Station Location: WFO Morristown is located about halfway between Knoxville and the Tri-Cities area in Hamblen County of northeast Tennessee.

       

Station Activity: The Morristown NWS office (KMRX) is a full featured Weather Forecast Office (WFO) with a 40 county County Warning Area (CWA) including 33 counties in east Tennessee, 5 counties in southwest Virginia, and 2 counties in extreme southwest North Carolina. We also compose aviation forecasts for three sites: Chattanooga, Knoxville and Tri-Cities. We have a large hydrology program with our largest point of contact being the Tennessee Valley Authority. The surface observation program is limited to the supplemental climatological observation. There is no upper air program at WFO MRX. The station programs three NOAA radio transmitters for Chattanooga, Knoxville, and the Tri-Cities. We have access to two Doppler radars, one located on site and the other located in northeast Alabama.

Community Description: The city of Morristown has a population of around 25,000 people and is located 40 miles northeast of Knoxville or around 60 miles from the Tri-Cities area. The region is well known for its mountainous beauty and numerous lakes and streams. Within 30 minutes of the station there are two TVA reservoirs where water recreation activities are abundant. There is an active Theater Guild with around five productions a year. The local newspaper is the "Citizen Tribune" which has news and information about Hamblen and surrounding counties. The office is located 30 to 45 minutes from Pigeon Forge where the theme park, Dollywood, and one of the largest outlet shopping areas in the country are located. We are 50 minutes from Gatlinburg which is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and where a number of craft shops, artist stores, and a ski resort are located. The beautiful Panther Creek State Park is also located very near the office.

       
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Transient and Permanent Living Accommodations: There are a number of good motels in the Morristown area and an extended stay executive facility. Reservations are a must, as there is a large number of business travelers in the area. Permanent housing is plentiful with prices generally ranging from the $80's. Newer subdivision houses range from $120k to $250k. Most homes in the area have basements. Apartments are scarce in Morristown, however there are a number of duplex units with rents around $450 per month.

Local Transportation: There is no municipal transportation available, but there are three cab companies that operate in the Morristown area. Flights are generally from Knoxville, however some flights are more advantageous from the Tri-Cities airport. Access to both of these airports is approximately one hour from the office. There are several car rental agencies in town.

Eating Facilities There are a number of restaurants within five miles of the office and with the growing economy, more are opening regularly. Prices for meals vary greatly depending on cuisine; however, most are very reasonable. Knoxville offers a wide variety of cuisines.

Taxes: The tax rate in Tennessee is one of the lowest in the nation. There is no state income tax and the property tax in Hamblen County is approximately $650 on a $100,000 house. There is no personal property tax. The largest tax burden is a sales tax of 9.75% which is levied against all purchases, including food and clothing.

Education: The Primary and Secondary schools in both Hamblen and Jefferson counties are very good and both rank well above the state average on standardized tests. Walters State Community College is located 10 miles from the office, and The University of Tennessee is located in Knoxville, approximately a 40 minute drive time from the office. Carson Newman College, a private Baptist affiliated college, is located 10 minutes from the office. East Tennessee State University is one hour north in Johnson City, and Tusculum College (est. 1794) is located in Greeneville, 30 minutes from Morristown.

Child Care Facilities: There are numerous day care and after school care facilities. Costs range from $82/week for infants to $72/week for older children. After school care is around $40/week.

Economy: The local economy in the east Tennessee region is booming. A large number of industries are moving into the local area, including automotive parts manufacturing facilities. Jefferson County had one of the highest growth rates in the state over the past five years. The Morristown Chamber of Commerce is very aggressive in attracting industry to the area.

Climate: The climate is very mild, considering the location in the south. Based on the 1971-2000 normals, the average maximum temperature for Morristown is 67.5 degrees with the average low being 45.7. The absolute maximum is 103 with the absolute minimum being -2. Average rainfall is 45.99 inches which is spread fairly uniformly throughout the year. Average snowfall is 11.9 inches per year.