A nearly stationary front across the Tennessee valley region continued to aid in the development of very heavy rainfall that contributed to flash flooding that evolved into a large areal flood event across southeast through northeast Tennessee.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 nearly stationary front across the Tennessee valley region continued to aid in the development of very heavy rainfall that contributed to flash flooding that evolved into a large areal flood event across southeast through northeast Tennessee.
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 Sep 26, 8:20 AM EST, 4 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
920 AM EDT SAT SEP 26 2009
.DISCUSSION...
CURRENT SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN
KY...WITH ITS ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT EXTENDING SOUTH ACROSS THE
CUMBERLAND PLATEAU. IN ADDITION...A COLD AIR DAMMING SCENARIO HAS
DEVELOPED OVER THE CAROLINAS...WHICH WILL LIKELY HELP TO PROVIDE
MORE LIFT AND MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TODAY.
MODELS ALSO INDICATE STRONG UPPER-LEVEL DYNAMICS (RIGHT ENTRANCE
REGION OF A 250 MB JET STREAK) MOVING OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH A
VERY MOIST AIR MASS IN PLACE (PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AROUND 2
INCHES). THESE MULTIPLE METEOROLOGICAL FACTORS WILL COMBINE WITH AN
ALREADY SATURATED GROUND (ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN CUMBERLAND
PLATEAU) TO PRODUCE A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT FLOODING PROBLEM OVER
THE FORECAST AREA TODAY.
OVERALL...CURRENT FORECAST LOOKS TO BE ON TRACK...BUT WILL PLAN TO
UPDATE THIS MORNING TO TWEAK PRECIP WORDING A LITTLE TO EMPHASIZE
WIDESPREAD CONVECTION MORE.
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
CHEROKEE...CLAY.
TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
ANDERSON...BLEDSOE...BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS...BRADLEY...
CAMPBELL...CLAIBORNE...COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS...EAST POLK...
GRAINGER...HAMBLEN...HAMILTON...HANCOCK...HAWKINS...
JEFFERSON...JOHNSON...KNOX...LOUDON...MARION...MCMINN...
MEIGS...MORGAN...NW BLOUNT...NORTH SEVIER...NORTHWEST
CARTER...NORTHWEST COCKE...NORTHWEST GREENE...NORTHWEST
MONROE...RHEA...ROANE...SCOTT TN...SEQUATCHIE...SEVIER
SMOKY MOUNTAINS...SOUTHEAST CARTER...SOUTHEAST GREENE...
SOUTHEAST MONROE...SULLIVAN...UNICOI...UNION...WASHINGTON
TN...WEST POLK.
VA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
LEE...RUSSELL...SCOTT...WASHINGTON...WISE.
&&
DMGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1010 AM EDT SAT SEP 26 2009 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-271000- 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- 1010 AM EDT (910 AM CDT) SAT SEP 26 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST TENNESSEE...SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND EXTREME SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL SLOWLY MOVE INTO A VERY MOIST ATMOSPHERE OVER THE REGION TO CREATE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR HEAVY RAINFALL TODAY. WITH THE GROUND ALREADY FULLY SATURATED FROM RAINFALL EARLIER THIS WEEK...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL A SIGNIFICANT FLOODING EVENT TODAY... ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN CUMBERLAND PLATEAU AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. IN ADDITION TO THE FLOODING THREAT...SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE STRONG GUSTY WINDS THIS AFTERNOON. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY TO ASSIST WITH REPORTS OF FLOODING. DMG
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1049 AM EDT SAT SEP 26 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0536 PM FLASH FLOOD 12 ENE JONESVILLE 36.75N 82.92W
09/25/2009 LEE VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
HWY 612 IN STICKLEYVILLE IMPASSABLE DUE TO FLOODING.
REPORTED BY DISPATCH.
0600 PM FLASH FLOOD 5 SE JONESVILLE 36.64N 83.05W
09/25/2009 LEE VA DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
HWY 782 IMPASSABLE DUE TO FLOODING. REPORTED BY HWY DEPT.
0645 PM FLASH FLOOD SODDY-DAISY 35.26N 85.17W
09/25/2009 HAMILTON TN LAW ENFORCEMENT
EIGHT ROADS CLOSED IN THE SODDY DAISY AREA DUE TO
FLOODING. REPORTED BY SODDY-DAISY PD.
