Low But Non-Zero

Friday, October 9, 2026 · 12:01 PM

Cover art for Low But Non-Zero

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Quiet today with just increasing cloud cover and temperatures in the eighties.
Remnants of Isaias will bring high rain chances and gusty winds of forty plus miles per hour this weekend. Rain totals are expected to be around one to three inches with locally higher amounts possible. The tornado threat is low but non-zero.
Warm, dry weather returns Monday.

Extreme drought!
Hardened soil!
Reduced absorption!
Isaias tracking north-northwest!

High Resolution Ensemble Forecast!
Fifty to seventy percent chance!
Forty-five miles per hour!
Interstate forty!
Flood Watch expanded!

Cumberland Plateau!
Flash flooding!
Weak showers!
Spin-up!

Low instrument flight rules!
Tropical moisture!
Tornado threat!
Low but non-zero!

Cumberland Plateau!
Expanded watch!
Extreme drought!

Warm and dry!
Monday clears!

The forecast discussion

NEW SHORT TERM, LONG TERM

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1144 AM CDT Fri Oct 9 2026

- Quiet today with just increasing cloud cover and temperatures in the 80s.

- Remnants of Isaias will bring high rain chances and gusty winds of 40+ mph this weekend.

Rain totals are expected to be around 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts possible.

The tornado threat is low but non-zero.

- Warm, dry weather returns Monday.

SHORT TERM

(Rest of today through Saturday) Issued at 1144 AM CDT Fri Oct 9 2026

We'll close out the week with one last day of warm, quiet weather.

Cloud cover will increase through the afternoon with highs in the 80s.

Hurricane Isaias will make landfall in the Gulf later today and track NNW through tomorrow before making a jog to the NE Saturday night and into Sunday.

This tropical system will bring an abundance of moisture, likely producing 1 to 3 inches of rain across the area (highest south of I-40) with locally higher amounts possible.

Although we need the rain given the ongoing moderate to extreme drought across Middle TN, our prolonged dry conditions will reduce the soil's ability to absorb water and will increase our chances for flash flooding.

The existing Flood Watch has been expanded east across portions of the Cumberland Plateau given the eastward shift in Isaias's track.

Wind gusts of 40+ mph are expected with the strongest gusts likely occuring south of I-40 and across the Cumberland Plateau.

Latest HREF probs show a 50-70% chance of wind gusts exceeding 45 mph across the area tomorrow.

Therefore, a Wind Advisory is in effect for all of Middle TN.

While the tornado threat is low, a few brief spin-up tornadoes are possible on Saturday.

Tropical tornadoes can form and dissipate quickly and can develop from weak showers or storms.

LONG TERM

(Saturday Night through next Friday) Issued at 1144 AM CDT Fri Oct 9 2026

Conditions will improve through the day on Sunday with the last of the rain clearing the area by late Sunday afternoon/Sunday evening.

At the start of next week, warm and dry conditions will return with daily highs in the 80s and overnight lows in the 50s and 60s.