Alert archive / Tennessee / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 69, NWS Nashville, TN

August 12, 2026Lawrence County, Tennessee

NWS Nashville, TN issued this flash flood warning at Aug 12, 2026, 6:40 PM CDT for Lawrence County, Tennessee. It was in force for 65 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
Aug 12, 2026, 6:40 PM CDT (23:40 UTC)
Expired
Aug 12, 2026, 7:45 PM CDT
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Nashville, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County Lawrence County, TN

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:44 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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 12:00Z, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 137 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 2026-08-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1672 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 12:00Z on 2026-08-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 122 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1672 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-45 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
841 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
24 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
122 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
104 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

496 
WGUS54 KOHX 122340
FFWOHX
TNC099-130145-
/O.NEW.KOHX.FF.W.0069.260812T2340Z-260813T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Nashville TN
640 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southern Lawrence County in Middle Tennessee...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 640 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain
  have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 2 to 3 inches in 1 hour.
  Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  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...
  Loretto and Westpoint.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8733 3511 8757 3516 8755 3518 8753
      3508 8722 3500 8722

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...2-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Cravens
1 follow-up statement
339 
WGUS74 KOHX 130045
FFSOHX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
745 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

TNC099-130055-
/O.CAN.KOHX.FF.W.0069.000000T0000Z-260813T0145Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lawrence TN-
745 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8733 3511 8757 3516 8755 3518 8753
      3508 8722 3500 8722

$$

Cravens

What 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 Nashville, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 12, 5:40 PM CDT, 1 hour earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 537 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026
  • Dangerous heat expected through the weekend with triple digit heat indices west of the Cumberland Plateau.
  • Low to medium thunderstorm chances primarily east of I-65 each afternoon and evening through Thursday. Stronger storms will be capable of damaging winds and heavy rain.
  • Drier and even hotter conditions favored Friday through the weekend followed by some minor relief early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 5:40 PM CDT, 1 hour before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Nashville TN
540 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 537 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

- Dangerous heat expected through the weekend with triple digit
  heat indices west of the Cumberland Plateau.

- Low to medium thunderstorm chances primarily east of I-65 each
  afternoon and evening through Thursday. Stronger storms will be
  capable of damaging winds and heavy rain.

- Drier and even hotter conditions favored Friday through the
  weekend followed by some minor relief early next week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Rest of today through Thursday)
Issued at 1117 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

High pressure continues to build across the southeast US, but Middle
TN remains in northwest flow. Hot & humid conditions persist with
high temperatures this afternoon expected to reach into the mid-90s
west of the Plateau with heat indices in the triple digits. With
plenty of instability, DCAPE, and moisture available, the door is
still open for another MCS to move through this afternoon or into
the evening hours. Radar trends this morning have been showing
activity developing to the north and tracking southeast, and CAMs
are still showing the potential for some storms to impact areas east
of I-65. As with yesterday, any storms that do develop will have the
potential for produce strong to damaging winds as well as heavy
rain. Any activity should diminish late this evening or overnight.

On Thursday, the high pressure builds a little more north which
helps to lower thunderstorm chances. They won't be completely
zero, but low chances (15-30%) will persist still mainly east of
I-65. Otherwise, under more influence of the high, temperatures
will only warm further with highs reaching into the mid and
upper-90s and heat indices of 105 to 110 degrees.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday Night through next Wednesday)
Issued at 1117 AM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

The high builds more overhead Friday and into the weekend which
should lend itself to a dry weekend. But that does mean our hottest
temperatures of this heat wave are anticipated for the weekend. Many
locations will be near the 100-degree mark Friday, and probabilities
are high that several will get there Saturday and/or Sunday. NBM
probabilities west of the Plateau for at least 100 Saturday is 40-
70% (80% at Nashville) with Sunday probabilities up to 60-80% (90%
at Nashville). These temperatures, heat index values of 105-110+,
and overnight temperatures in the mid to upper-70s will make for
major to extreme heat risk for all. Be sure to take care of yourself
by limiting your time outdoors and staying hydrated. Take care of
others as well by checking in on those who are more vulnerable to
heat.

These hot temperatures look to persist into Monday, but the heat
wave will finally break come Tuesday as the high moves off the west
and a front comes down from the south. This pattern change will also
increase rain and thunderstorm chances yet again early next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 537 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

A repeat of Tuesday night's forecast is unfolding this evening as
another MCS sinks through Kentucky. Given how well the complex of
storms approaching Middle TN is holding together (and how little
grasp the CAMs have on its future), opted to hang onto PROB30s at
all sites for the next several hours. This line may crumble apart
altogether, or it may hold together even better than last night.
Other than a very uncertain convective forecast, the rest is
essentially a persistence forecast with light south/southwest
winds and scattered Cu with cirrus shields overspreading the area
from anvils upstream.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Nashville      76  96  77  98 /  20  20  10  10
Clarksville    75  95  77  97 /  10  20   0   0
Crossville     70  88  72  89 /  30  30  10  10
Columbia       75  97  77  99 /  20  10  10   0
Cookeville     72  90  74  92 /  20  40  10  10
Jamestown      70  88  72  90 /  20  30  10  10
Lawrenceburg   74  94  76  96 /  20  20  10  10
Murfreesboro   74  96  76  98 /  20  20  10  10
Waverly        75  96  77  97 /  20  10  10   0

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Sunday for TNZ005>010-023>033-
056>065-075-077-078-093>095.

&&

SHORT TERM...Clements
LONG TERM....Clements
AVIATION.....Dirkes

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 12, 6:29 PM CDT, 11 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
629 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

TNZ094-130015-
Lawrence TN-
629 PM CDT Wed Aug 12 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN LAWRENCE COUNTY THROUGH
715 PM CDT...

At 629 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Loretto, or 8 miles southwest of Lawrenceburg, moving east at 15 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...
Lawrenceburg, Loretto, St. Joseph, Leoma, and Westpoint.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8746 3507 8759 3512 8759 3523 8754
      3518 8722 3517 8722 3516 8720 3515 8720
      3514 8721 3513 8720 3512 8720 3512 8722
      3510 8721 3506 8722 3500 8722
TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 277DEG 14KT 3515 8742

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

CC

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 11, 9:04 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXClay, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett and 3 more56 min
Aug 11, 10:52 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOHXDavidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson3 hr
Aug 11, 11:24 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXCannon, Coffee, Grundy, Rutherford, Warren51 min
Aug 11, 11:40 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOHXCannon, Coffee, Rutherford, Warren2 hr
Aug 12, 6:29 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXLawrence46 min

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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.