&&
MEPPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1151 AM EDT SAT SEP 26 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1140 AM FLASH FLOOD WISE 36.98N 82.58W
09/26/2009 WISE VA LAW ENFORCEMENT
DISPATCH REPORTS MOST STREAMS IN THE COUNTY OUT OF THEIR
BANKS. ALL ROADS NEAR STREAMS ARE FLOODING OR HAVE
STANDING WATER.
&&
MEPThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
33 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding from Dayton to Spring City, Tennessee. Several inches to around a foot of water was reported over highways 27/29 and 302 in Rhea county.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding in the Athens, Tennessee area, with several inches to around a foot of water reported to be over highway 30 and flowing across low lying areas along highway 307.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding from Sweetwater to Madisonville, Tennessee. Several inches to around a foot of water was reported over highways 322 and 68 in Monroe County.
Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding in the Speedwell area, with all streams in vicinity out of their banks and several inches of water was reported to be over and flowing across low lying areas along highway 63.
Areal flooding was reported across much of the Cleveland, Tennessee area. Many roads were deemed impassable and several persons were stranded in their vehicles. Flood waters rose to around a foot to a foot and a half across low lying areas in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Areal flooding resulted in several streets becoming impassable due to flooding. Water piled up to around a foot in several streets in the low lying areas of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding in the Decatur, Tennessee area, with several inches to around a foot of water reported to be over highway 58.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding in the Ducktown to Isabella, Tennessee area. Several inches to around a foot of water was reported to be over rural area roads and along highways 64/74/40.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding from near Oak Ridge to Clinton, Tennessee. Several inches of water was reported to be over and flowing across low lying areas along highways 61, 95 and 10 in Anderson county.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding from Alcoa to Maryville, Tennessee. Several area roads had several inches to nearly a foot of water over the roads in this vicinity.
Areal flooding occurred on a few streets in southeast Knoxville. Several inches to nearly a foot of water was reported over the streets, with several areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along old highway 95 and near highway 11 in Lenoir City, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along and near highways 27/29 and highway 62 in Wartburg, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the roads, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highways 421 and 67 in Mountain City, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Heavy rainfall resulted in flooding in the Pikeville, Tennessee area, with several inches to around a foot of water reported to be over area roads and flowing across low lying areas along highway 28/127 in Bledsoe County.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Several inches to around a foot of water was reported to be over and flowing across low lying areas along highway 27 in southern Marion county.
Areal flooding occurred near highway 75 in Midtown, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road in this vicinity, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highways 36 and 11 west in Kingsport, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along and near highway 35 in Sevierville, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along and near highway 61 in Maynardville, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding in the Dunlap, Tennessee area, with several inches to around a foot of water reported to be over highway 28 and flowing across low lying areas along highway 127 in Sequatchie county.
Areal flooding occurred along highway 25 from near Newport to Bridgeport, Tennessee. Several inches to nearly a foot of water was over the road, with several areas impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highway 25 east in and around Bean Station, Tennessee. Several inches to nearly a foot of water was over the road, with a few areas becoming impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highways 11 east and 25 east in and around Morristown, Tennessee. Several inches to nearly a foot of water was over a few of the area roads, with several areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highway 92 from near Jefferson City to near Gravelly Hill, Tennessee. Several inches to nearly a foot of water was over the road, with several areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highways 321 and 19 east in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highway 107 in and near Unicoi, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over a few locations along the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along highways 1 and 70 in and near Rogersville, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Heavy rainfall resulted in areal flooding from Jacksboro to La Follette, Tennessee. Several area roads had several inches to nearly a foot of water over the roads in this vicinity.
Areal flooding occurred across highway 27/29 in and around Oneida, Tennessee, resulting in several inches of water over the road.
Areal flooding occurred along a small area along highways 67/321 in Johnson City, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a small area briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along and near highway 63 in Sneedville, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
Areal flooding occurred along and near highways 321, 350 and 11 east in and near Greeneville, Tennessee. Several inches of water was over the road, with a few areas briefly impassable due to the flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, September 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: 198225, 198221, 198223, 198217, 198149, 198150, 198222, 198224, 198228, 198229, 198346, 198347, 198349, 198356, 198219, 198220, 198350, 198357, 198351, 198352, 198226, 198289, 198291, 198293, 198294, 198353, 198358, 198355, 198230, 198288, 198359, 198360, 198354.