Alert archive / Tennessee / Special Weather Statements in 2021

Special Weather Statement, NWS Morristown, TN

October 6, 2021Scott County, Tennessee

NWS Morristown, TN issued this special weather statement at Oct 6, 2021, 9:52 PM EDT for Scott County, Tennessee. It was in force for 38 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Oct 6, 2021, 9:52 PM EDT (01:52 UTC)
Expired
Oct 6, 2021, 10:30 PM EDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Morristown, TN
Hail
0.00 in
Wind
50

County Scott County, TN

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:52 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

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 1.9 hours before the alert went out and 178 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 00:00Z on 2021-10-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 595 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, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2021-10-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 81 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
595 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-52 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
871 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
81 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
117 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.2
Supercell composite
2.7

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement 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 special weather statement went out at Oct 6, 7:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 6, 7:26 PM EDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Morristown TN
726 PM EDT Wed Oct 6 2021

.UPDATE...
FOR 00Z AVIATION.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight and Thursday)

Key Messages:

1. Main forecast concern will be the flash flooding threat this
afternoon and tonight. The primary area of concern is the southern
plateau and southern TN valley.

2. The conditional threat of severe storms still exists through the
evening hours in the southern plateau and southern TN valley where
a slight risk has been introduced by the Storm Prediction Center.

Discussion:

GOES WV imagery depicts a closed low situated across Arkansas this
afternoon with a well defined dry slot across the northern Gulf
Coast and into the Tennessee Valley. Diffluent flow aloft along with
boundary layer convergence has worked in tandem to produce repeated
rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms across portions of the
forecast area (southern TN valley/southern plateau). The main
forecast concerns will be flash flooding potential, and the chance
of strong to severe storms tonight.

WPC maintains a moderate risk of enhanced rainfall across the
southern plateau and southern TN valley. The 500mb low will slowly
retrograde NW through the period while a mid-upper lvl jet axis
lifts into the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians. The
resulting increase in upper lvl divergence will work in concert with
increasing boundary layer convergence to facilitate an increase in
showers and thunderstorms overnight. A fairly moist airmass
characterized by PW values in excess of 1.50-1.75 inches along with
modest thermodynamic profiles from some family does suggest the
potential for heavy rainfall rates. Any areas that have already
seen repeated rounds of precipitation could experience flash
flooding. There remains a degree of spread in precipitation
amounts throughout the CAMs, however, the most recent runs of the
HREF 24-hr QPF probability does show a signal for heavy rainfall
rates across portions of the southern valley. Given the
possibility of convection and training of cells, the flash flood
watch is in great shape and will not be making any changes for
now.

While the heavy rainfall/flash flood potential is the main risk, a
secondary threat of strong to severe storms does exist. At least
some turning within the lowest 3km will allow for the threat of
rotating updrafts assuming sufficient instability remains in place.
In fact, there have already been a few instances today where radar
has observed weak rotation. Any instances of rotation will remain
very brief. Downward momentum from some family will also bring a
threat of damaging winds with any robust convection.

Cloud cover and rainfall will keep temperatures mild tonight with
lows in the low to upper 60's. On Thursday, the mid-upper low will
have lifted into central Missouri. An associated wave will lift
through the area likely reducing PoPs from southwest to northeast.
Thursday high temperatures will range from the mid to upper 70's
across most locations which is near normal for early October.

Diegan

LONG TERM...(Thursday Night through Wednesday)...

Key Messages:

1. Rain chances will continue through Friday but drier conditions
will start this weekend and continue through extended period. Rain
chances will return next week.

2. Temperatures will be at least 5 degrees above normal each day
through the extended forecast.

Discussion:

Thursday Night through Saturday morning

The upper level closed low will affect the forecast area Thursday
night and Friday as it slowly moves north from the mid Mississippi
Valley towards the western Great Lakes by Friday. The low level
southerly flow and warm air advection pattern around the upper low
and extended upper trough to the south of the low keeps the eastern
Tennessee Valley with periods of showers and a few more storms
overnight Thursday night with the precipitation gradually shifting
to the northeast half of the forecast area later Friday and Friday
night. Rainfall amounts will be around 0.50 inches Thursday night
and then about the same Friday. The northeast half may have some
more enhanced amounts as a final shortwave moves through in the
afternoon to early evening. Friday night into early Saturday ridging
building to the southwest will finally bring in some drier air into
especially the western parts of the area. The eastern part of the
area will still see some southerly flow from the east side of the
Appalchians providing enough lift for showers coming over the
mountains Saturday morning. Rainfall amounts will be light. Highs
will be in the mid 70s Friday and slightly warmer Saturday with less
cloud cover.

