Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 21, NWS Morristown, TN

September 5, 20114 counties in Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this flash flood warning at Sep 5, 2011, 11:45 AM EDT for 4 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 6 hr. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Sep 5, 2011, 11:45 AM EDT (15:45 UTC)
Expired
Sep 5, 2011, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bradley County, TN, Hamilton County, TN, McMinn County, TN, Meigs County, TN

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 131 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:48 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 5, 11:45 AM EDTFLASH FLOODRiceville, TNDISPATCH REPORTED COUNTY ROAD 726 NEARLY UNPASSABLE DUE TO WATER COVERING THE ROADWAY.
Sep 5, 11:52 AM EDTFLASH FLOODChattanooga, TNDIPATCH REPORTED NUMEROUS ROADS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER AND STUCK VEHICLES IN THE CHATTANOOGA AREA. THESE ROADS INCLUDE GUNBARREL ROAD, SHALLOWFORD DRIVE, CHICKAMAUGA ROAD, VALLEY BROOK ROAD, NORTH MOORE ROAD, AND ARROW ROAD. WAIST-DEEP WATER WAS REPORTED ON
Sep 5, 12:03 PM EDTFLASH FLOODCleveland, TNDISPATCH REPORTED MULTIPLE ROADS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER AND STALLED VEHICLES IN THE CLEVELAND AREA. THESE ROADS INCLUDE GEORGETOWN ROAD, MOUSE CREEK ROAD, AND VICTORY STREET. WATER WAS REPORTED REACHING UP TO THE HEADLIGHTS ON PARKED CARS.
Sep 5, 1:13 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Ne Cleveland, TNDISPATCH REPORTED WATER COMING OVER A BRIDGE AT THE INTERSECTION OF BLYTHE FERRY ROAD AND OCOEE CROSSING NEAR CLEVELAND.
Sep 5, 2:58 PM EDTFLASH FLOODChattanooga, TNDISPATCH REPORTED MULTIPLE ROADS CLOSED DUE TO RISING WATER AND STALLED VEHICLES NEAR CHATTANOOGA.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 180 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2011-09-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2011-09-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -1 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
3 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
457 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
69 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

107 
WGUS54 KMRX 051545
FFWMRX
TNC011-065-107-121-052145-
/O.NEW.KMRX.FF.W.0021.110905T1545Z-110905T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1145 AM EDT MON SEP 5 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MORRISTOWN HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  BRADLEY COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CLEVELAND...
  HAMILTON COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CHATTANOOGA...
  MCMINN COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF ATHENS...
  MEIGS COUNTY IN EAST TENNESSEE...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF DECATUR...

* UNTIL 545 PM EDT MONDAY

* AT 1138 AM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLASH    
  FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAIN THROUGHOUT THE CHATTANOOGA AREA AND THE   
  CLEVELAND AREA. PORTIONS OF MEIGS AND MCMINN COUNTIES HAVE ALSO    
  RECEIVED HEAVY RAIN...WITH ADDITIONAL RAINFALL EXPECTED TO CAUSE   
  SIGNIFICANT FLOODING.

* NUMEROUS ROADS AROUND CHATTANOOGA AND CLEVELAND HAVE BEEN CLOSED   
  DUE TO FLOODING. CONTINUED HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS  
  FLOODING SITUATION THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED 
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3547 8497 3544 8495 3544 8491 3548 8491
      3550 8486 3555 8487 3555 8479 3570 8477
      3568 8474 3572 8472 3565 8461 3562 8452
      3562 8454 3547 8445 3527 8461 3524 8472
      3517 8470 3498 8485 3498 8539

$$
DGS
2 follow-up statements
978 
WGUS74 KMRX 051710
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
110 PM EDT MON SEP 5 2011

TNC011-065-107-121-052145-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110905T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BRADLEY TN-HAMILTON TN-MCMINN TN-MEIGS TN-
110 PM EDT MON SEP 5 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR
MEIGS...MCMINN...HAMILTON AND BRADLEY COUNTIES...

