Damaging Wind in North Carolina, March 1, 2017

Name: Damaging Wind in North Carolina, March 1, 2017
Start: 2017-03-01T16:40
End: 2017-03-01T16:40
Location: North Carolina

March 1, 2017 · NWS MRX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 well developed upper level trough moved from the Eastern Plains to the Eastern Seaboard with an associated strong low pressure system and cold front. A squall line formed ahead of the front and swept across the Southern Appalachian region from mid morning through the mid afternoon hours. Several reports of straight line wind damage were received during the event. Most of the damage was on the Cumberland Plateau and across Southeast Tennessee with more isolated damage reported in Southwest Virginia and Southwest North Carolina.

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 1, 2:37 PM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 2:37 PM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
237 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017

.SHORT TERM (Tonight and Thursday)...
The threat of damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes will
continue to the south of I-40 over the next few hours. Within that
area, severe weather parameters indicate the southern Plateau and
Chattanooga areas have the highest threat. The HRRR seems to have a
better handle on the timing of storms than it did this morning, and
it shows the severe threat winding down around 6 pm. Will include a
pre-first period in the forecast to address the storms and severe
threat.

Obs show a few locations with winds near advisory criteria, so the
Wind Advisory will be continued for the entire area until midnight.
Wtih fropa occurring between 00z and 03z, winds will shift to the W-
NW, and decrease in intensity. Will end the wind advisory for all
locations, including the mountains, at midnight. PoPs will also be
dropped after midnight, with skies clearing as dry air aloft builds
in. With a NW flow providing cold advection through tomorrow,
temperatures will be much cooler, with highs in the upper 40s to
upper 50s.

.LONG TERM (Thursday Night through Wednesday)...
Brief zonal flow on Thursday night will become northwesterly by
Friday morning as a secondary dry cold front tracks through the
area.  This will bring in another surge of cool...dry air for
Friday/Friday night.  Highs on Friday will range from the 30s
mountains to 40s and low 50s across lower elevations.  Lows Friday
night will generally be in the 20s and lower 30s.  A ridge of high
pressure will build in for the weekend in...beginning a warming
trend and continuing the dry conditions.  The main system of the
extended will be a low pressure system moving through the region
Monday into Tuesday.  The main frontal passage on Tuesday should be
accompanied by a line of convection.  Behind the system...another
dry...cool air mass will push in for Wednesday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             42  58  34  53 /  10   0   0  10
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  40  54  32  47 /  20   0   0  10
Oak Ridge, TN                       39  53  32  47 /  10   0   0  10
Tri Cities Airport, TN              38  50  30  43 /  40   0   0  10

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for Cherokee-Clay.

TN...Wind Advisory until midnight EST /11 PM CST/ tonight for
     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...Wind Advisory until midnight EST tonight for Lee-Russell-Scott-
     Washington-Wise.

&&

DGS/MJB

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 1, 2:48 PM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Morristown TN
248 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-021000-
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-
248 PM EST Wed Mar 1 2017 /148 PM CST Wed Mar 1 2017/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Southwest North
Carolina...East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A Tornado Watch is in effect for most of Southeast Tennessee
until 7 PM EST. Storms in Southeast Tennessee...including the
Chattanooga area...will be capable of producing damaging winds,
large hail, and a few tornadoes. The threat of severe storms is
expected to end around 6 pm.

Additionally, strong south to southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph
with gusts up to 45 mph will be possible across East Tennessee
this evening. A wind advisory is in effect until midnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will be needed this evening in support of
severe weather operations.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 1, 4:10 PM EST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
410 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017                   HAMILTON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE BUSINESS HAD ITS ROOF BLOWN OFF AND THERE ARE SEVERAL
            TREES INTO HOUSES.

&&

EHAGNER

Special weather statement, Mar 1, 4:14 PM EST, 26 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
414 PM EST WED MAR 1 2017

NCZ060-012200-
Cherokee NC-
414 PM EST WED MAR 1 2017

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY UNTIL 500 PM
EST...

At 414 PM EST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles north of Ducktown, moving east at 50 mph.

Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.

Locations impacted include...
Andrews, Murphy, Violet, Hot House, Topton, Hiawasse Dam, Marble and
Unaka.

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.

&&

A tornado watch remains in effect until 700 PM EST for southwestern
North Carolina...and eastern Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3500 8431 3522 8429 3527 8423 3524 8419
      3524 8413 3529 8403 3524 8401 3522 8397
      3526 8384 3524 8374 3526 8371 3524 8369
      3520 8373 3519 8371 3516 8374 3514 8386
      3508 8391 3505 8397 3502 8396 3499 8401
TIME...MOT...LOC 2114Z 262DEG 47KT 3519 8441

05/MA

Local storm report, Mar 1, 4:15 PM EST, 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
415 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNE CLEVELAND         35.23N 84.84W
03/01/2017                   BRADLEY            TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON EAGLE DRIVE.

&&

EHAGNER

Local storm report, Mar 1, 4:16 PM EST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
416 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017                   HAMILTON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE LIGHT POLE DOWN AND TENT BLOWN ACROSS STREET ON
            UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA CAMPUS.

