Thunderstorm Wind, Grainger
- When
- August 28, 3:24 PM EST
- Where
- Grainger County, Buffalo Spgs
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 36.220, -83.570
A tree was reported down across Highway 92 at Buffalo Springs.
Damaging Winds in Tennessee, August 28, 2016
A few showers and thunderstorms developed later in the afternoon across Tennessee. Some of these storms became severe in a slightly to moderately unstable environment near a weak air mass boundary.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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.
A few showers and thunderstorms developed later in the afternoon across Tennessee. Some of these storms became severe in a slightly to moderately unstable environment near a weak air mass boundary.
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 Aug 28, 1:46 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 28, 1:46 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Morristown TN 246 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight and Monday)...The mid level ridge remains over the region for the short term. After any lingering convection this evening dissipates...should see a mostly clear night. By Monday the axis of the mid level ridge shifts west...with subsidence and drying shown across our area. Model soundings show little instability...but for now will keep the previous forecast of slight chance PoPs going for the afternoon. Will make some tweaks up to MAV max temps once again. .LONG TERM...(Monday night through Sunday)...Minimal changes made to the extended forecast as the ridge of high pressure remains the dominate weather feature through much of this week. This will provide continued above normal temperatures through at least Thursday. Strong daytime heating combined with a few weak disturbances will bring the chance for isolated to scattered convection most afternoons, with the best chance across the higher elevations. Models are still inconsistent on the finer details, but at this point it looks like a stronger frontal boundary will move in from the north and cross the area during the Thursday/Friday timeframe, bringing a better chance for more widespread coverage of showers/thunderstorms for the end of the workweek and just slightly cooler temperatures for the weekend. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Chattanooga Airport, TN 72 94 70 93 / 20 20 10 10 Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 70 94 68 92 / 20 20 10 10 Oak Ridge, TN 71 94 70 93 / 20 20 10 10 Tri Cities Airport, TN 64 92 64 91 / 20 20 10 20 && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...None. TN...None. VA...None. && LW/EMH
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 28, 2:12 PM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 312 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-291915- 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- 312 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016 /212 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH DAMAGING WIND GUST BEING THE MAIN THREAT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 1:59 PM EST, 1 hour 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
259 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
TNZ016-039-040-042-281930-
HAWKINS-NORTHWEST COCKE-HAMBLEN-NORTHWEST GREENE-
259 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT WEST CENTRAL GREENE...HAMBLEN
AND SOUTHWESTERN HAWKINS COUNTIES...
AT 258 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
RUSSELLVILLE... OR 9 MILES EAST OF MORRISTOWN...MOVING WEST AT 10
MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
MORRISTOWN...RUSSELLVILLE...MOSHEIM...BULLS GAP...ST. CLAIR...
LOWLAND AND MOHAWK.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3620 8301 3606 8324 3608 8325 3609 8324
3613 8328 3628 8335 3630 8332 3627 8331
3628 8330 3626 8328 3628 8328 3627 8327
3629 8326 3631 8326 3635 8308
TIME...MOT...LOC 1858Z 067DEG 8KT 3624 8313
EMHSpecial weather statement, Aug 28, 2:04 PM EST, 1 hour 20 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
304 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
NCZ060-TNZ086-087-101-102-281930-
CHEROKEE-SOUTHEAST MONROE-NORTHWEST MONROE-WEST POLK-EAST POLK-
304 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTHWESTERN CHEROKEE...
NORTHEASTERN POLK AND SOUTHWESTERN MONROE COUNTIES...
AT 303 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 14 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF ETOWAH...OR 15 MILES NORTH OF DUCKTOWN...MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 10
MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
TELLICO PLAINS...COKER CREEK...BULLET CREEK...VIOLET...TURTLETOWN AND
UNAKA.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 3528 8451 3532 8445 3533 8440 3534 8440
3534 8441 3536 8441 3539 8420 3521 8410
3509 8444
TIME...MOT...LOC 1903Z 066DEG 8KT 3524 8429
EMHSpecial weather statement, Aug 28, 2:27 PM EST, 57 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 327 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016 NCZ060-TNZ085>087-101-102-282015- CHEROKEE NC-SOUTHEAST MONROE TN-NORTHWEST MONROE TN-WEST POLK TN- EAST POLK TN-MCMINN TN- 327 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CHEROKEE... NORTHEASTERN POLK...SOUTHEASTERN MCMINN AND SOUTHWESTERN MONROE COUNTIES UNTIL 415 PM EDT... AT 326 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES EAST OF ETOWAH...OR 17 MILES NORTH OF DUCKTOWN...MOVING WEST AT 5 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... ETOWAH...ENGLEWOOD...TELLICO PLAINS...COKER CREEK... HIWASSEE OCOEE S.P....VIOLET...MOUNT VERNON... BULLET CREEK AND RELIANCE. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3533 8410 3515 8425 3518 8461 3550 8448 TIME...MOT...LOC 1926Z 108DEG 6KT 3527 8429
Special weather statement, Aug 28, 2:42 PM EST, 42 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
342 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
TNZ085-100>102-282030-
BRADLEY TN-WEST POLK TN-EAST POLK TN-MCMINN TN-
342 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR POLK...SOUTHEASTERN BRADLEY AND
SOUTH CENTRAL MCMINN COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM EDT...
