Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS Morristown, TN
NWS Morristown, TN issued this flash flood warning at May 24, 2026, 8:30 PM EDT for Blount County, Knox County, Tennessee. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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
- May 24, 2026, 8:30 PM EDT (00:30 UTC)
- Expired
- May 24, 2026, 11:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Morristown, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
Counties Blount County, TN, Knox County, TN
The radar
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:28 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 8:34 PM EDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Wnw Lake Forest, TN | Shared to social media via Knoxville PD. Picture from Chapman Hwy in South Knoxville shows covered/impassable main roadway with a car being assisted out of the floodwaters. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 4 minutes after it went out.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 00:00Z, 0.5 hours before the alert went out and 249 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
- 170 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -11 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 852 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 18 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 67 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.6
The text
As transmitted.
338
WGUS54 KMRX 250030
FFWMRX
TNC009-093-250230-
/O.NEW.KMRX.FF.W.0002.260525T0030Z-260525T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Morristown TN
830 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Blount County in east Tennessee...
Eastern Knox County in east Tennessee...
* Until 1030 PM EDT.
* At 830 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 2.5 inches of rain have
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible
in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Knoxville, Maryville, Alcoa, Louisville, Rockford, Eagleton
Village, Friendsville, Lake Forest, Wildwood, Bearden, Seymour,
Kimberlin Heights, Maloneyville, Mascot, Clover Hill, House
Mountain State Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
&&
LAT...LON 3588 8379 3586 8378 3562 8391 3572 8414
3591 8403 3615 8385 3605 8368 3592 8375
3591 8376 3589 8379
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
DH2 follow-up statements
093
WGUS54 KMRX 250213
FFWMRX
TNC009-093-250330-
/O.EXT.KMRX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260525T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1013 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
The National Weather Service in Morristown has extended the
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northwestern Blount County in east Tennessee...
Eastern Knox County in east Tennessee...
* Until 1130 PM EDT.
* At 1013 PM EDT, local law enforcement reported heavy rain across
the warned area. Up to 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional
rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area.
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.
SOURCE...Law enforcement reported.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
other poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Knoxville, Maryville, Alcoa, Louisville, Rockford, Eagleton
Village, Friendsville, Lake Forest, Wildwood, Bearden, Seymour,
Kimberlin Heights, Maloneyville, Mascot, Clover Hill, House
Mountain State Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
&&
LAT...LON 3588 8379 3586 8378 3562 8391 3572 8414
3591 8403 3615 8385 3605 8368 3592 8375
3591 8376 3589 8379
FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
$$479
WGUS74 KMRX 250329
FFSMRX
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1129 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
TNC009-093-250339-
/O.EXP.KMRX.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-260525T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Blount TN-Knox TN-
1129 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1130 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR
NORTHWESTERN BLOUNT AND EASTERN KNOX COUNTIES...
The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.
A Flood Watch remains in effect until 200 AM EDT for portions of
southwest North Carolina, east Tennessee, and southwest Virginia.
&&
LAT...LON 3588 8379 3586 8378 3562 8391 3572 8414
3591 8403 3615 8385 3605 8368 3592 8375
3591 8376 3589 8379
$$
KSWhat 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 24, 7:32 PM EDT, 58 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 253 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
- Numerous to widespread showers and storms are expected this afternoon. Isolated flooding and gusty winds are the primary concerns with the strongest activity.
- Daily chances of showers and storms exist each day through the forecast period.
- Conditions will also be humid with no relief in sight until possibly next weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 24, 7:32 PM EDT, 58 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
732 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 253 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
- Numerous to widespread showers and storms are expected this
afternoon. Isolated flooding and gusty winds are the primary
concerns with the strongest activity.
- Daily chances of showers and storms exist each day through the
forecast period.
