Winter Storm Warning Issued Ahead of Tennessee vs Auburn Game

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The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Knoxville area, with forecasts calling for 3 to 9 inches of snow to accumulate on Tuesday. The warning is in effect from 1 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following day, potentially impacting the SEC basketball game between Tennessee and Auburn scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST at Food City Center.

Why it matters

Severe winter weather could force the postponement or relocation of the highly anticipated SEC matchup between the two ranked teams. Knoxville has already seen significant snowfall this season, and additional accumulation could make travel to and from the arena treacherous for players, staff, and fans.

The details

The National Weather Service warning indicates that the Knoxville area is expected to see heavy, wet snow accumulations of 3 to 9 inches on Tuesday. The storm is expected to begin in the early afternoon and continue through the overnight hours, potentially creating hazardous conditions for the scheduled 8:30 p.m. tipoff between Tennessee and Auburn.

• The winter storm warning is in effect from 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31 to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, February 1.
• The Tennessee vs Auburn basketball game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 31.

What’s next

The SEC and the two schools will monitor the weather conditions closely and make a decision on whether to proceed with, postpone, or relocate the game based on the forecast and safety considerations.