Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2023
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 151, NWS Morristown, TN
NWS Morristown, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 15, 2023, 5:59 PM EDT for 6 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 61 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
- Jul 15, 2023, 5:59 PM EDT (21:59 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 15, 2023, 7:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 61 min
- Issued by
- NWS Morristown, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Cocke County, TN, Greene County, TN, Hamblen County, TN, Hawkins County, TN, Unicoi County, TN, Washington County, TN
The radar
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 49 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:02 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
Greensboro/Hi Pt, NC (KGSO), launched 12:00Z, 10.0 hours before the alert went out and 265 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 828 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -40 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 707 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 18 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 71 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
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 Jul 15, 2:52 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 2:52 PM EDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Morristown TN 252 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday) Issued at 221 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023 Key Messages: 1. Isolated severe thunderstorm or flash flooding possible through late this evening. Main area of concern will be northeast of Knoxville. 2. A slight break from the mugginess on Sunday. Discussion: The main concern for the short term period is going to be the remainder of this afternoon and evening as it pertains to any chances for isolated severe storms and flash flooding. Current mesoanalysis indicates that there is about 2,500 J/kg of MLCAPE across the central and northern parts of the forecast area this afternoon. Meanwhile, a remnant MCV from nocturnal convection well to our west, will rotate through the forecast area from the southwest through the evening hours, ushering in a plume of +2" PWATs and increasing low level convergence. Have already had some ongoing convection in the areas with the above mentioned instability. Storm strength and coverage has gradually increased over the last couple of hours but believe the lack of noteworthy low level forcing and mid level lapse rates have held back the severe potential. Looking ahead to the evening hours, the increasing PWATs, continued healthy instability, and better low level convergence from the approaching MCV should lead to a further uptick in both coverage and intensity of storms through this evening. Model soundings are supportive of perhaps a few strong to severe storms in the form of wet downbursts. But I believe the more pressing issue will be the possibility of some flash flooding. With increasing PWATs this evening, coupled with freezing levels north of 14k ft and a saturated sounding from, as near as makes no difference, the surface through storm top level, expect there will be some intense rainfall rates to be seen with storms through the evening hours. The limiting factor with respect to flash flooding will be residence time as storm motions will be good enough to keep heavy rains brief. Will need to watch for localized training or redevelopment over already affected areas. This is aligned with the recent mesoscale precipitation discussion issued by WPC. Otherwise, precip should wind down by shortly after midnight tonight, leaving mostly dry conditions for the remainder of the short term. Sunday will be mostly dry, and while temperatures will wind up being similar to today it should feel a little more comfortable as some drier air moves in and give us a break from the muggy factor. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Saturday) Issued at 221 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023 Key Messages: 1. Trough passage brings a chance of showers/storms on Monday/Monday night. 2. Potential for upstream convection to spread into the area mid to late next week, but uncertainty remains high. Localized flash flooding will remain a concern. Discussion: Overall, the extended forecasts will continue to be dominated by upper ridging across the western United States with a series of short-waves keeping a persistent upper trough over the eastern third of the nation. This will keep the Tennessee valley and southern Appalachians within the battle zone with periods of showers and storms through next Saturday. GEFS and ensemble ECMWF illustrate the timing of these MCV/short-waves rotating into the area is difficult to time. For Monday, the first in series of upper short-wave/jet energy will move across the region late in the day and evening. There is a potential of strong to possibly isolated severe with MLCAPES of 1500- 2000, DCAPES of 700-900, and mid-level lapse rates of 6.5 to 7 degrees. Main concern will be damaging winds and possibly marginal severe hail. For Tuesday, the area will be between the short-waves with drier and more stable airmass. Overall, dry and very warm day is expected. For Tuesday night and especially Wednesday, the remains of a MCV/wave will rotate into the Ohio/Tennessee valley toward the southern Appalachian. Models show a fairly strong 850mb jet feeding into this MCS increasing the isentropic lift and elevated instability as the surface frontal boundary will likely be west and south of the area. Greatest concern will be the potential of heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding. For Thursday through Saturday, a series of short-waves will continue to ridge along this battle zone of heat/muggy temperatures west/southwest of the area and cooler air associated with the upper trough. Timing of these MCV/waves is difficult but overall periods of convection expected. Again, localized flash flooding will remain a concern. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 144 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023 Expect to see scattered to numerous SHRA and TSRA develop across eastern Tennessee through this evening. KCHA may escape without anything affecting the terminal, but am fairly confident that KTYS and KTRI will see some. Have TEMPO groups to cover that but the uncertainty is whether that 4hr window will sufficiently cover the time frame they'll be possible. Otherwise, after convection dies down, there will be potential for MVFR or IFR conditions overnight with fog and low clouds developing. Once again, KTYS and KTRI would be the most likely spots. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Chattanooga Airport, TN 72 91 69 93 / 20 0 0 20 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 71 88 66 90 / 50 10 0 10 Oak Ridge, TN 70 88 66 90 / 40 10 0 20 Tri Cities Airport, TN 69 85 62 88 / 80 10 0 10 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && SHORT TERM...CD LONG TERM....DH AVIATION...CD
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 15, 3:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED National Weather Service Morristown TN 300 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-161900- Cherokee-Clay-Scott TN-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins- Sullivan-Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen- Northwest Cocke-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene- Southeast Greene-Washington TN-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-Scott VA-Russell-Washington VA- 300 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023 /200 PM CDT Sat Jul 15 2023/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight ...Potential of Damaging Winds and Localized Flash Flooding through this Evening... A few strong to severe storms, along with localized flash flooding, could occur through this evening. This could occur anywhere. However the primary areas of concern for both will be northeast of the Knoxville area, mostly in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter reports for severe weather or localized flooding may be needed Today and Tonight.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 15, 4:03 PM EDT, 1 hour 56 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Morristown TN
403 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0403 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 WNW Doeville 36.40N 81.99W
07/15/2023 Johnson TN Law Enforcement
A few trees down.