Saturday night through Wednesday

Ridging aloft will then dominate upper level pattern Saturday night
through Monday with weak surface high pressure. Another weak upper
low is forecast to move in from the west late Monday and could bring
in light rains late Monday into Wednesday. Confidence is low from
Monday through Wednesday so just have slight rain chances for this
feature. Temperatures will be several degrees above normal in the
upper 70s to lower 80s.

TD
FXUS64 KMRX 061946
AFDMRX

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Morristown TN
346 PM EDT Wed Oct 6 2021

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight and Thursday)

Key Messages:

1. Main forecast concern will be the flash flooding threat this
afternoon and tonight. The primary area of concern is the southern
plateau and southern TN valley.

2. The conditional threat of severe storms still exists through the
evening hours in the southern plateau and southern TN valley where
a slight risk has been introduced by the Storm Prediction Center.

Discussion:

GOES WV imagery depicts a closed low situated across Arkansas this
afternoon with a well defined dry slot across the northern Gulf
Coast and into the Tennessee Valley. Diffluent flow aloft along with
boundary layer convergence has worked in tandem to produce repeated
rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms across portions of the
forecast area (southern TN valley/southern plateau). The main
forecast concerns will be flash flooding potential, and the chance
of strong to severe storms tonight.

WPC maintains a moderate risk of enhanced rainfall across the
southern plateau and southern TN valley. The 500mb low will slowly
retrograde NW through the period while a mid-upper lvl jet axis
lifts into the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians. The
resulting increase in upper lvl divergence will work in concert with
increasing boundary layer convergence to facilitate an increase in
showers and thunderstorms overnight. A fairly moist airmass
characterized by PW values in excess of 1.50-1.75 inches along with
modest thermodynamic profiles does suggest the potential for heavy
rainfall rates. Any areas that have already seen repeated rounds of
precipitation could experience flash flooding. There remains a
degree of spread in precipitation amounts throughout the CAMs,
however, the most recent runs of the HREF 24-hr QPF probability
does show a signal for heavy rainfall rates across portions of
the southern valley. Given the possibility of convection and
training of cells, the flash flood watch is in great shape and
will not be making any changes for now.

While the heavy rainfall/flash flood potential is the main risk, a
secondary threat of strong to severe storms does exist. At least
some turning within the lowest 3km will allow for the threat of
rotating updrafts assuming sufficient instability remains in place.
In fact, there have already been a few instances today where radar
has observed weak rotation. Any instances of rotation will remain
very brief. Downward momentum will also bring a threat of damaging
winds with any robust convection.

Cloud cover and rainfall will keep temperatures mild tonight with
lows in the low to upper 60's. On Thursday, the mid-upper low will
have lifted into central Missouri. An associated wave will lift
through the area likely reducing PoPs from southwest to northeast.
Thursday high temperatures will range from the mid to upper 70's
across most locations which is near normal for early October.

Diegan

LONG TERM...(Thursday Night through Wednesday)...

Key Messages:

1. Rain chances will continue through Friday but drier conditions
will start this weekend and continue through extended period. Rain
chances will return next week.

2. Temperatures will be at least 5 degrees above normal each day
through the extended forecast.

Discussion:

Thursday Night through Saturday morning

The upper level closed low will affect the forecast area Thursday
night and Friday as it slowly moves north from the mid Mississippi
Valley towards the western Great Lakes by Friday. The low level
southerly flow and warm air advection pattern around the upper low
and extended upper trough to the south of the low keeps the eastern
Tennessee Valley with periods of showers and a few more storms
overnight Thursday night with the precipitation gradually shifting
to the northeast half of the forecast area later Friday and Friday
night. Rainfall amounts will be around 0.50 inches Thursday night
and then about the same Friday. The northeast half may have some
more enhanced amounts as a final shortwave moves through in the
afternoon to early evening. Friday night into early Saturday ridging
building to the southwest will finally bring in some drier air into
especially the western parts of the area. The eastern part of the
area will still see some southerly flow from the east side of the
Appalchians providing enough lift for showers coming over the
mountains Saturday morning. Rainfall amounts will be light. Highs
will be in the mid 70s Friday and slightly warmer Saturday with less
cloud cover.