AT 342 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 8
MILES NORTHWEST OF DUCKTOWN...MOVING WEST AT 10 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BENTON...DUCKTOWN...CALHOUN...HIWASSEE OCOEE S.P....DENTVILLE...
ARCHVILLE...PARKSVILLE...RELIANCE AND WILLIAM L. DAVENPORT REFUGE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3506 8480 3533 8473 3521 8435 3520 8435
3521 8434 3504 8439
TIME...MOT...LOC 1942Z 102DEG 13KT 3514 8445Special weather statement, Aug 28, 3:01 PM EST, 23 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
401 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
TNZ100>102-282045-
BRADLEY TN-WEST POLK TN-EAST POLK TN-
401 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN POLK AND SOUTHEASTERN
BRADLEY COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM EDT...
AT 401 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7
MILES SOUTHEAST OF BENTON. THIS STORM WAS NEARLY STATIONARY.
HALF INCH HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BENTON...PARKSVILLE...RELIANCE AND ARCHVILLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD
TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3504 8480 3526 8470 3524 8470 3527 8467
3527 8465 3517 8444 3501 8451
TIME...MOT...LOC 2001Z 109DEG 2KT 3510 8456
AMP.23Local storm report, Aug 28, 3:09 PM EST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
409 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 PM TSTM WND DMG BLAINE 36.14N 83.69W
08/27/2016 GRAINGER TN PUBLIC
SEVERAL TREES DOWN.
&&The radar
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 16 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:25 UTC.
Event by event
8 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Hamilton
- When
- August 28, 3:25 PM EST
- Where
- Hamilton County, Jersey
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Broadcast Media
- Coordinates
- 35.070, -85.200
Two trees were reported down on a home in Jersey.
Thunderstorm Wind, Bradley
- When
- August 28, 3:39 PM EST
- Where
- Bradley County, 1.83 mi ENE of Chestuee
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 35.140, -84.750
Two trees were reported down along Highway 64.
Thunderstorm Wind, Bradley
- When
- August 28, 3:43 PM EST
- Where
- Bradley County, 0.56 mi W of Hopewell
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 35.230, -84.910
Several trees were reported down one half mile west of Hopewell.
Thunderstorm Wind, Union
- When
- August 28, 3:50 PM EST
- Where
- Union County, 0.89 mi SW of Sharps Chapel
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 36.340, -83.810
Several trees were reported down across Union County.
Thunderstorm Wind, Knox
- When
- August 28, 4:20 PM EST
- Where
- Knox County, 0.89 mi NW of Clear Spgs
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 36.160, -83.890
Two trees were reported down along the Knox and Union county line.
Thunderstorm Wind, Knox
- When
- August 28, 4:25 PM EST
- Where
- Knox County, 0.56 mi W of Beech Grove
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 36.150, -83.930
A few trees and power lines were reported down.
Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell
- When
- August 28, 4:35 PM EST
- Where
- Campbell County, 0.89 mi NE of Peewee
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- State Official
- Coordinates
- 36.280, -84.270
Several trees and power lines were reported down.
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Lightning Strike in Texas, August 28, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Ohio, August 28, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Pennsylvania, August 28 to 29, 2016
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Minnesota, August 28 to 29, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Nebraska, August 28 to 30, 2016
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 28, 2016
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, August 28, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Indiana, August 28 to 29, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Kentucky, August 28, 2016
- Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Illinois, August 28, 2016
- Flash Flooding in Iowa, August 28 to 29, 2016
- Damaging Winds in Vermont, August 28, 2016
More
Every storm in Tennessee in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 2016
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: 650423, 650422, 650421, 650420, 650419, 650418, 650417, 650416.