🕰️ Dry Straight Through Next Friday, Halloween Odds Turn Warmer, and Clocks Fall Back in Eight Days: Your Dunlap Weather & Outdoors Week

Or: Foggy Daybreaks, Sunny Mid-70s, a Young Hunters’ Weekend at Prentice Cooper, and Wednesday’s Kinder Burn Air

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Good Saturday morning. Weather Service airport sensors showed Crossville at about 45 degrees under clear skies around 7:50 this morning, and Chattanooga at about 49 in patchy fog. Forecasters at National Weather Service Morristown said the Chattanooga fog “shouldn’t last more than a couple of hours.” Dunlap’s forecast calls for a sunny day with a high near 75 and almost no wind.

Here’s the week in one breath. The dry forecast now runs through next Friday, Oct. 30, one more day than yesterday, with highs from 72 to 77 and lows from 44 to 50. Morristown’s Hazardous Weather Outlook says no hazardous weather is expected through Friday, and there were no watches, warnings or advisories for Dunlap this morning. The federal outlook for Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, which takes in Halloween, now gives Tennessee a 70 to 80 percent chance of warmer than normal, up from yesterday. Today has the driest burn air of the week; Wednesday has the kindest. And mark the calendar: clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Today: Sunny, high near 75. Calm winds. Fog fades by mid-morning.
• This week: Sunny or mostly sunny. Highs 75, 74, 75, 72, 75, 77 (Sunday through Friday); lows 44 to 50.
• Rain: None through Friday, Oct. 30. Halloween weekend odds lean warm, with a slight tilt toward rain.
• Burning: No bans. Free same-day permit required. Wednesday is the best burn day; today is the driest.
• Remember: Fall turkey and archery deer end Friday, Oct. 30. Young Sportsman deer hunt is Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.
• Clocks: Fall back Sunday, Nov. 1. Sunset jumps to about 4:46 p.m. that day.

📅 Sunshine Now Runs to Friday, Oct. 30, a Touch Warmer Than Normal

Morristown’s forecasters say we “remain in a persistent pattern” of high pressure, and while a weather system crossing the Great Lakes will “temporarily suppress the ridge during the middle of next week,” the “models continue to indicate we will remain dry for the entire period through next Friday.” They expect “seasonably cool nights and pleasant afternoons with high temperatures generally a little above normal for this time of year.” For reference, a normal late-October day at the Chattanooga airport runs about 71 for a high and 48 for a low; Friday came in at 77 and 46. Dunlap’s point forecast, updated about 6:06 a.m. Central:

• Tonight: Mostly clear, near 44.
• Sunday: Sunny, high near 75. Night: clear, near 44.
• Monday: Sunny, high near 74. Night: partly cloudy, near 44.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 75. Night: mostly cloudy, near 48.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny, high near 72. Night: partly cloudy, near 46.
• Thursday: Sunny, high near 75. Night: mostly clear, near 47.
• Friday, Oct. 30: Mostly sunny, high near 77, the warmest day of the stretch. Rain chance just 1 percent.

What it means for you: This week dresses like a farmer in fall: a jacket at breakfast and shirtsleeves by dinner. School-day mornings start about 45 degrees at 7 a.m., and Monday afternoon reaches about 74, so send the kids out in a layer they can tie around their waist. Forecasters say early fog stays possible “over the next several days,” mainly near rivers and lakes, so leave a few extra minutes for bus routes along the creek bottoms. For the farm, a week of dry, mild days is good for hauling hay, spreading lime, and getting the last of the fall chores done before the weather turns.

👉 Read more (Dunlap 7-day forecast) · NWS Morristown forecast discussion · Hazardous Weather Outlook

🎃 Halloween Outlook Turns Warmer, With a Slight Lean Toward Rain

Halloween isn’t in the regular seven-day forecast yet; Friday, Oct. 30 is the last day showing. But the federal Climate Prediction Center’s newest outlook, issued Friday afternoon, covers Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Its written discussion says “chances of above normal temperatures range from 70-80 percent over the southern Ohio Valley, the Tennessee Valley, and adjacent portions of the Southeast.” That’s one notch warmer than the day before. On the rain map, Tennessee sits at about 40 to 50 percent for above-normal rain, a “leaning wetter” shade and a small step up from yesterday’s 33 to 40. Forecasters rated their confidence 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. The longer look, for Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, keeps Tennessee leaning warmer (about 50 to 70 percent) and leaning wetter (about 40 to 50 percent).

What it means for you: Think of this outlook like a weather vane on the barn: it tells you which way things are leaning, not what time the wind will change. “Warmer than normal” is the strong signal, so costumes probably won’t need a coat on top. “Leaning wetter” is spread over five days, not pinned on Halloween night. Sunset on Saturday, Oct. 31 is about 5:47 p.m. Central, and it’s good and dark by about 6:15, so put flashlights, glow sticks or reflective tape on the list now. Halloween should appear in the regular forecast by Sunday or Monday; we’ll pass it along.

