❄️ First Frost Night Is Here: Dunlap Near 38 Tonight After a Fourth Straight Record, Then a Calm, Sunny Week

Or: From a Record 86 to Frost on the Plateau in One Day — Cover the Plants Tonight, Burn Sunday, Enjoy a Dry Week

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 17, 2026

The front came through overnight, and it took summer with it like a hired hand cleaning out the barn. Friday still managed one more record high of 86 at Chattanooga’s airport, the fourth record day in a row. This morning, Dunlap’s National Weather Service forecast shows a mostly sunny, breezy day near 60 with north gusts to 25 mph, and a clear, calm night near 38.

Here’s what’s new as of Saturday morning. Morristown’s forecasters say the first frost of the season will likely happen tonight in parts of the area, mainly the Cumberland Plateau, the mountains, northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, with frost possible again Sunday night. After that comes the easy part: dry and sunny every day through next Friday, with highs climbing from 67 Sunday to the upper 70s by Wednesday. There are still no burn bans in Tennessee, but today is breezy, so Sunday is the better burning day. Fall turkey season opens statewide today, and the leaf color is running a bit late. As of this morning there were no watches, warnings or advisories for Dunlap.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Today: Mostly sunny, high near 60. North wind 10 to 15 mph, gusts to 25. A jacket morning and a light-sweater afternoon.
• Tonight: Clear, low near 38, winds dying down. Cover or bring in tender plants before dark.
• Sunday: Sunny and calm, high near 67. Sunday night near 39, so cover plants again.
• Next week: Sunny and dry every day. Highs 71, 73, 77, 77, 78; lows in the 40s.
• Burning: Free same-day permit still required; no burn bans. Skip today’s wind. Sunday is calmer.

🏆 One Last Hot Hurrah: Friday Set a Fourth Straight Record

The Weather Service’s Chattanooga climate report, issued early this morning, shows Friday’s high at the airport reached 86 degrees at 12:49 p.m. That edged out the old Oct. 16 record of 85, shared by 1897, 1938 and 1953. The normal high for the date is 74. That makes four record afternoons in a row: 90 Tuesday, 92 Wednesday, 92 Thursday and 86 Friday. The front only brought a trace of rain at the airport. October is still running a little wet (2.71 inches so far versus 1.88 normal), but since Sept. 1 Chattanooga is about 2.72 inches behind.

What it means for you: The heat chapter is officially closed. Morristown’s forecasters put it plainly: going from record warmth Friday to highs in the 50s and low 60s today “may be a shock to the system.” If the house still smells closed-up from running the air conditioner, today is a good day to crack a window during the sunny afternoon, then close it up before supper.

👉 Read more (NWS Chattanooga climate report) · NWS Morristown forecast discussion

❄️ Tonight’s the Night: First Frost Likely in Cold Spots

Morristown’s Saturday discussion says tonight “may be the coldest night we’ve seen in quite a while,” with lows from the low 30s in higher terrain to the upper 30s and low 40s in the central and southern valley. With winds dying down after dark, forecasters call it a “ripe environment” for frost. The overnight Hazardous Weather Outlook, which covers Sequatchie, Marion, Hamilton and Bledsoe counties, lists areas of frost late tonight into Sunday morning for parts of the Cumberland Plateau and higher country, and areas of frost again late Sunday night into Monday morning for parts of East Tennessee.

Dunlap’s forecast low is 38 tonight and 39 Sunday night, both clear. Sequatchie’s fire-weather forecast gives a range of 36 to 41 tonight. The town forecast doesn’t print the word “frost,” but on clear, still nights cold air pours downhill into creek bottoms and low fields like syrup off a short stack. Plateau neighbors sit higher and run colder.

What it means for you: Treat tonight as frost night. Pick the last tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans and basil this afternoon. Bring hanging baskets and pots into the garage or onto a covered porch. Cover in-ground tender plants with an old sheet, blanket or bucket before dark (keep plastic off the leaves). Pull covers off Sunday morning once the sun is up, and put them back Sunday evening. Check that pets, chickens and barn cats have a dry, draft-free spot, and give the furnace a short test run if you haven’t yet.

👉 Read more (Morristown Hazardous Weather Outlook) · Dunlap forecast

☀️ A Week Built for Porch Sitting: Sunny, Dry and Warming

Once the frost nights pass, the forecast settles into a long, quiet stretch. Morristown says dry weather continues through the rest of the forecast period, with temperatures eventually a few degrees above normal. Dunlap’s grid forecast, updated about 6:06 a.m. Central:

• Sunday: Sunny, high near 67, calm. Night: clear, near 39.
• Monday: Sunny, high near 71. Night: near 42.
• Tuesday: Sunny, high near 73. Night: near 44.
• Wednesday and Thursday: Sunny, highs near 77. Nights in the upper 40s.
• Friday: Sunny, high near 78.

Sequatchie’s fire-weather forecast shows a 0% chance of rain today, tonight and Sunday, and no rain in its outlook through Friday.

What it means for you: This is a week to get outdoor jobs done: cleaning gutters, mowing one more time, painting, splitting wood or hauling hay. Because we’re behind on rain since September, water new shrubs, fall-planted trees and pansies about once a week, and keep an eye on water troughs and ponds. Sunrise is about 6:48 a.m. and sunset about 6:05 p.m. Central this weekend, so plan evening chores a little earlier.

👉 Read more (Dunlap 7-day forecast) · Morristown fire-weather forecast

🔥 Burning: No Bans, but Wait for Sunday’s Calm

The state’s burn-ban page still says there are currently no active burn bans in Tennessee. During burn-permit season (Oct. 15 through May 15), a free, same-day permit is required to burn leaf piles, brush or other natural debris. Get it at BurnSafeTN.org or in the MyTN app, or call 1-877-350-BURN (2876) weekdays. The fire must be completely out by midnight. If you live inside town limits, check town rules first.