- Conditions will also be humid with no relief in sight until
possibly next weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 253 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
H3 ridging is in place over the southeastern CONUS, with an upper
low having developed over the southern plains. This setup continues
to promote enhanced diffluence aloft among an airmass with highly
anomalous moisture availability. Latest mesoscale analysis suggest
PWAT values of 1.5 to 1.7 inches, which is well into the 90th
percentile per sounding climatology for KBNA. With an MCV expected
to work north/northeast this afternoon and evening, have decided to
introduce a short-fused Flash Flood Watch. Latest 12Z suite and
hourly runs of CAMs all generally have some variation of swaths of 2
to 4 inch rainfall totals... locations more so isolated and
variable. With 1hr FFGs ranging from 1.8 to as low as 1.2 inches,
and 3 hr FFGs largely 1.5-2.0 inches, isolated flash flooding will
be conditional on training areas of moderate to heavy precipitation.
Overall, the highest confidence of isolated flash flooding is for
areas south of I-40 and along and west of I-75. It is also possible
to see some locally gusty winds under the strongest convection.
Bulk of the rain gradually wanes southwest to northeast tonight,
with the potential for some breezy winds in the mountains as slight
enhancement to roughly 25-30kts is expected in the southerly H85
flow. Best chance for some lingering morning Memorial Day showers
will be in the far northeast. A vort max will promote development of
additional showers and storms Monday afternoon and evening as upper
diffluence and anomalous PWAT values remain in place. Some
additional isolated flooding issues may arise during this time as
well, but confidence is a little lower as the CAMs have not been in
the greatest agreement on how well activity holds together or how
great the coverage is. This is why the Flash Flood Watch was not
carried through tomorrow evening, allowing us to keep monitoring and
assessing new data as it comes through.
Overall, no significant change is expected in the synoptic pattern
as we head into the mid-week. Daily chances of showers and storms
will continue, and that may come with some flooding concerns
partially conditional on how exactly the previous days activity pans
out. There is also no standout threat for any strong to severe
storms, but with such anomalous PWAT content, heaviest downpours can
also lead to locally gusty winds due to precip loading.
Some models are hinting that a front could push to our south late in
the period, with drier air moving into our area sometime next
weekend. However, there is no consensus on this scenario for now
and the ensemble approach of the NBM shows showers and storms
again both days, albeit, PoPs trending a bit lower by Sunday.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 725 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
Showers and storms around to start, then a decrease in coverage
before coverage increases again by Monday afternoon. Will see
conditions lower in heavier showers/storms early, then more
widespread MVFR/IFR conditions are expected later tonight into
early Monday with the lowest cigs currently looking most likely
at CHA. Some improvement to VFR is likely for late in the period,
except in any storms. Winds will generally be light outside of any
storms.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN 65 78 65 81 / 70 90 70 90
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 65 78 64 81 / 90 80 70 90
Oak Ridge, TN 63 77 63 80 / 80 80 70 90
Tri Cities Airport, TN 61 77 61 81 / 80 80 80 90
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Monday for Cherokee-Clay.
TN...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT /1 AM CDT/ Monday for Anderson-
Bledsoe-Blount Smoky Mountains-Bradley-Campbell-Claiborne-
Cocke Smoky Mountains-East Polk-Grainger-Hamblen-Hamilton-
Hancock-Hawkins-Jefferson-Johnson-Knox-Loudon-Marion-McMinn-
Meigs-Morgan-North Sevier-Northwest Blount-Northwest Carter-
Northwest Cocke-Northwest Greene-Northwest Monroe-Rhea-
Roane-Scott TN-Sequatchie-Sevier Smoky Mountains-Southeast
Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast Monroe-Sullivan-Unicoi-
Union-Washington TN-West Polk.
VA...Flood Watch until 2 AM EDT Monday for Lee-Russell-Scott VA-
Washington VA-Wise.