👉 Read more (Climate Prediction Center 6–10 day outlook maps) · 8–14 day outlook maps · Forecasters’ written discussion

🔥 Burn Piles: Today Is the Driest. Wednesday Is the Kindest.

Morristown’s fire-weather forecast for the Sequatchie County zone, issued overnight, puts today’s lowest afternoon humidity at about 30 to 35 percent, the driest of the week, and Sunday at 35 to 40. Then the air softens: about 41 percent Monday, 39 Tuesday, 48 Wednesday, 46 Thursday and 45 Friday, with winds under 10 mph. Smoke lift (“dispersion”) is generally poor this morning, fair this afternoon, and very poor tonight, so smoke will hang low after dark. Forecasters noted that “light winds will help to mitigate notable fire weather concerns.”

Tennessee’s burn-ban page still read this morning: “Currently, there are no active burn bans in the State of Tennessee.” You still need a free same-day permit from the Division of Forestry to burn leaves or brush outside city limits, through May 15.

What it means for you: Picking a burn day is a bit like picking a day to paint the porch: the right air makes all the difference. If the brush pile can wait, Wednesday is the pick of the week, with Thursday and Friday close behind. Get the permit at BurnSafeTN.org, in the MyTN app, or by calling 1-877-350-BURN (2876) on weekdays. Keep piles small, keep a hose and rake handy, never walk off, and have it completely out by midnight. Town residents, check city rules first.

👉 Read more (Morristown fire-weather forecast) · Burn-ban status · Tennessee burn permit rules

🦌 Hunters’ Calendar: Turkey and Bow Seasons Pause Friday, Then the Young Hunters Get Their Weekend

These dates are statewide from TWRA’s season summary, with local notes. Sequatchie County is in Deer Unit 4; Marion and Hamilton are in Unit 5.

• Today and Sunday, Oct. 24–25: Young Sportsman gun deer hunt at Prentice Cooper. The forest west of State Route 27 (Suck Creek Road) is hunters only; Edwards Point, east of Route 27, stays open.
• Through Friday, Oct. 30: Archery deer, and fall turkey (archery and shotgun). Fall turkey bag limit is one male bird.
• Thursday–Saturday, Oct. 29–31: Prentice Cooper muzzleloader hunt, west of Route 27 hunters only again.
• Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 31–Nov. 1: Statewide Young Sportsman deer hunt (ages 6–16, with a non-hunting adult 21 or older who also wears hunter orange or pink).
• Sunday, Nov. 1: Last day of the second dove segment.
• Monday–Friday, Nov. 2–6: Archery deer and archery-only fall turkey reopen.
• Saturday, Nov. 7: Muzzleloader/archery deer opens, plus rabbit and quail.

What it means for you: If you’ve got a young hunter in the family, this is their week to shine, like a kid’s first time driving the tractor with Grandpa riding along. Go over safe gun handling, sight in before Saturday, and check that the adult’s orange is ready too. With afternoons in the mid-70s, carry ice to cool game fast. Hikers, if you head to Prentice Cooper this weekend or Thursday through Saturday, stick to Edwards Point.

👉 Read more (TWRA hunting seasons summary) · Prentice Cooper hunt dates

🕰️ Clocks Fall Back Next Sunday: Brighter Bus Stops, Earlier Suppers

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks turn back to 1 a.m. Here’s how Dunlap’s daylight shifts, based on standard sun tables (times are approximate):

• Saturday, Oct. 31: Sunrise about 7:02 a.m., sunset about 5:47 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: Sunrise about 6:03 a.m., sunset about 4:46 p.m.

What it means for you: It’s like moving the dinner bell up an hour: same work, less daylight after it. Mornings get brighter for the bus stop and the barn, but evening chores, walks and feeding will be in the dark an hour sooner. Plan to bring the animals in and gather tools before about 4:45 starting Nov. 1, and drivers, watch for deer and kids at dusk. The clock change is a handy reminder to test smoke alarms and swap batteries. Most phones change on their own; the stove, truck and wall clocks won’t.

👉 Read more (2026 clock change for Tennessee) · Naval Observatory sun and moon times

💧 The Rain Ledger: Still Behind, With a New Drought Map Thursday

Chattanooga’s airport report shows 2.71 inches so far in October, right about normal for the month, but 3.52 inches behind since Sept. 1 and 9.70 inches behind for the year. No rain fell Friday, and none is in the forecast through next Friday. The next U.S. Drought Monitor map comes out Thursday, Oct. 29.