&&
DHSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 4:21 PM EDT, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
421 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
VAZ008-152100-
Washington VA-
421 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of eastern Washington
County through 500 PM EDT...
At 421 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Abingdon, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Abingdon, Glade Spring, Damascus, Lindell and Emory-Meadow View.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3661 8183 3662 8184 3662 8192 3660 8193
3670 8205 3691 8182 3679 8170 3672 8166
TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 227DEG 27KT 3669 8191
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JLBSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 4:22 PM EDT, 1 hour 37 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
422 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
VAZ006-152045-
Russell VA-
422 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northeastern Russell
County through 445 PM EDT...
At 422 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Lebanon, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Lebanon, Honaker, Dye and Rosedale.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3711 8189 3704 8182 3699 8179 3687 8196
3688 8199 3687 8204 3696 8217 3704 8209
3704 8208 3705 8204 3707 8202 3712 8201
3713 8193 3714 8191 3714 8190
TIME...MOT...LOC 2022Z 222DEG 27KT 3696 8203
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JLBSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 4:24 PM EDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
424 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
TNZ069-071-073-152115-
Knox TN-North Sevier TN-NW Blount TN-
424 PM EDT Sat Jul 15 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Knox,
northeastern Blount and northwestern Sevier Counties through 515 PM
EDT...
At 424 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Eagleton Village, or near Alcoa, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Knoxville, Maryville, Sevierville, Alcoa, Pigeon Forge, Louisville,
Rockford, Eagleton Village, Walland and Kimberlin Heights.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3566 8390 3587 8405 3610 8371 3608 8371
3607 8369 3606 8369 3604 8367 3604 8365
3585 8349
TIME...MOT...LOC 2024Z 232DEG 24KT 3578 8390
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JLBSpecial weather statement, Jul 15, 5:09 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 8:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Greene | 50 min |
| Jul 15, 2:25 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Cocke, Hamblen | 50 min |
| Jul 15, 2:28 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Hawkins | 47 min |
| Jul 15, 2:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Unicoi | 48 min |
| Jul 15, 2:57 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Hawkins | 48 min |
| Jul 15, 3:21 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Hancock, Hawkins | 28 min |
| Jul 15, 3:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Johnson | 48 min |
| Jul 15, 3:56 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Johnson | 49 min |
| Jul 15, 4:22 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MRX | Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Washington | 5 hr |
| Jul 15, 4:24 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Knox | 51 min |
| Jul 15, 4:35 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Blount, Jefferson, Knox, Sevier | 40 min |
| Jul 15, 4:42 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | MRX | Johnson | 6 hr |
| Jul 15, 5:07 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MRX | Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier | 53 min |
| Jul 15, 5:09 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Grainger, Hamblen | 66 min |
| Jul 15, 5:32 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Hancock, Hawkins | 43 min |
| Jul 15, 6:42 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Sullivan, Washington | 48 min |
| Jul 15, 7:30 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Johnson, Sullivan | 45 min |
| Jul 15, 7:54 PM EDT | Flash Flood Warning | MRX | Carter, Unicoi, Washington | 2 hr |
| Jul 15, 3:37 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Washington, City of Bristol | 38 min |
| Jul 15, 3:39 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Washington, City of Bristol | 36 min |
| Jul 15, 3:40 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Scott | 50 min |
| Jul 15, 4:21 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Washington | 39 min |
| Jul 15, 4:22 PM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Russell | 23 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 2023Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2023
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.