Drought Continues to Expand
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 · 10:30 PM
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Updated at ten thirty P.M. Central Daylight Time Wednesday October seventh twenty twenty-six. Dry weather through Friday with cool nights and warm days. Remnants of Isaias will bring high rain chances and gusty winds this weekend. Rainfall totals of one to three inches and wind gusts up to thirty to forty miles per hour are possible. Warm, dry weather returns early next week. We are taking advantage of a broad northwesterly flow aloft. A dry airmass across the region. Daytime highs several degrees above normal for this time of year. The ground is parched. The sky is quiet. Waiting for the break. Broad northwesterly flow holds the line! The upper atmosphere locked in time! Warm afternoons fade to shadows! Pressure holding over the valley! We take advantage of the upper air! Dry airmass holding everywhere! Warm afternoons and cool nights! Drought continues to expand! DROUGHT CONTINUES TO EXPAND! DROUGHT CONTINUES TO EXPAND! DROUGHT CONTINUES TO EXPAND! DROUGHT CONTINUES TO EXPAND!
The forecast discussion
NEW SHORT TERM, LONG TERM
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 1030 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026
- Dry weather through Friday with cool nights and warm days.
- Remnants of Isaias will bring high rain chances and gusty winds this weekend.
Rainfall totals of 1-3" and wind gusts up to 30-40 mph are possible.
- Warm, dry weather returns early next week.
SHORT TERM
(Tonight through Friday Night) Issued at 1030 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026
We're still taking advantage of a broad northwesterly flow aloft and a dry airmass across the region.
This is favoring warm afternoons and cool nights for the rest of the week.
Day time highs are several degrees above-normal for this time of year and drought continues to expand.
LONG TERM
(Saturday through next Thursday) Issued at 1030 PM CDT Wed Oct 7 2026
Despite a lengthy period of dry weather, rain chances make a substantial jump on Saturday thanks to weakening Isaias moving north from the Gulf Coast.
This tropical system will bring abundant moisture to the area along with forcing for ascent as it merges with an upper-level disturbance moving northeast from the ArkLaTex region.
Widespread rain chances are in the forecast for Middle Tennessee Saturday into Sunday, and heaviest rainfall is forecast on Saturday.
Overall rain amounts of 1-3" are expected.
This will be a beneficial rain event to our area experiencing drought.
At this time we're not expecting any significant impacts to Middle Tennessee, though we'll be monitoring forecast details closely, especially those associated with thunderstorm potential.
Gusty winds of 30-40 mph remain possible on Saturday.
Once the remnants of Isaias depart to the northeast on Monday, we'll return back to more stable, dry weather with warm afternoons and cool nights that remain in the forecast into mid next week.