What it means for you: The ground is like a rain barrel with a slow leak: it takes a few good fills to catch up. Keep giving new trees, shrubs and fall plantings a deep drink about once a week, watch pond levels and stock tanks, and go easy on extras if you’re on a spring or shallow well. That’s just good housekeeping, not alarm. If the outlook’s slight lean toward rain pans out after Halloween, the ground will be glad of it.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga daily climate report) · U.S. Drought Monitor: Tennessee

✅ Your Saturday-to-Friday Checklist

• ✅ Today, Saturday, Oct. 24: Driest burn air of the week. If you can, let the brush pile wait.
• ✅ Today and Sunday: Prentice Cooper west of Hwy. 27 is hunters only. Edwards Point stays open.
• ✅ School mornings: About 45 at the bus stop, mid-70s by afternoon. Send a layer.
• ✅ Wednesday, Oct. 28: Best burn day. Free permit first, out by midnight.
• ✅ Thursday, Oct. 29: New drought map, and Prentice Cooper closes to visitors again through Saturday.
• ✅ Friday, Oct. 30: Last day of fall turkey and this stretch of archery deer. Warmest day, near 77.
• ✅ Saturday, Oct. 31: Young Sportsman hunt begins. Trick-or-treat lights ready; sunset about 5:47.
• ✅ Sunday, Nov. 1, 2 a.m.: Clocks fall back one hour. Test smoke alarms. Dove season’s second segment ends.

Practical rule: Dry through Friday, warm for Halloween. Burn on Wednesday if you can, layer up for the bus stop, and set the clocks back before bed next Saturday.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Weather Glossary

• Ridge: A big bulge of warm, settled air high overhead. It steers storms away, which is why we’ve stayed dry.
• Short wave: A small ripple in the upper winds that can stir up clouds or rain. Next week’s passes to our north.
• Seasonal normals: The 30-year average high and low for a date. At Chattanooga right now, about 71 and 48.
• 6-to-10-day outlook: A federal forecast of odds for a five-day stretch about a week out. It says “warmer or wetter than normal,” not which day.
• Leaning wetter (40 to 50 percent): A slight tilt toward more rain than usual over the period. Not a promise of rain.
• Relative humidity: How much moisture the air holds compared to how much it could. Low numbers mean fires catch and spread more easily.
• Dispersion: How well smoke rises and spreads out. “Poor” means it tends to hang low.
• Daylight saving time: The summer clock setting. When it ends, clocks go back an hour and sunsets come an hour earlier.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is any rain in the forecast?

Not through next Friday, Oct. 30, according to Dunlap’s National Weather Service forecast. Federal outlooks lean slightly wetter than normal for Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, but that’s odds over several days, not a promise.

Will Halloween be warm?

It’s leaning that way. The Climate Prediction Center gives the Tennessee Valley a 70 to 80 percent chance of warmer-than-normal weather for Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. Oct. 31 should show up in the regular forecast in the next day or two.

When exactly do the clocks change?

At 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, clocks go back to 1 a.m. Most people set them back before bed Saturday night. Sunset that Sunday is about 4:46 p.m.

Is there a burn ban?

No. Tennessee’s burn-ban page says there are no active burn bans anywhere in the state. You still need a free same-day permit to burn leaves or brush outside city limits through May 15.

What’s the best day this week to burn brush?

Based on Morristown’s fire-weather forecast, Wednesday, when afternoon humidity is about 48 percent, with Thursday and Friday close behind. Today is the driest day, and smoke will hang low tonight.

Who can hunt in the Young Sportsman deer hunt?

Youths ages 6 to 16, using a gun, muzzleloader or archery gear, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. They must be with a non-hunting adult 21 or older who stays close enough to take control and wears the required orange or pink, according to TWRA.

Will it frost this week?

Not in the valley, based on the current forecast, with lows of 44 to 50. Higher ground can run a few degrees colder, so keep an eye on tender plants up on the mountain.

🔗 Other Resources

• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• National Weather Service Morristown
• Morristown fire-weather forecast
• Climate Prediction Center 6–10 day outlook
• Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook
• U.S. Drought Monitor: Tennessee
• BurnSafeTN: free burn permits
• Tennessee burn-ban status
• TWRA hunting seasons summary
• Prentice Cooper State Forest hunt dates
• 2026 clock change dates for Tennessee
• U.S. Naval Observatory sun and moon times
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative outages

🌤️ A Gentle Week, and a Warm Halloween Leaning Our Way

Nothing in this forecast calls for worry. No storms, no watches, no burn bans and no freeze in the valley, just foggy daybreaks, sunny afternoons and cool nights made for a front-porch sweater. Halloween is leaning warm, the young hunters get their weekend, and next Sunday hands everybody an extra hour of sleep. Burn on the damper days, light up the trick-or-treat path, and get the evening chores in a little earlier come November.

We’ll keep watching the sky so you don’t have to. Read Dunlap.Today for calm, practical weather in plain English.