RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WGNS) - A strong autumn cold front will push through Rutherford County on Friday (October 16th), bringing gusty winds and much colder weather, but offering virtually no relief for the area's severe drought conditions.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday (October 15th), 100 percent of Rutherford County is in some level of drought. D2 Severe Drought has been the dominant condition across the county for multiple weeks, while portions of the area have now escalated into D3 Extreme Drought. Soil moisture remains dangerously low heading into mid-October, water levels are actively dropping, burn bans may be in effect, and agricultural and pasture stress is heavily visible across local farms.
The incoming weather system will do little to alter the dry pattern. In Murfreesboro, Friday (October 16th) starts warm with a high near 72 degrees. Southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph will shift out of the northwest at 15 to 20 mph during the morning, bringing gusts as high as 25 mph. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts a slight 20 percent chance of light showers between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but rain totals will be negligible. Friday night turns mostly cloudy and cold, with a low around 44 degrees and north-northwest winds gusting to 25 mph.
Smyrna will see a sharper temperature plunge on Friday afternoon. While Smyrna carries a 30 percent chance of showers between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., temperatures will fall to around 60 degrees by 5 p.m. as winds shift north-northwest. Overnight lows in Smyrna will drop to around 49 degrees with wind gusts reaching 25 mph.
Cool, clear conditions will settle over all of Rutherford County for the weekend. Saturday (October 17th) in Murfreesboro will be mostly sunny with a high near 61 degrees and north winds gusting up to 25 mph. Smyrna will see a high near 60 degrees. Saturday night brings the coldest temperatures of the season so far. Murfreesboro drops to an overnight low around 37 degrees under mostly clear skies, while Smyrna settles at 42 degrees.
Sunday (October 18th) brings full sunshine, with highs reaching 66 degrees in Murfreesboro and 65 degrees in Smyrna. Sunday night lows will hit 39 degrees in Murfreesboro and 44 degrees in Smyrna under clear skies.
Temperatures will warm quickly early next week, with Murfreesboro reaching 70 degrees on Monday (October 19th) and 71 degrees on Tuesday (October 20th), while Smyrna reaches 69 degrees on Monday. However, dry conditions are forecasted to persist, keeping drought concerns high across Rutherford County.
