Spring is Here: What to Expect in Knoxville

Knoxville sees its first dogwood buds and pear blossoms, signaling that spring has arrived. The season officially kicked off on March 20, bringing a hopeful shift toward warmer days after a harsh winter of ice storms and cold snaps. March temperatures swung wildly, from 26‑degree lows to 84‑degree highs, showing how unpredictable the weather can be. According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, April, May and June in East Tennessee are likely to run warmer than average, with a 40‑50% chance of higher temperatures. The Old Farmer’s Almanac agrees, predicting a warm and wet spring for the state, though its focus is mainly on April and May. In Knoxville specifically, average temperatures are expected to be about 60°F in April, 68°F in May and 75°F in June.Rainfall patterns show that Knoxville and Chattanooga have similar chances of wet weather, while Northeast Tennessee near Mountain City could see more rain than usual. A 33‑40% probability of above‑normal precipitation is forecast for the region, matching trends seen across the East Coast from Florida to Virginia. Typical monthly rainfall totals are around 4. 9 inches in March, 4. 7 inches in April and 4. 1 inches in May for the city. The first day of spring, marked by the equinox on March 20, is also the astronomical start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Knoxville’s average last frost falls on April 14, and the typical final freeze occurs around April 1 each year. Summer officially begins on June 21 with the solstice, according to standard astronomical calendars.