Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 1998

Flash Flood Warning 72, NWS Morristown, TN

May 26, 1998Sullivan County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this flash flood warning at May 26, 1998, 1:05 AM EDT for Sullivan County, Tennessee. It was in force for 2 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: May 26, 1998, 1:05 AM EDT (05:05 UTC)
Expired: May 26, 1998, 3:10 AM EDT
In force: 2 hr
Issued by: NWS Morristown, TN
Area: Whole counties

County Sullivan County, TN

The nearest sounding before it

Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 00:00Z, 5.1 hours before the alert went out and 221 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 323 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -166 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1675 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 85 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 281 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KMRX 260504
FFWMRX
TNC163-260710-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES TN
105 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 1998

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  SULLIVAN COUNTY IN EASTERN TENNESSEE

* UNTIL 310 AM EDT

* AT 103 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
  THAT CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE LOCATED
  ACROSS ALL OF SULLIVAN COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

* EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AT THE RATE OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL
  PRODUCE FLOODING ACROSS SULLIVAN COUNTY THROUGH 310 AM EDT.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGER OF FLOODING.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 25, 7:15 PM EDT, 5 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 25, 7:15 PM EDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES TN
715 PM EDT MON MAY 25 1998

AREA WSR-88DS ARE SHOWING AN INCREASE IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE OF
THUNDERSTORMS OVER W/S-CENTRL KY AND W/MID TN. ADAP SHOWS THIS AREA
HAVING BEST LO LVL CONVERGENCE AND LIFTED INDICES OF -10 AND -12 AND
CAPES OF 3000 J/KG...SO AMS IS VERY UNSTABLE. MODELS ARE DEPICTING STG
DIV ALOFT OVER THIS AREA DUE TO THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF AN 70-90
JET EXITING OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES.

MODELS SHOW THE DIV ALOFT MOVING EAST ACROSS THE NRN HALF OF THE CWA
DURING THE NIGHT AS WELL AS MODERATELY STG LO LVL CONVERGENCE. I WOULD
RECOMMEND UPPING POPS TO AT LEAST 70 PERCENT IF NOT CAT FOR CSV-TYS
LINE AND NORTHWARD WITH 50-60 POPS FPR SE TN. GIVEN PWS OF 1.4-1.6
INCHES AND 850 MB DEWPOINTS NEAR 15 DEGREES...HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE A
THREAT WITH LOCAL FLOODING PROBLEMS A CONCERN...ESPECIALLY WHERE
TRAINING OCCURS.

WINDEX VALUES ALSO SUGGESTS THAT DAMAGING MICRO-BURSTS ARE POSSIBLE
WITH THE HIGH CAPE VALUES SUGGESTING SOME STORMS COULD HAVE LARGE HAIL.

CURRENT TEMP FCST LOOKS GOOD...EXPECT WOULD SUGGEST DROPPING LOWS FOR
SW VA TO NEAR 60. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT...

DH

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 25, 11:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES TN
1131 PM EDT MON MAY 25 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1030 PM    IN JAMESTOWN              TN   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/25/98   FENTRESS                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          JAMESTOWN. REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATOR.

1105 PM    IN KINGSPORT              TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       TREES AND POWERLINES DOWNED
                                          ACROSS MANY AREAS OF
                                          KINGSPORT. REPORTED BY 911
                                          DISPATCH AND HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

1115 PM    IN KINGSPORT              TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       ROOF BLOWN OFF OF A HOME.
                                          POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD
                                          SIGHTED. REPORTED BY 911
                                          DISPATCH AND HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

FERRELL

Local storm report, May 25, 11:31 PM EDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES TN
1131 PM EDT MON MAY 25 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1030 PM    IN JAMESTOWN              TN   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/25/98   FENTRESS                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          JAMESTOWN. REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATOR.

1105 PM    IN KINGSPORT              TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       TREES AND POWERLINES DOWNED
                                          ACROSS MANY AREAS OF
                                          KINGSPORT. REPORTED BY 911
                                          DISPATCH AND HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

1115 PM    IN KINGSPORT              TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       ROOF BLOWN OFF OF A HOME.
                                          POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD
                                          SIGHTED. REPORTED BY 911
                                          DISPATCH AND HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

FERRELL

Local storm report, May 26, 1:00 AM EDT, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CONTINUED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KNOXVILLE/TRI-CITIES TN
100 AM EDT TUE MAY 26 1998

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1030 PM    IN JAMESTOWN              TN   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/25/98   FENTRESS                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN
                                          JAMESTOWN. REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATOR.

