THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 4 PM EST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* TIMING: LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN FALLING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON... AND INCREASE IN INTENSITY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. THE SNOW MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO DECREASE THROUGH SATURDAY.

* ACCUMULATIONS: SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 5 TO 9 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTHERN CUMBERLAND PLATEAU... NORTHEAST TENNESSEE INCLUDING THE TRI-CITIES AREA... SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA... AND THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY INCLUDING KNOXVILLE. HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COULD SEE LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. IN THE KNOXVILLE AREA... TEMPERATURES WILL BE VERY CLOSE TO FREEZING... AND THERE COULD BE A PERIOD WHEN THE SNOW IS MIXED WITH RAIN OR SLEET. IF TEMPERATURES ARE ONLY A DEGREE OR TWO WARMER... SNOW AMOUNTS MAY BE LOWER.