Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 65, NWS Morristown, TN

June 14, 20204 counties in Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 14, 2020, 12:54 PM EDT for 4 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 51 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 14, 2020, 12:54 PM EDT (16:54 UTC)
Expired
Jun 14, 2020, 1:45 PM EDT
In force
51 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Loudon County, TN, Meigs County, TN, Rhea County, TN, Roane County, TN

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:54 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 257 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, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2020-06-14Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 81 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA at 12:00Z on 2020-06-14The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -36 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
81 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-85 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1242 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-31 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm 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 severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jun 14, 10:12 AM EDT, 2 hours 42 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 14, 10:12 AM EDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1012 AM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

.UPDATE...
MORNING UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Brought in PoPs across the northern Plateau, NE TN, and SW VA
quicker this morning as well as increased cloud cover from N to S
quicker. Current radar shows a weakening band of convection over
SE KY sinking southward. Lightning is decreasing with this
activity, but CAMS are not initializing it well, and it is
currently much farther S than depicted. Believe that outflow from
this weakening convection will generate new activity from the
northern Plateau east and northeastward by late morning as surface
heating warms temps to near 80 and Td's continue to gradually
creep up to near 60 ahead of the incoming frontal boundary. Deep
layer shear continues to be very marginal at 25-30 kts, but
cooling aloft associated with the approaching upper low from the
OH Valley will bring wet bulb zero heights down to 8500-9000 ft
and allow MLCAPE to build to 1500-2200 J/Kg as surface temps warm
and low-level moisture increases. This will yield fairly
widespread coverage of convection through the afternoon with
isolated severe hail up to quarter size and damaging winds to 60
mph as thermodynamics drive this activity. Increased PoPs to
likely/categorical through the afternoon with the greatest
coverage expected over the east half of the region. The SPC Day 1
Marginal risk seems reasonable for today. Areas that see multiple
episodes of convection could also see localized flooding since
PWATs increase to 1.2 to 1.4 inches leading to heavy rain within
the cores, so WPC has included a Marginal Risk for excessive
rainfall from far E TN through SW VA. High temps remain on track
for today.

RG

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

Main focus will be on the chances for afternoon showers and
thunderstorms. Relatively confident that storms will be in the
area, but much lower confidence on timing of if/when storms may
impact an airport. If a storm does impact an airport it would
likely be for a very brief duration. Fog may be possible overnight
depending on where rain occurs, but certainty is to low to mention
in the TAFs at this time.

ABM

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 245 AM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020/
SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight)...
Early this morning the surface ridge remains in place over us as a
low pressure system approaches the area from the Ohio Valley. Once
again, we could see some patchy fog in the river valleys of
Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, but widespread fog is
not anticipated at this time.

The main focus of the forecast will be for shower and thunderstorm
activity associated with the approaching low. Latest model guidance
suggests that the center of the system will move southeastward
before stalling out over the Tennessee/Kentucky/Virginia border.
Just ahead of this system a front will try and push through before
slowing down across the Eastern Tennesee Valley. Wherever this front
eventually stalls out will have the best chance for shower and
thunderstorm activity this afternoon. Currently am targeting the
best thunderstorm coverage to be in Northeast Tennessee and
Southwest Virginia closer to the upper low where there will be
better lifting mechanisms for storms to work with.

One of the biggest limiting factors in storms coverage will be the
surface ridge and weak moisture return ahead of this system which
should keep coverage of storms isolated to scattered. There will be
some moderate CAPE around 1000 J/Kg and some weak deep layer shear
of around 20 knots. So model forecast soundings are hinting that the
atmosphere will be capable of some strong to possibly severe
thunderstorms this afternoon...But with limited moisture to work
with there won't be as many storms available to tap into this
environment. Can't rule out a strong to severe storm, but widespread
severe weather is not anticipated.