1030 PM    IN PENNINGTON GAP         VA   0.75 INCH HAIL
05/25/98   LEE                            DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED
                                          IN PENNINGTON GAP. REPORTED
                                          BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.

1105 PM    IN KINGSPORT              TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       TREES AND POWERLINES DOWNED
                                          ACROSS MANY AREAS OF
                                          KINGSPORT. REPORTED BY 911
                                          DISPATCH AND HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

1115 PM    IN KINGSPORT              TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       ROOF BLOWN OFF OF A HOME.
                                          SEVERAL TREES TWISTED OFF
                                          ON ASH STREET. SEVERAL
                                          REPORTED OF POSSIBLE
                                          FUNNEL CLOUD AND/OR
                                          TORNADO. REPORTED BY 911
                                          DISPATCH AND HAM RADIO
                                          OPERATORS.

1130 PM    IN KINSPORT               TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWN NEAR
                                          SHAMROCK DRIVE. ALSO A TREE
                                          DOWN ON A HOUSE JUST BEHIND
                                          SHAMROCK DRIVE. REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO OPERATORS.

1130 PM    IN KINSPORT               TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   SULLIVAN                       WINDOWS SHATTERED OUT OF
                                          NUMEROUS HOMES BY POSSIBLE
                                          TORNADO. REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATORS.

1150 PM    NEAR LAKE CITY            TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   ANDERSON                       SEVERAL TREES DOWN AROUND
                                          BEECH GROVE ROAD. REPORTED
                                          BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.

1150 PM    IN ANDERSONVILLE          TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/25/98   ANDERSON                       SEVERAL TREES DOWN AROUND
                                          MILL CREEK ROAD. REPORTED BY
                                          SHERIFFS DISPATCH.

1200 AM    NEAR TAZEWELL             TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/26/98   CLAIBORNE                      SEVERAL TREES REPORTED DOWN
                                          JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY OF
                                          TAZEWELL. REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

1215 AM    IN ROGERSVILLE            TN   1.00 INCH HAIL
05/26/98   HAWKINS                        NICKEL TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL
                                          REPORTED ACROSS MANY AREAS
                                          OF ROGERSVILLE. REPORTED BY
                                          HAM RADIO OPERATORS.

1220 AM    1 SE BULLS GAP            TN   WIND DAMAGE
05/26/98   HAWKINS                        NEAR HIGHWAY 11-E A ONE
                                          HALF TON PICKUP TRUCK WAS
                                          LIFTED OFF THE GROUND BY
                                          HIGH WINDS. REPORTED BY HAM
                                          RADIO OPERATOR.

FERRELL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 25, 10:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Fentress	64 min
May 25, 10:15 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Hancock, Hawkins	60 min
May 25, 10:50 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Morgan	65 min
May 25, 10:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Sullivan	62 min
May 25, 11:12 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Anderson, Campbell, Scott	63 min
May 25, 11:18 PM EDT	Tornado Warning	MRX	Sullivan	62 min
May 25, 11:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock	63 min
May 25, 11:22 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Hawkins	63 min
May 25, 11:39 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Knox, Union	61 min
May 25, 11:48 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Carter, Johnson	62 min
May 25, 11:49 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Cumberland	46 min
May 25, 11:53 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	MRX	Claiborne	3 hr
May 25, 11:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Hamilton, Meigs, Rhea	62 min
May 26, 12:23 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	MRX	Hancock, Hawkins	3 hr
May 26, 12:32 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Greene, Washington	48 min
May 26, 12:32 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Sullivan	48 min
May 26, 12:33 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Hawkins	37 min
May 26, 12:37 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Hamblen	48 min
May 26, 1:01 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Carter, Unicoi	49 min
May 26, 1:21 AM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Monroe	49 min
May 26, 3:57 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Roane	63 min
May 26, 4:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Campbell	46 min
May 26, 4:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Loudon	46 min
May 26, 4:30 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Union	50 min
May 26, 4:36 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Knox	64 min
May 26, 4:58 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Blount	67 min
May 26, 5:11 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Claiborne, Grainger	59 min
May 26, 5:34 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Hancock	31 min
May 26, 5:41 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Sevier	29 min
May 26, 6:01 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Jefferson	49 min
May 26, 6:25 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	MRX	Cocke	65 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 1998 Every flash flood warning in 1998

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.