Saturday night through Wednesday

Ridging aloft will then dominate upper level pattern Saturday night
through Monday with weak surface high pressure. Another weak upper
low is forecast to move in from the west late Monday and could bring
in light rains late Monday into Wednesday. Confidence is low from
Monday through Wednesday so just have slight rain chances for this
feature. Temperatures will be several degrees above normal in the
upper 70s to lower 80s.

TD

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

Additional rounds of rain and storms are expected near CHA this
evening with some heavy rain at times. MVFR conditions are
forecast to prevail, but some brief IFR conditions are possible
with thunderstorms. A few showers are possible near TYS this
evening, but rain and thunderstorm risk for TYS and TRI will be
later in the period.

JB

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             67  78  65  77  61 /  90  50  50  30  10
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  66  77  63  76  61 /  90  80  60  50  20
Oak Ridge, TN                       65  76  62  76  60 / 100  70  60  50  20
Tri Cities Airport, TN              65  74  60  75  59 /  90  70  70  70  30

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for Cherokee-Clay.

TN...Flash Flood Watch through Thursday morning for Bledsoe-Bradley-
     East Polk-Hamilton-Marion-McMinn-Meigs-Northwest Monroe-
     Rhea-Sequatchie-Southeast Monroe-West Polk.

VA...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 6, 3:36 PM EDT, 6 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Morristown TN
336 PM EDT Wed Oct 6 2021

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-071945-
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-
336 PM EDT Wed Oct 6 2021 /236 PM CDT Wed Oct 6 2021/

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

...Flash Flood Watch in effect from this morning through Thursday
morning...

Several rounds of showers and embedded thunderstorms are expected
today through tonight. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are
expected in the southern Tennessee valley and southern plateau
areas. Flash flooding will be possible.

Additionally, there is a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms this
afternoon through late this evening. This is largely for damaging
winds, but includes a low risk of tornadoes as well.
Areas of concern will be the southern plateau and southern Tennessee
valley, mainly in the vicinity of Hamilton and Marion counties.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Heavy rains should be shifting north of the forecast area by
shortly after daybreak Thursday.

Otherwise, the probability for widespread hazardous weather is
low for the day two through seven period.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed late this afternoon and tonight.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 6, 5:44 PM EDT, 4 hours 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
544 PM EDT Wed Oct 6 2021

TNZ082-083-062230-
Rhea TN-Bledsoe TN-
544 PM EDT Wed Oct 6 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central Rhea
and northeastern Bledsoe Counties through 630 PM EDT/530 PM CDT/...

At 544 PM EDT/444 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm over Pikeville, moving north at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Pikeville, Melvine and Mount Crest.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM EDT/1000 PM CDT/ for
east Tennessee.

&&

LAT...LON 3572 8526 3575 8527 3575 8526 3576 8526
      3577 8510 3576 8509 3576 8507 3577 8504
      3575 8503 3575 8501 3556 8502 3555 8522
      3571 8527
TIME...MOT...LOC 2144Z 171DEG 24KT 3562 8515

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Diegan
Local storm report, Oct 6, 7:24 PM EDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
724 PM EDT WED OCT 6 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0720 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 NNE DUNLAP            35.41N 85.37W
10/06/2021                   SEQUATCHIE         TN   911 CALL CENTER

            DISPATCH REPORTS NUMEROUS ROADS CLOSED
            ACROSS THE COUNTY. EVACUATIONS UNDER WAY
            ALONG BRANCH RD.

&&
Special weather statement, Oct 6, 9:04 PM EDT, 48 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Oct 6, 9:52 PM EDT, 0 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 6, 8:20 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningMRXMarion6 hr
Oct 6, 9:03 PM EDTRiver Flood WarningMRXBledsoe, Marion, Sequatchie48 hr
Oct 6, 9:04 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXScott26 min
Oct 7, 5:08 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXBlount, Knox, Loudon52 min
Oct 7, 5:59 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementMRXAnderson, Knox, Loudon46 min
Oct 7, 6:08 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryMRXBlount, Knox, Loudon, Monroe112 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Tennessee, 2021Every special weather statement in 2021

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.