Tennessee, 2002

Flooding in Tennessee, March 17 to 18, 2002

March 17 to 18, 2002 · NWS MRX · 36 events in 36 counties and zones

Widespread flooding occurred across most of East Tennessee with the hardest hit counties in central East Tennessee including Bledsoe, Meigs, Roane, Rhea, Loudon, Blount, Knox, and Sevier Counties. Rainfall totals between five and eight inches were reported in 36 hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 36 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
$5.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
36

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MRX wrote it up.

Widespread flooding occurred across most of East Tennessee with the hardest hit counties in central East Tennessee including Bledsoe, Meigs, Roane, Rhea, Loudon, Blount, Knox, and Sevier Counties. Rainfall totals between five and eight inches were reported in 36 hours. Numerous major rivers flooded including the Clinch, Powell, Sequatchie, and Pigeon Rivers. Total damage estimates were calculated to be over 5 million dollars.

What forecasters said that day

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 Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 17, 3:27 AM EST, 5 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 17, 3:27 AM EST, 5 hours 18 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
327 AM EST SUN MAR 17 2002

CONVECTIVE COMPLEX OVER WEST AND MIDDLE TN ASSOCIATED WITH LOW LEVEL
JET BEGINNING TO SHIFT EAST INTO MY FORECAST AREA. EXPECT MOST OF IT
WILL MOVE OUT THIS MORNING AS JET MOVES OFF TO THE NORTHEAST.
ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE MORE SCATTERED AND LIGHT. WILL GO
LIKELY POPS EVERYWHERE. TONIGHT INGREDIENTS COMING TOGETHER FOR A
HEAVY RAIN EVENT. VERY DEEP/STRONG LIFT AND CONVERGENCE AS SHORTWAVE
AND WEAK SURFACE REFLECTION MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS.
PRECIP WATER VALUES AROUND 1.5. ETA FOUS GIVES 1.94 OVERNIGHT AND
QPFERD PLACES MY FORECAST AREA DIRECTLY UNDER AN AREA WHERE RAINFALL
IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE. ONE HOUR FLASH FLOOD
GUIDANCE FOR MY AREA IS AROUND 1-1.5 FOR ONE HOUR AND 1.7-2.2 FOR
THREE HOURS. AFTER COORDINATING WITH JKL AND OHX WILL ISSUED FLASH
FLOOD WATCH FOR THE ENTIRE AREA TONIGHT. FRONT WILL MOVE JUST TO THE
SOUTH ON MONDAY. WIDESPREAD RAIN WILL BE ONGOING AT THE START OF THE
PERIOD BUT SHOULD TAPER OFF A BIT AS FRONT MOVES SOUTH. WILL ASSIGN
LIKELY POPS THROUGHOUT.

GUIDANCE TEMPS CLOSE AND LOOK REASONABLE.

THANKS FOR THE COORDINATION OHX...JKL AND RLX.

CHA   72  59  70  54 /  70 100  60  50
TYS   68  56  68  53 /  70 100  60  50
TRI   65  52  64  49 /  70 100  60  50
OQT   68  56  68  53 /  70 100  60  50

.MRX...
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES NCZ060>061.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES TNZ012>018...
TNZ035>047...TNZ067>074...TNZ081>087...TNZ098>102.

VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT FOR ZONES VAZ001>002...
VAZ005>006...VAZ008.

AUSTIN

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

36 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Anderson

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Anderson forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.118, -84.198 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Bledsoe

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Bledsoe forecast zone
Property damage
$5.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.596, -85.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Blount/Smoky Mountains

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Blount/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.687, -83.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Campbell

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Campbell forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.404, -84.149 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Claiborne

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Claiborne forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.486, -83.660 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Cocke/Smoky Mountains

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Cocke/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Grainger

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Grainger forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.276, -83.510 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hamblen

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Hamblen forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.217, -83.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hancock

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Hancock forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.524, -83.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hawkins

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Hawkins forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.441, -82.945 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Jefferson

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.051, -83.446 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Johnson

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Johnson forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.455, -81.852 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Knox

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Knox forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.993, -83.937 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Loudon

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Loudon forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.735, -84.312 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Marion

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Marion forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.129, -85.622 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, McMinn

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
McMinn forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.425, -84.617 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Meigs

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Meigs forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.513, -84.813 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Morgan

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Morgan forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.135, -84.649 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, North Sevier

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
North Sevier forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Northwest Blount

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Blount forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.687, -83.925 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Northwest Carter

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Carter forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.293, -82.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Northwest Cocke

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Cocke forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.925, -83.121 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Northwest Greene

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Greene forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.175, -82.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Northwest Monroe

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Monroe forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.443, -84.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Rhea

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Rhea forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.609, -84.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Roane

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Roane forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.848, -84.523 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Scott

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Scott forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.429, -84.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sequatchie

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Sequatchie forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.371, -85.411 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sevier/Smoky Mountains

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Sevier/Smoky Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.785, -83.524 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Southeast Carter

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Carter forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.293, -82.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Southeast Greene

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Greene forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.175, -82.846 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Southeast Monroe

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Monroe forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.443, -84.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sullivan

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.513, -82.304 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Unicoi

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Unicoi forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.111, -82.432 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Union

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Union forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.288, -83.837 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Washington

When
March 17, 8:45 AM EST to March 18, 8:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.293, -82.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, March 2002

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: 5280176, 5280177, 5280178, 5280179, 5280180, 5280181, 5280182, 5280183, 5280184, 5280185, 5280186, 5280187, 5281256, 5281257, 5281258, 5281259, 5281260, 5281261, 5281262, 5281263, 5281264, 5281265, 5281266, 5281267, 5281324, 5281325, 5281326, 5281327, 5281328, 5281329, 5281330, 5281331, 5281332, 5281333, 5281334, 5281335.