Tennessee, 1998

Flash Flooding and Flooding in Tennessee, August 12, 1998

August 12, 1998 · NWS MEG · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

3 flood, 2 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$13,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Memphis radar (KNQA), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:30 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flood, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Dyer

When
August 12, 12:30 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Dyer County, Dyersburg
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.059, -89.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several streets were flooded forcing about 30 residents to be evacuated.

Flood, Madison

When
August 12, 2:40 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where
Madison County, Jackson
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.608, -88.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several streets were briefly flooded due to heavy rainfall.

Flood, Lake

When
August 12, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Lake County, Tiptonville
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.335, -89.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were covered with water.

Flood, Obion

When
August 12, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Obion County, Union City
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.358, -89.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few roads were covered with water.

Flash Flood, Fayette

When
August 12, 8:30 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Fayette County, Macon
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.197, -89.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twelve residents had to be evacuated as water reached into several yards. Several roads were closed due to flooding.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5664977, 5664978, 5664979, 5664980, 5664981.