Severe weather moving into the area Wednesday morning caused the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch for all of East Tennessee and Parts of Southwest Virginia.
The warning, which lasts until 1 p.m., encompasses Sullivan and Hawkins counties in Tennessee and Scott, Wise and Lee counties in Virginia.
According to the NWS, strong and damaging winds, some in excess of 60 mph, and isolated torndados are expected Wednesday ahead of a strong cold front.
A wind advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. for Sullivan and Hawkins counties, as well as Scott County. Lee and Wise counties are under a wind advisory until 10 p.m.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported Wednesday morning that gusts of up to 80 mph had been recorded in the Nashville area as a result of the storm system.
One fatality in Davidson County has already been attributed the severe weather, the Associated Press reported.
The strong to severe storms are expected to move through the Tennessee Valley during the morning before reaching the Tri-Cities area by early afternoon.
Isolated to scattered showers are expected to develop throughout the region ahead of the hazardous weather.
The storm system could bring as much as one-and-a-half and two-inches of rain, with some areas receiving higher amounts.
The high temperature for Wednesday is expected to reach 68 in the Kingsport area.
Forecasters expect much colder air to flow into the region Wednesday night, with a chance of light snow accumulation of up to 2 inches possible for higher elevations in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.
Thursday's high is expected to be 42, with temperatures dropping in the low-to-mid 30s for much of the day.