KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A cold front moving through the region today is expected to bring a line of storms to East Tennessee, according to the WATE 6 Storm Team.

The WATE 6 Storm Team issued a Weather AWARE for today because very strong winds are expected. With all the recent rain, trees and powerlines are more likely to topple, causing power outages and unsafe conditions. See live weather radar.

Strong winds are expected across the region with gusts potentially reaching 50 mph for most areas and up to 70 mph gusts in the higher terrain of the Smokies, according to the WATE 6 Storm Team’s forecast. These winds are anticipated to arrive before the severe storms move from west to east across the region, around mid-morning through the mid-afternoon.

The storms are estimated to arrive on Friday:

• Between 12-2 p.m. – McMinn, Roane, Cumberland, Fentress, Scott and Fentress Counties.
• Between 1-3 p.m. – Monroe, Loudon, Blount, Knox, Roane, Anderson, Campbell and Claiborne Counties.
• After 3 p.m. – Sevier, Cocke, Jefferson, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins and Greene Counties.

The WATE 6 Storm Team’s models predict that around noon on Friday, much of East Tennessee may see gusts around 25-35 mph, however, areas at higher elevations, such as Mt. Le Conte, may see gusts over 50 mph. By 3 p.m., gusts are expected to be around 35-45 mph for much of the region before easing up in the evening.

See the full forecast.

The largest threat with the storms will be the potential for damaging winds, however, the chance for tornadoes cannot be ruled out. Those who have their trash picked up on Fridays may also want to consider how the strong winds could interfere with trash cans.