17 counties in Tennessee requested federal assistance due to the flooding. Doppler radar estimated as much as 6 to 8 inches of rain fell over the southern part of Middle Tennessee during this flood event.
Every event with a place to put it; 50 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS OHX wrote it up.
17 counties in Tennessee requested federal assistance due to the flooding. The counties are: Anderson, Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Cumberland, Fentress, Giles, Hardin, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, McNairy, Maury, Putnam, Warren and Wayne.Doppler radar estimated as much as 6 to 8 inches of rain fell over the southern part of Middle Tennessee during this flood event.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jan 23, 3:10 AM CST, 3 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 310 AM CST WED JAN 23 2002 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE CENTERED OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC COAST WITH A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT LOCATED OVER THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES AND CENTRAL PLAINS. MSAS SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A WARM FRONT STRETCHING ACROSS THE MIDSTATE FROM THE MISSOURI BOOTHEEL TO NASHVILLE TO CHATTANOOGA. FRONT HAS BEEN BULGING STEADILY NORTHWARD IN THE PAST FEW HOURS. AT UPPER LEVELS...RIDGE AXIS FROM EASTERN CANADA SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE MID ATLANTIC COAST. STRONG UPPER TROUGH OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST AND SOUTHWEST US WITH GOOD SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW OVER THE PLAINS...MISSISSIPPI AND OHIO VALLEYS. GOOD UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AIDED BY THE LOW LEVEL FEED OF GULF MOISTURE AND THE PRESENCE OF THE WASRM FRONT IS PRODUCING EXTENSIVE MID LEVEL UVV AND NUMEROUS SHOWERS OVER THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE AREA. MODELS INDICATE THAT THIS AREA OF DIVERGENCE WILL MOVE OFF TO THE EAST INTO THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS BY 12Z. WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASING AND SURFACE TEMPS BUMPING THE 60S TODAY...EXPECT SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A THUNDERSTORM TODAY EVEN THOUGH UPPER LEVEL INFLUENCES ARE DIMINISHING. OTHER WEAK UPPER LEVEL IMPULSES MOVE THROUGH THE MIDSTATE TONIGHT AS THE MAIN H5 TROUGH MOVES INTO THE PLAINS. UPPER HALF OF THE TROUGH SHEARS OFF AND MOVES THROUGH NEW ENGLAND ON FRIDAY WHILE THE LOWER HALF MOVES THROUGH THE MIDSTATE FRIDAY NIGHT. SURFACE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED INTO THE MIDSTATE THURSDAY MORNING WITH COOLER AND DRIER AIR EXPECTED FOR THE WEEKEND. RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE INCREASING OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE MIDSTATE BUT ARE STILL BELOW FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE VALUES. IF UPPER SUPPORT MOVES OFF TO THE EAST AS EXPECTED...THEN WE MAY SEE A BREAK IN THE RAINFALL...GIVING TIME FOR DRAIN OFF. FLOOD WATCH NOT ON THE MENU YET...BUT WILL CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION. BNA WW 068/055 059/038 048 18888 CSV WW 063/053 060/035 047 18979 .BNA...NONE. JLM
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075>080-093>097-241030- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 530 AM CST WED JAN 23 2002 WET WEATHER WILL CONTINUE ACROSS TENNESSEE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE MID ATLANTIC COAST...AND LOW PRESSURE OVER THE PLAINS STATES...WILL MAINTAIN A SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE INTO THE VOLUNTEER STATE. OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. PARTS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED MORE THAN AN INCH OF RAINFALL AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THURSDAY. LOCALIZED FLOODING MAY BECOME A CONCERN. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING ON ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITY FOR DRIVERS. AS WARMER AND MORE UNSTABLE AIR MOVES INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE...THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE. ALSO...INCREASING WINDS THROUGHOUT THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BRING THE THREAT FOR STRONGER STORMS. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS LATE TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. THE SEVERE THREAT INCLUDES DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. WITH THE SLIGHT POSSIBILITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT...ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED IN AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. OTHERWISE...THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED. CHECK THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN. SH
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075>080-093>097-241030- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 530 AM CST WED JAN 23 2002 WET WEATHER WILL CONTINUE ACROSS TENNESSEE THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE MID ATLANTIC COAST...AND LOW PRESSURE OVER THE PLAINS STATES...WILL MAINTAIN A SOUTHERLY FLOW WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE INTO THE VOLUNTEER STATE. OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL DEVELOP...ESPECIALLY TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY. PARTS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED MORE THAN AN INCH OF RAINFALL AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THURSDAY. LOCALIZED FLOODING MAY BECOME A CONCERN. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL CAUSE PONDING ON ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITY FOR DRIVERS. AS WARMER AND MORE UNSTABLE AIR MOVES INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE...THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE. ALSO...INCREASING WINDS THROUGHOUT THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BRING THE THREAT FOR STRONGER STORMS. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS LATE TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT FOR AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. THE SEVERE THREAT INCLUDES DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. WITH THE SLIGHT POSSIBILITY FOR SEVERE WEATHER LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT...ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED IN AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65. OTHERWISE...THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED. CHECK THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN. SH
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 144 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:13 UTC.
50 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Situation report from Cumberland county EMA reported 3 roads washed out and 20 roads closed.
EMA reported several people had to be evacuated from their mobile homes in Waynesboro. Also, several roads were covered with water around the county.
Several families evacuated in advance of rising water in downtown Lawrenceburg. Shoal Creek was out of its banks. Many roads, including Highway 43 in Loretto was under water. 6 bridges were closed because of damage or destroyed. 39 roads were closed. 3 homes were damaged and 2 people were evacuated.
Several streams were out of their banks.
Flooding was reported to the NWS, and some roads were closed.