Sequatchie’s fire-weather forecast shows north winds gusting near 20 mph today and afternoon humidity in the 40s. Sunday turns light and variable, but the same forecast rates smoke dispersion as poor, which means smoke may hang low in the valley instead of lifting away.

What it means for you: Let the brush pile rest today. If you burn Sunday, get your permit first, keep the pile small, burn in the middle of the day when the air mixes best, and think about neighbors downwind of the smoke. Rake a bare strip at least 3 feet wide, keep a hose and rake close, and stay with it until it’s cold. With a dry week ahead, small and supervised is the way.

👉 Read more (Tennessee burn permits) · Tennessee burn-ban status · BurnSafeTN

🦃 Out and About: Turkey Opener Today, Leaves Running a Little Late

TWRA’s season summary shows fall turkey shotgun/archery season opens statewide today, Oct. 17, and runs through Oct. 30, with a bag limit of one male turkey. Archery deer, squirrel and the second dove segment are also open. The Young Sportsman deer hunt for ages 6 to 16 is Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. For opener weather, expect a cool, partly to mostly sunny morning and a breezy north wind this afternoon.

For leaf lookers, a WVLT report from Friday says fall color across East Tennessee and the Smokies is running behind schedule after a warm September and dry stretch. Cool nights help leaves turn, so forecasters expect more reds, oranges and yellows to show up as this cooler air settles in. Tennessee State Parks says East Tennessee color usually peaks around the third week of October.

What it means for you: Hunters, dress in layers and wear blaze orange when moving through the woods. Leaf lookers, there’s no rush. A plateau drive or a visit to a state park like Cumberland Mountain in the next week or two should look better than it would have a few days ago, and the sunny forecast makes any day a good one.

👉 Read more (TWRA hunting seasons summary) · Fall color running late (WOKI/WVLT)

✅ Your Saturday-to-Monday Checklist

• ✅ Saturday morning: Grab a jacket. Turkey season opens today; wear layers and blaze orange when moving.
• ✅ Saturday afternoon: Pick the last of the tender garden crops. Don’t burn in today’s wind.
• ✅ Saturday before dark: Bring pots inside, cover tender plants, and make sure pets and chickens are snug.
• ✅ Sunday morning: Uncover plants once the sun is up. If you want to burn, get a same-day permit and keep it small.
• ✅ Sunday evening: Cover plants again. Frost is possible Sunday night into Monday morning.
• ✅ This week: Enjoy the sunshine, water new plantings once a week, and check stock water.

Practical rule: Two cold nights, then a sunny week. Tuck the plants in tonight and Sunday, burn only when it’s calm with a permit, and keep the hose handy while it’s dry.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Weather Glossary

• Frost: Ice crystals that form on grass, cars and plants on clear, calm nights. It can form even when the official low is in the upper 30s, especially in low spots and on the plateau.
• Daily record high: The warmest temperature ever measured on that date at an official station. Chattanooga’s airport records go back to 1879.
• Hazardous Weather Outlook: A daily Weather Service bulletin listing anything worth watching over the next week, from storms to frost.
• Burn permit: A free, one-day permit from the Tennessee Division of Forestry, required Oct. 15 through May 15 to burn leaves or brush outdoors.
• Burn ban: A state order that stops nearly all outdoor fires. None is in place right now.
• Smoke dispersion: How well the air carries smoke up and away. “Poor” means smoke tends to sit low and drift along the ground.
• Fire-weather forecast: A specialized forecast for land managers and burners, with wind, humidity and rain odds by county.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Will it frost in Dunlap tonight?

Possibly in spots. Dunlap’s forecast low is 38 under clear skies with light wind. Forecasters expect the first frost of the season mainly on the Cumberland Plateau and in higher country, but creek bottoms and low fields can run colder. Cover tender plants to be safe.

Do I need to cover plants Sunday night too?

Yes, it’s a good idea. Dunlap’s Sunday-night low is near 39, and the Hazardous Weather Outlook lists areas of frost late Sunday night into Monday morning for parts of East Tennessee.

Did Friday really set another record?

Yes. Chattanooga’s airport hit 86 on Friday, beating the Oct. 16 record of 85. That followed records of 90 Tuesday, 92 Wednesday and 92 Thursday.

Is any rain coming?

Not in the current forecast. Dunlap’s forecast is sunny every day through next Friday, and Sequatchie’s fire-weather forecast shows no rain chances.

Can I burn this weekend?

There are no burn bans, but you still need a free same-day permit. Today is breezy, so Sunday is the better day. Keep the pile small because smoke may hang low.

When does fall turkey season run?

Statewide from today, Oct. 17, through Oct. 30, according to TWRA. The bag limit is one male turkey.

When will the leaves peak?

Color is running a little late this year. Cooler nights this week should help, and East Tennessee typically peaks around the third week of October, with lower elevations later.

🔗 Other Resources

• National Weather Service: Dunlap forecast
• National Weather Service Morristown
• Morristown Hazardous Weather Outlook
• Chattanooga daily climate report
• Morristown fire-weather forecast
• BurnSafeTN: free burn permits
• Tennessee burn-ban status
• TWRA hunting seasons summary
• Tennessee State Parks: where and when to see fall color
• Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative outages

🌤️ Two Chilly Nights, Then Smooth Sailing

Nothing in this forecast calls for worry. There are no storms, no watches and no burn bans, just two crisp nights that ask us to tuck the garden in, followed by a week of sunshine. Cover the plants tonight and Sunday, let the burn pile wait for a calm afternoon, and then enjoy some of the prettiest weather fall has to offer. It’s a fine week for a cup of coffee on the porch and a slow drive to see the leaves.

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