ABM

LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday Night)...
The extended range fcst kicks off on Monday morning amidst the
highly amplified omega pattern aloft as troughing prevails out west,
with ridging across the central CONUS, and deep troughing with a
closed H5 low in place across the eastern CONUS. At the surface,
broad high pressure centered over southern Canada will stretch
southward into the central/southern Appalachians, while relative low
pressure prevails beneath the primary H5 trough/low over the Deep
South.  As for closer to home across East TN and southwest VA/NC, a
cold front on the leading edge of the aforementioned high pressure
airmass looks to slide into north GA/AL placing much of the area
amongst nly sfc flow as the upper cyclone rotates nearly overhead.
With that, will continue to carry lower slight chance pops westward
for Monday, ramping up to likely/cat pops further east in closer
proximity to the upper low. Moving forward, still much uncertainty
with regard to when/where this upper low meanders across the
southeast states through much of the week, however at least a little
better consensus centered around some southeastern drifting over
central GA and the Midlands of SC on Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Given this does occur, and as noted yesterday, precipitation chances
could lower for Tuesday as drier nly flow is wrapped across the TN
Valley, not to mention the possibility of some downslope flow.  By
Wednesday, guidance tends to begin slowly lifting the complex
northeast across the Carolinas as the Plains ridge is suppressed
thanks to an approaching/digging Pacific Northwest H5 trough.  Thus,
pops for Tuesday/Wednesday will both feature a west/east gradient
from slight to chance levels respectively.

Moving into Thursday and through Saturday, models tend exhibit
increased uncertainty at this range with the GFS actually favoring
the upper low retrograding back westward atop the region, while the
ECMWF/CMC tend to keep the center of the vortex near the OBX region
of NC.  Beyond that, the system finally opens up and lifts north
across the DelMarVa into Friday as the above noted northwestern
trough advances east with an associated low pressure and cold front
moving into the Upper Midwest.  This front looks to struggle driving
further south as the trough de-amplifies favoring flat ridging
across the TN Valley Friday and Saturday, and thus drier/warmer
weather.

As for temperatures, not much change from what has been noted in
day's past.  Expect below normal levels through Wednesday before a
warming trend kicks in as the upper low and associated moisture
(precip/sky cover) lift northward.  Above normal levels will return
by Thursday, warming slightly through period's end.

CDG

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             88  62  83  60  82 /  40  20  20  10  30
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  84  59  80  58  80 /  50  20  40  20  30
Oak Ridge, TN                       84  59  80  58  81 /  50  20  30  10  30
Tri Cities Airport, TN              79  56  72  55  73 /  90  60  70  30  30

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...NONE.
VA...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 14, 2:43 AM EDT, 10 hours 11 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Morristown TN
243 AM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-150645-
Cherokee-Clay-Scott-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins-Sullivan-
Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen-Northwest Cocke-
Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene-Southeast Greene-
Washington-Unicoi-Northwest Carter-Southeast Carter-Roane-Loudon-
Knox-Jefferson-Northwest Blount-Blount Smoky Mountains-
North Sevier-Sevier Smoky Mountains-Sequatchie-Bledsoe-Rhea-Meigs-
McMinn-Northwest Monroe-Southeast Monroe-Marion-Hamilton-Bradley-
West Polk-East Polk-Lee-Wise-Russell-
243 AM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020 /143 AM CDT Sun Jun 14 2020/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North
Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected on this afternoon,
with the greatest coverage across northeast Tennessee and
southwest Virginia. A few of these thunderstorms could be strong
with gusty winds and small hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 14, 12:08 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1208 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

VAZ002-006-008-141715-
Washington VA-Wise VA-Russell VA-
1208 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RUSSELL...EAST CENTRAL WISE AND
CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...

At 1208 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles west of Trammel, or 8 miles east of Wise, moving east at 20
mph.

Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Lebanon, Cleveland Va, Coeburn, Honaker, St. Paul, Castlewood,
Holston, Hansonville and Rosedale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3703 8188 3674 8202 3695 8255 3706 8250
      3702 8247 3698 8237 3696 8236 3700 8229
      3699 8225 3704 8217 3704 8212 3705 8210
      3704 8208 3705 8203
TIME...MOT...LOC 1608Z 290DEG 18KT 3701 8243

DH
Local storm report, Jun 14, 12:15 PM EDT, 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jun 14, 12:17 PM EDT, 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1217 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

TNZ035-067-068-141715-
Roane TN-Loudon TN-Morgan TN-
1217 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL MORGAN...CENTRAL
LOUDON AND ROANE COUNTIES UNTIL 115 PM EDT...

