A strong low pressure tracked across southwest North Carolina bringing damaging non-thunderstorm winds to the area during the morning hours on the 9th. The strongest winds occurred over the higher elevations.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 MRX wrote it up.
A strong low pressure tracked across southwest North Carolina bringing damaging non-thunderstorm winds to the area during the morning hours on the 9th. The strongest winds occurred over the higher elevations.
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 Dec 9, 12:42 AM EST, 1 hour 48 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1242 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009
.AVIATION...WARM FRONT TRACKING THROUGH THE AREA BRINGING IFR
CONDITIONS AND RAIN EARLY IN THE TAF PERIOD WITH IMPROVING BACK
MVFR/VFR AROUND 14Z. STRONG WINDS ALOFT AND LIGHT WINDS AT THE
SURFACE WILL RESULT IN LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR EARLY IN THE TAF PERIOD.
SURFACE WINDS WILL INCREASE IN THE 10-14Z TIME FRAME WITH WINDS
GUSTING UP TO 35-40KTS.
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST WEDNESDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: CHEROKEE...CLAY.
TN...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST WEDNESDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS...COCKE
SMOKY MOUNTAINS...EAST POLK...JOHNSON...MCMINN...NW
BLOUNT...NORTH SEVIER...NORTHWEST CARTER...NORTHWEST
COCKE...NORTHWEST GREENE...NORTHWEST MONROE...SEVIER SMOKY
MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST CARTER...SOUTHEAST GREENE...SOUTHEAST
MONROE...SULLIVAN...UNICOI...WASHINGTON TN...WEST POLK.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM
EST /6 PM CST/ WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: BLEDSOE...
CAMPBELL...CLAIBORNE...MARION...MORGAN...SCOTT TN...
SEQUATCHIE.
VA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST WEDNESDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: WASHINGTON.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST WEDNESDAY FOR
THE FOLLOWING ZONES: LEE...RUSSELL...SCOTT...WISE.
&&
GHHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 239 PM EST TUE DEC 8 2009 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-091945- 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-NW 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-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON- 239 PM EST TUE DEC 8 2009 /139 PM CST TUE DEC 8 2009/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THEN MOVE NORTHEAST TO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT AROUND THIS LOW PRESSURE WILL INCREASE THE SOUTHERLY WINDS ALOFT ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. VERY STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHERLY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND FOOTHILLS OF THE FAR EASTERN TENNESSEE MOUNTAINS...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE APPEARS LIKELY. SEE MEMNPWMRX FOR MORE DETAILS. A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS EAST TENNESSEE... SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA...AND SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. DUE TO THE VERY STRONG WINDS ALOFT...THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FROZEN PRECIPITATION IS POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND POSSIBLY SATURDAY...MOST LIKELY FALLING AS SNOW OR SLEET. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR WIND DAMAGE REPORTS. DH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1222 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 TNZ068-081>085-098>100-090615- BLEDSOE-BRADLEY-HAMILTON-LOUDON-MARION-MCMINN-MEIGS-RHEA-SEQUATCHIE- 1222 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE AFFECTING BLEDSOE...BRADLEY...HAMILTON...LOUDON...MARION...MCMINN...MEIGS...RHEA AND SEQUATCHIE COUNTIES... AT 1119 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR JASPER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR...MAY OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. TURN AROUND DONT DROWN 17
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 114 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 NCZ060-061-TNZ071-072-085>087-100>102-090715- BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS-BRADLEY-CHEROKEE-CLAY-EAST POLK-MCMINN-NORTHWEST MONROE-NW BLOUNT-SOUTHEAST MONROE-WEST POLK- 114 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE AFFECTING BLOUNT...BRADLEY... CHEROKEE...CLAY...MCMINN...MONROE AND POLK COUNTIES... AT 113 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF CHARLESTON TO 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF RINGGOLD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR...MAY ALSO OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. TURN AROUND DONT DROWN DGS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 143 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 TNZ014-036>040-069-070-073-090745- ANDERSON-CLAIBORNE-GRAINGER-HAMBLEN-JEFFERSON-KNOX-NORTH SEVIER-NORTHWEST COCKE-UNION- 143 AM EST WED DEC 9 2009 ...STRONG SHOWERS WILL BE AFFECTING ANDERSON...CLAIBORNE... COCKE...GRAINGER...HAMBLEN...JEFFERSON...KNOX...SEVIER AND UNION COUNTIES... AT 142 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG SHOWERS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM CLINTON TO 8 MILES EAST OF MADISONVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 75 MPH. WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE SHOWERS...AND HEAVY RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED. DGS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Utility company personnel reported several trees downed by non-thunderstorm winds countywide.
Law enforcement personnel reported several trees downed by non-thunderstorm winds countywide.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, December 2009
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: 202391, 202392.