Storm could produce 'significant snowfall' in East Tennessee; Chattanooga likely to experience heavy rain

Signal Mountain residents are more likely to see snow than people living in the valley. Here, families sled on a fairway of the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club after a 2016 winter storm.
Signal Mountain residents are more likely to see snow than people living in the valley. Here, families sled on a fairway of the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club after a 2016 winter storm.

Widespread precipitation across the Tennessee Valley will bring the potential for significant snowfall across East Tennessee and North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service.

The early season winter storm is expected to impact much of the region tonight through early Monday morning. However, higher temperatures in the Chattanooga area will likely lead to heavy rain and potentially some flurries.

"[Chattanooga] is going to stay warm enough to see all rain," National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Moulton, based in Morristown, said. "The low is around 37 [degrees], so it'd have to go higher up in elevation to get snow. We're not expecting to see too much there - maybe some flurries. Higher areas atop the ridges could see a dusting, but you'll really have to go halfway to Knoxville before there's snow."

This evening, precipitation will mainly be rain, with snow showers possible in higher elevation areas. A transition to snow and sleet is expected in Northeast Tennessee and parts of Southwest North Carolina early Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Significant snow is expected north of Interstate 40. Higher elevation areas along the Tennessee and North Carolina border could see approximately a foot of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

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