.

The 40°F gap between Knoxville's summer and winter, at 36.0°N, shapes Knoxville's frost calendar.

All cities in Tennessee →

Nashville, TN weather →

ZIP codes in Knoxville

  • 37909
  • 37902
  • 37924
  • 37920
  • 37921
  • 37922
  • 37923
  • 37929
  • 37919
  • 37918
  • 37915
  • 37914
  • 37917
  • 37916
  • 37912
  • 37901
  • 37927
  • 37928
  • 37939
  • 37950
  • 37995
  • 37996
  • 37997

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.