EMA reported water on U.S. Hihgway 64 was up to headlights on 18 wheeler.
Water was over some roads and threatening residences. Several auto accidents reported due to flooding.20 homes, 10 trailers, 27 businesses received damage. 50 people were evacuated. 25 bridges and 30 roads were closed. 50 hay bales were destroyed. $2,000,000 worth of damage was estimated by Maury County EMA.
Highway dept. reported water was over many roads, and creeks and streams were at bank full.
EMA reported roads were closed in Auburntown and Bradyville due to high water. Streams were out of their banks.
Sugar Creek was out of its banks in the southwest part of the county. Sandusky Road was impassable. 98 roads were closed and 12 bridges were under water at the height of the flood. 6 homes were damaged, one mobile home was destroyed, and 3 businesses were damaged.
Culvert collapsed at Fisk and Old Kentucky Road. 3 people were injured in one car. 3 homes and one business were damaged. 10 roads and 2 bridges were closed. 2 people were killed while clearing a culvert during a heavy rain at 10 AM CST. There was no flooding occurring at that time.
Low water crossing was flooded at Watertown. Water was up to a bridge at Statesville.
Electric company reported a few trees fell on power lines around the county.
Highway 12 in downtown Ashland City was impassable for 30 minutes. 3 homes and 1 business received damage.
Sheriff's office reported several secondary roads were flooded.
Sheriff's office reported water across Highway 49.
Sheriff reported several streets in Camden were flooded.
Sheriff reported several roads were closed around the county due to high water.
Highway 48 was flooded in several spots. An elderly couple had to be rescued from their home which was surrounded by water.
Several roads flooded in Red Boiling Spgs. Sheriff also said low lying roads also flooded in other parts of the county.
Sheriff reported Greer Road in the Greenbrier-Ridgetop area was under water.
911 center reported standing water on some roads in the county.
911 center reported a creek flooded a ball field.
Sheriff's office reported standing water on many roads.
Sheriff's office reported streams out of their banks at Sugar Creek Road, Roaring River Road, and Hwy 135.
Highway department reported streams and creeks were out of its banks in the southern part of the county. 1 home was damaged.
Highway department reported several roads still closed. Streams and creeks were out of their banks.
Millions of gallons of water roared through a breached dam on Dave Risner Road, affecting the family of Mike and Patti Risner. A car was swept away. A building, storing antique collectables, was washed downstream. A substantial block spring house was leveled, and a footbridge was washed out. Trees and utility poles were swept away as well.
EMA reported several intersections were flooded in Nashville.
EMA reported numerous roads were under water.
6-8 inches of water on Old Hwy 127.
Sheriff's office reported numerous roads with water on them.
Sheriff's office reported a few roads had water on them from stream overflow.
Sheriff's office reported several roads were flooded around the county. A Knox county woman, age 31, fell into or tried to wade across a fast moving creek between 1030 AM-1100 AM CST at Sue Warren Trail at Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
Highway department reported some roads closed due to stream overflow. Damage to roads and bridges estimated at $225,000.
Water over roads due to stream overflow. 6 bridges and 2 roads were damaged or destroyed. 5 homes, 7 trailers and 2 businesses were damaged. One estimate of damage was about a million dollars.
Several roads were closed. Some cars were caught in flash flood waters. Report was from Sheriff's office.
Sheriff reported back roads still closed. 14 homes, 27 trailers, and 3 businesses were damaged. 88 people had to be evacuated.
Highway department reported streams and creeks were out of their banks but not on the roads. 2 homes were damaged.
Highway dept. reported some roads still closed, and streams and creeks were out of their banks. 21 homes were damaged because water covered the floors of homes and HVAC systems. 12 people had to be evacuated and placed in shelters.
Hwy Dept. reported several roads still closed. Streams and creeks were out of its banks. Damage to roads estimated at $100.000.
Sheriff's office reported roads still have high water on them. Streams and creeks are out of their banks. One home was damaged, 2 bridges and 8 roads were closed. County schools closed at 930 AM CST.
Hwy dept. reported one road still closed, and streams and creeks out of its banks. Coffee county schools closed at 1030 AM CST.
Hwy Dept. reported low lying areas are still flash flooding. Streams and creeks are out of their banks.
Hwy Dept. reported some roads still flash flooding. Smith Fork Creek was out of its banks as high as 10 feet. Center Hill Lake rose 30 feet at one point.
911 center reported several roads still closed. Streams and creeks were out of its banks. Water was in some basements. 3 homes and one business received damage. 11 people had to be evacuated.
911 center reported several roads still closed. Streams and creeks were out of their banks. 10 homes, 2 trailers and 3 utilities were damaged. 12 bridges and 20 roads were closed. 15 people had to be evacuated. Damage estimate was $250,000.
EMA reported roads still closed and streams out of their banks. 5 homes and 4 trailers were damaged. 3 people had to be evacuated.
Highway department reported 3 or 4 roads still closed. Streams were running bank full. Damage to roads and bridges placed at $150K. 8 people had to be evacuated.
EMA reported 6 roads closed, and one family had to be evacuated.
Highway Dept. reported some roads still have high water on them. Streams and creeks were still out of their banks.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Wilson | 2002-01-24 | 31 | Female | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, January 2002
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: 5279143, 5278842, 5278751, 5278752, 5278753, 5278838, 5278835, 5278836, 5278837, 5278839, 5278841, 5278840, 5278843, 5278849, 5278844, 5278845, 5278846, 5278926, 5278847, 5278930, 5278925, 5278929, 5278931, 5278932, 5278936, 5278937, 5278941, 5279144, 5278927, 5278848, 5278933, 5278934, 5278935, 5278928, 5278938, 5278939, 5278940, 5279039, 5279040, 5279041, and more.