AT 102 PM EDT/1202 PM CDT/...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED
FLASH FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE WARNED AREA.  NUMEROUS ROADS ARE 
FLOODED AND CLOSED IN CHATTANOOGA AND IN CLEVELAND. WATER IS 
OVERFLOWING A BRIDGE IN CLEVELAND. WATER IS BEGINNING TO FLOOD SOME 
HOMES. CONTINUED HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS FLOODING 
SITUATION THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO 
HARRISON...CHARLESTON...DECATUR AND ATHENS.

SOME CREEKS THAT WILL FLOOD INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO CHESTNUT 
CREEK...WOLFEVER CREEK...SPRING CREEK...ALLEN BRANCH...MOUSE 
CREEK...BYMER CREEK...AND CANDIES CREEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY
DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED
ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

&&

LAT...LON 3547 8497 3544 8495 3544 8491 3548 8491
      3550 8486 3555 8487 3555 8479 3570 8477
      3568 8474 3572 8472 3565 8461 3562 8452
      3562 8454 3547 8445 3527 8461 3524 8472
      3517 8470 3498 8485 3498 8539

$$

DGS
819 
WGUS74 KMRX 051906
FFSMRX

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
306 PM EDT MON SEP 5 2011

TNC011-065-107-121-052145-
/O.CON.KMRX.FF.W.0021.000000T0000Z-110905T2145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BRADLEY TN-HAMILTON TN-MCMINN TN-MEIGS TN-
306 PM EDT MON SEP 5 2011

...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 PM EDT FOR
MEIGS...MCMINN...HAMILTON AND BRADLEY COUNTIES...

AT 301 PM EDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS CONTINUED TO REPORT 
FLASH FLOODING. NUMEROUS ROADS HAVE BEEN CLOSED ACROSS THE AREA FROM 
FLOODING. MEASURED RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE CHATTANOOGA AND CLEVELAND 
AREAS ARE REPORTED BETWEEN 4 AND 7 INCHES. 

MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE 
AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ON TOP OF THESE 
EXTREMELY HIGH AMOUNTS WILL MAKE A DANGEROUS FLOODING SITUATION EVEN 
WORSE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING IS OCCURRING. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN 
AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED 
BRIDGES...DIPS...OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A 
FLOWING STREAM...EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER 
MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. IF YOU COME TO A FLOODED OR CLOSED 
ROAD...TURN AROUND! DON'T DROWN! BETTER TO BE SAFE NOW THAN SORRY 
LATER.

&&

LAT...LON 3547 8497 3544 8495 3544 8491 3548 8491
      3550 8486 3555 8487 3555 8479 3570 8477
      3568 8474 3572 8472 3565 8461 3562 8452
      3562 8454 3547 8445 3527 8461 3524 8472
      3517 8470 3498 8485 3498 8539

$$

DGS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 5, 8:34 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXBledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Marion, Meigs and 2 more6 hr
Sep 5, 11:01 AM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXAnderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon and 6 more6 hr
Sep 5, 11:54 AM EDTFlash Flood WarningMRXAnderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane6 hr
Sep 5, 12:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXSevier37 hr
Sep 5, 12:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXCocke19 hr
Sep 5, 12:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXHamilton63 hr
Sep 5, 12:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXCocke, Jefferson19 hr
Sep 5, 12:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXCocke, Greene, Hamblen, Unicoi, Washington31 hr
Sep 5, 12:32 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXBledsoe, Marion, Sequatchie23 hr
Sep 5, 12:45 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningMRXClaiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Knox, Union5 hr
Sep 5, 5:20 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningMRXBledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, McMinn, Marion, Meigs and 4 more12 hr
Sep 5, 5:37 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningMRXAnderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson and 7 more12 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2011Every flash flood warning in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.