&&
DISCUSSION...KRS
AVIATION...99Hazardous weather outlook, May 24, 3:07 PM EDT, 5 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Morristown TN 307 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-251915- 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- 307 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026 /207 PM CDT Sun May 24 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Showers and thunderstorms can be expected today, and a few may have strong wind gusts and locally heavy downpours that could lead to localized flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected Monday. Once again, a few may have strong wind gusts and heavy downpours that could result in localized flooding. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not needed at this time.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 24, 6:06 PM EDT, 2 hours 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
606 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
TNZ083-084-099-242245-
Rhea TN-Hamilton TN-Meigs TN-
606 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT RHEA...CENTRAL MEIGS AND
NORTHEASTERN HAMILTON COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM EDT...
At 606 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Dayton, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Dayton, Decatur, Soddy-Daisy, Spring City, Graysville, Flat Top
Mountain, Peakland, Stinging Fork Falls State Park, Big Spring, and
Evensville.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3533 8524 3545 8517 3545 8515 3547 8512
3550 8514 3553 8512 3553 8510 3555 8511
3559 8508 3573 8494 3564 8471 3532 8491
3524 8506
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 213DEG 26KT 3541 8506
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KSSpecial weather statement, May 24, 6:41 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
641 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
TNZ067-068-085-086-242330-
Northwest Monroe TN-Roane TN-Loudon TN-McMinn TN-
641 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LOUDON...NORTHEASTERN MCMINN...
NORTHWESTERN MONROE AND EASTERN ROANE COUNTIES THROUGH 730 PM EDT...
At 640 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sweetwater, moving northeast at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Oak Ridge, Lenoir City, Kingston, Sweetwater, Loudon, Madisonville,
Vonore, Greenback, Philadelphia, and Paint Rock.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3557 8459 3599 8444 3594 8429 3590 8427
3580 8417 3577 8418 3576 8415 3574 8417
3571 8417 3567 8416 3567 8414 3548 8435
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 210DEG 20KT 3563 8439
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
KSSpecial weather statement, May 24, 7:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
718 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
TNZ036-067>069-071-250015-
Anderson TN-Roane TN-Loudon TN-Knox TN-NW Blount TN-
718 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN LOUDON...KNOX...
CENTRAL ANDERSON...NORTHWESTERN BLOUNT AND EAST CENTRAL ROANE
COUNTIES THROUGH 815 PM EDT...
At 717 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Farragut, or near Lenoir City, moving northeast at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Maryville, Clinton, Lenoir City, Alcoa,
Farragut, Louisville, Rockford, and Halls.
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 3582 8438 3624 8415 3624 8411 3622 8410
3623 8409 3607 8374 3566 8407
TIME...MOT...LOC 2317Z 215DEG 25KT 3583 8417
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DHLocal storm report, May 24, 7:30 PM EDT, 1 hour before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Morristown TN
730 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0527 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 1 SE Signal Mountain 35.12N 85.33W
05/24/2026 Hamilton TN Law Enforcement
Several trees down across the county.
&&
dhLocal storm report, May 24, 8:12 PM EDT, 18 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Morristown TN
812 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0811 PM Flash Flood 1 ENE Loudon 35.74N 84.34W
05/24/2026 Loudon TN Public
Several roadways flooded.
&&
dhLocal storm report, May 24, 8:22 PM EDT, 8 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Morristown TN
822 PM EDT Sun May 24 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0509 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 ENE Signal Mountain 35.14N 85.32W
05/24/2026 Hamilton TN Emergency Mngr
Powerlines down. Time approximated by radar.
&&
KSThe office that day
Everything else NWS Morristown, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 9:36 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MRX | Jefferson, Knox, Sevier | 3 hr |
| May 24, 10:17 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MRX | Knox, Loudon | 3 hr |
| May 24, 10:23 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MRX | Jefferson | 3 hr |
| May 25, 12:19 AM EDT | Special Weather Statement | MRX | Sullivan | 26 min |
| May 25, 12:13 PM EDT | Flood Watch | MRX | Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Carter, Cocke and 18 more | 15 hr |
| May 25, 7:44 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MRX | Sevier | 3 hr |
| May 25, 7:57 PM EDT | Areal Flood Advisory | MRX | Marion | 3 hr |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Tennessee, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
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.