At 1217 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Midtown, or near Rockwood, moving southeast at 15 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Oak Ridge, Lenoir City, Kingston, Rockwood, Loudon, Midtown,
Harriman, Oakdale, Bradbury and Pine Orchard.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3586 8473 3589 8471 3591 8468 3594 8470
      3604 8465 3595 8430 3590 8427 3584 8420
      3567 8429
TIME...MOT...LOC 1617Z 293DEG 15KT 3593 8461

DH
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 12:37 PM EDT, 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1237 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

TNZ016-038>040-042-141730-
Hamblen TN-Northwest Greene TN-Northwest Cocke TN-Grainger TN-
Hawkins TN-
1237 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN HAWKINS...WESTERN
GREENE...NORTHEASTERN GRAINGER AND HAMBLEN COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM
EDT...

At 1237 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Bean Station, or near Morristown, moving east at 15 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Morristown, Bean Station, Russellville, Mosheim, Bulls Gap,
Mooresburg, St. Clair, Lowland, Mohawk and Romeo.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3632 8285 3603 8300 3627 8344 3639 8331
      3639 8330 3640 8325
TIME...MOT...LOC 1637Z 291DEG 12KT 3631 8325

DH
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 12:47 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1247 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

TNZ082>084-099-141745-
Rhea TN-Bledsoe TN-Hamilton TN-Meigs TN-
1247 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN RHEA...CENTRAL
BLEDSOE...WEST CENTRAL MEIGS AND NORTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES UNTIL
145 PM EDT/1245 PM CDT/...

At 1247 PM EDT/1147 AM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm near Pikeville, moving southeast at 15 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Dayton, Pikeville, Soddy-Daisy, Graysville, Sale Creek, Evensville,
Palio, Brayton, Old Washington and Birchwood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3537 8525 3548 8539 3567 8524 3558 8486
      3524 8504
TIME...MOT...LOC 1647Z 293DEG 12KT 3556 8521

DH
Special weather statement, Jun 14, 12:49 PM EDT, 5 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1249 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

TNZ067-083-084-141730-
Rhea TN-Roane TN-Meigs TN-
1249 PM EDT Sun Jun 14 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN RHEA...NORTHEASTERN
MEIGS AND SOUTHWESTERN ROANE COUNTIES UNTIL 130 PM EDT...

At 1249 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rockwood, moving southeast at 15 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Kingston, Rockwood, Fairview, Midtown, Harriman, Paint Rock and Eagle
Furnace.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3579 8487 3583 8480 3583 8477 3586 8473
      3589 8471 3592 8467 3585 8439 3575 8444
      3576 8445 3571 8450 3571 8452 3569 8453
      3568 8452 3566 8457 3564 8459
TIME...MOT...LOC 1649Z 293DEG 12KT 3584 8474

DH

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 14, 11:57 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXHawkins63 min
Jun 14, 12:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXGreene, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan, Washington60 min
Jun 14, 12:17 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXLoudon, Roane58 min
Jun 14, 12:37 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXHamblen53 min
Jun 14, 12:47 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXBledsoe, Rhea58 min
Jun 14, 12:49 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXRoane41 min
Jun 14, 1:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXJefferson, Knox, Sevier34 min
Jun 14, 1:22 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXMcMinn, Meigs, Rhea53 min
Jun 14, 1:35 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXCarter40 min
Jun 14, 1:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXGreene39 min
Jun 14, 1:45 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXMcMinn, Meigs, Rhea60 min
Jun 14, 1:50 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCarter, Sullivan55 min
Jun 14, 1:56 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXJohnson49 min
Jun 14, 1:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXWashington46 min
Jun 14, 2:06 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXCarter, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington54 min
Jun 14, 2:18 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXGreene, Unicoi, Washington57 min
Jun 14, 2:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXJohnson50 min
Jun 14, 2:26 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXAnderson49 min
Jun 14, 2:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXHamilton64 min
Jun 14, 2:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXUnicoi40 min
Jun 14, 3:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXPolk39 min
Jun 14, 5:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXWashington44 min
Jun 14, 6:33 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXWashington42 min
Jun 14, 11:31 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXWise, City of Norton59 min
Jun 14, 11:42 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXScott63 min
Jun 14, 12:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXRussell67 min
Jun 14, 1:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXRussell, City of Bristol56 min
Jun 14, 2:12 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXCherokee, Clay48 min
Jun 14, 2:32 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXCherokee, Clay43 min
Jun 14, 3:02 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXClay43 min
Jun 14, 3:10 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningMRXClay50 min
Jun 14, 4:15 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXCherokee45 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.