A cold front tracking through the region triggered scattered thunderstorms on the 9th. A few of the storms produced damaging thunderstorm wind.
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 cold front tracking through the region triggered scattered thunderstorms on the 9th. A few of the storms produced damaging thunderstorm wind.
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 Aug 9, 2:40 PM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 340 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 .SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)...CURRENT SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A QUASI-STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY...WITH A VERY MOIST AIR MASS LINGERING OVER THE FORECAST AREA. AREA RADARS REVEAL A LARGE AREA OF CONVECTION OCCURRING AHEAD OF AN UPPER-LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH...AS IT MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS THE TN RIVER VALLEY. THIS SHORT WAVE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRODUCE SCATTERED CONVECTION TONIGHT...AS ITS PARENT LONG WAVE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH FURTHER AMPLIFIES OVER THE TN RIVER VALLEY. THIS UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH WILL PUSH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVER THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA ON FRIDAY...WITH THE MODELS REVEALING SOME DISCREPANCIES WITH ITS TIMING. FOR NOW...WILL COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE NAM MODEL'S MORNING PASSAGE...AND THE GFS MODEL'S AFTERNOON PASSAGE BY MENTIONING LIKELY POPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE INSTABILITY OF THE LOCAL AIR MASS WILL GREATLY DEPEND ON THE TIMING OF THE COLD FRONT...BUT IT STILL APPEARS THAT A MODERATELY UNSTABLE AIR MASS COULD DEVELOP BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON RESULTING IN A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH DAMAGING WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. A DRIER AND SLIGHTLY COOLER AIR MASS THEN MOVES INTO THE FORECAST AREA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT FOR SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. AS FOR TEMPS...GFS AND NAM GUIDANCE NUMBERS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...AND WILL COMPROMISE WHERE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES ARE NOTED. .LONG TERM (SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE IN CONTROL WILL PROVIDE A QUIET WEATHER PATTERN FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. A SERIES OF WEAK IMPULSES WILL MOVE THROUGH TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. WITH A WARMING TREND AND LOW LEVEL MOISTURE RETURNING TO THE AREA...COULD SEE OCCASIONAL ISOLATED CONVECTION DEVELOP THROUGH THE LATER PART OF THE EXTENDED. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... CHATTANOOGA AIRPORT, TN 70 86 65 87 64 / 60 70 30 0 0 KNOXVILLE AIRPORT, TN 69 84 64 85 61 / 60 70 30 10 0 OAK RIDGE, TN 69 84 64 85 59 / 60 70 30 0 0 TRI CITIES AIRPORT, TN 65 82 60 83 55 / 60 70 40 20 0 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && DMG/MJB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 412 AM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-100800- 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- 412 AM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 /312 AM CDT THU AUG 9 2012/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... SCATTERED STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THE MAIN IMPACTS FROM THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS...ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP ON FRIDAY AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER...AND HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS COULD CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING OR FLOOD PRONE AREAS. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. MUCH DRIER WEATHER RETURNS BY SATURDAY BEHIND THE PASSING COLD FRONT. THUS...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED FOR THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED TODAY AND FRIDAY. TG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 422 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 TNZ040>043-092115- COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN-NORTHWEST COCKE TN-NORTHWEST GREENE TN-SOUTHEAST GREENE TN- 422 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GREENE AND COCKE COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM... AT 416 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR NEWPORT...WHICH WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. IN ADDITION TO GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
428 PM EDT THU AUG 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0355 PM TSTM WND DMG SSW RUTLEDGE 36.27N 83.52W
08/09/2012 GRAINGER TN 911 CALL CENTER
ONE TREE DOWN ON HOWELL RIVER RD.
&&SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 433 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 TNZ015-016-039-VAZ001-005-092115- HAMBLEN TN-HANCOCK TN-HAWKINS TN-LEE VA-SCOTT VA- 433 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LEE...SCOTT...HAWKINS...HANCOCK AND HAMBLEN COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM... AT 430 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES SOUTH OF SOUTH WALLINS TO RUSSELLVILLE...WHICH WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. IN ADDITION TO GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
440 PM EDT THU AUG 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 PM TSTM WND DMG KNOXVILLE 35.97N 83.95W
08/09/2012 KNOX TN 911 CALL CENTER
TREES DOWN ACROSS WESTERN KNOX COUNTY
&&SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 448 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 VAZ008-092145- WASHINGTON VA- 448 PM EDT THU AUG 9 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY UNTIL 545 PM... AT 444 PM...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTH OF MOUNTAIN CITY...WHICH WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. IN ADDITION TO GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN...OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES PRIMARY KILLERS ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORMS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
449 PM EDT THU AUG 09 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0405 PM TSTM WND DMG HARROGATE-SHAWANEE 36.58N 83.64W
08/09/2012 CLAIBORNE TN 911 CALL CENTER
A FEW TREES DOWN IN HARROGATE
&&The Roanoke radar (KFCX), 144 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:23 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The highway department personnel reported a couple of trees downed by thunderstorm wind 4 miles north of Meadowview.
Law enforcement personnel reported a tree downed by thunderstorm wind 5 miles southwest of Glade Spring on Cedar Creek Road.
Law enforcement personnel reported trees downed by thunderstorm wind countywide.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, August 2012
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: 402316, 402318, 402319.