&&

EHAGNER

Local storm report, Mar 1, 4:17 PM EST, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
417 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0355 PM     HAIL             BENTON                  35.18N 84.65W
03/01/2017  E0.50 INCH       POLK               TN   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

EHAGNER

Local storm report, Mar 1, 4:18 PM EST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
418 PM EST WED MAR 01 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1010 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NW WARTBURG           36.12N 84.61W
03/01/2017                   MORGAN             TN   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE AND POWER LINES DOWN ON MONTGOMERY ROAD IN LANCING.

1040 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N OAK RIDGE           35.99N 84.30W
03/01/2017                   ANDERSON           TN   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES DOWN ON KEY SPRINGS ROAD.

1055 AM     TSTM WND DMG     JELLICO                 36.58N 84.13W
03/01/2017                   CAMPBELL           TN   911 CALL CENTER

            TREES DOWN.

1118 AM     TSTM WND DMG     JONESVILLE              36.69N 83.12W
03/01/2017                   LEE                VA   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF LEE COUNTY.

1140 AM     TSTM WND DMG     DUFFIELD                36.72N 82.80W
03/01/2017                   SCOTT              VA   PUBLIC

            TREES DOWN ACROSS THE WESTERN PART OF SCOTT COUNTY.

1224 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ABINGDON                36.71N 81.97W
03/01/2017                   WASHINGTON         VA   911 CALL CENTER

            A FEW TREES REPORTED DOWN IN ABINGDON.

0130 PM     TSTM WND DMG     KINGSTON                35.87N 84.51W
03/01/2017                   ROANE              TN   911 CALL CENTER

            SCATTERED TREES DOWN ACROSS ROANE COUNTY.

0133 PM     TSTM WND DMG     E NORRIS                36.21N 84.06W
03/01/2017                   ANDERSON           TN   911 CALL CENTER

            TREE DOWN.

0138 PM     TSTM WND DMG     OAK RIDGE               35.96N 84.30W
03/01/2017                   ROANE              TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            LARGE TREE DOWN ON WEST OUTER AT WARWICK LANE. PHOTO
            TWEETED FROM THE CITY OF OAK RIDGE.

0220 PM     TSTM WND DMG     DUNLAP                  35.37N 85.39W
03/01/2017                   SEQUATCHIE         TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN.

0227 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CLINTON                 36.09N 84.13W
03/01/2017                   ANDERSON           TN   PUBLIC

            CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS ON GAMBLE FARM. REPORT FROM SOCIAL
            MEDIA.

0230 PM     FLASH FLOOD      7 N OAK RIDGE           36.06N 84.30W
03/01/2017                   ANDERSON           TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            FLOODING AT PONDEROSA ZOO.

0240 PM     FLASH FLOOD      KINGSTON                35.87N 84.51W
03/01/2017                   ROANE              TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            FLOODED FIELD AND CREEK OUT OF BANKS.

0241 PM     FLASH FLOOD      CLINTON                 36.09N 84.13W
03/01/2017                   ANDERSON           TN   PUBLIC

            FLOODING ALONG MARLOW ROAD. REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

0250 PM     FLASH FLOOD      6 SW MAYNARDVILLE       36.19N 83.88W
03/01/2017                   UNION              TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            AREAS OF FLOODING ALONG HIGHWAY 33 IN UNION COUNTY. WATER
            COVERING ROADWAY AT RACCOON VALLEY AND HANSARD RD.

0254 PM     HAIL             2 NE ORME               35.03N 85.78W
03/01/2017  E2.50 INCH       MARION             TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0302 PM     HAIL             JASPER                  35.06N 85.63W
03/01/2017  E1.75 INCH       MARION             TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

0317 PM     TSTM WND DMG     RED BANK                35.11N 85.29W
03/01/2017                   HAMILTON           TN   PUBLIC

            TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON WELCH ROAD. REPORT VIA SOCIAL
            MEDIA.

0322 PM     HAIL             LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN        35.01N 85.35W
03/01/2017  E0.88 INCH       HAMILTON           TN   PUBLIC

0325 PM     TSTM WND DMG     7 SW KNOXVILLE          35.90N 84.03W
03/01/2017                   KNOX               TN   PUBLIC

            LIGHT ROOF DAMAGE IN ROCKY HILL.

0325 PM     HAIL             CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017  E1.00 INCH       HAMILTON           TN   PUBLIC

0330 PM     HAIL             CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017  E1.75 INCH       HAMILTON           TN   PUBLIC

0330 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017                   HAMILTON           TN   UTILITY COMPANY

            NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES DOWN ACROSS HAMILTON COUNTY.

0330 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 N ALCOA               35.81N 83.98W
03/01/2017  M55.00 MPH       BLOUNT             TN   ASOS

            MEASURED BY KTYS ASOS.

0339 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 N CLEVELAND           35.21N 84.87W
03/01/2017                   BRADLEY            TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES DOWN ON FRONTAGE ROAD AND US 11.

0340 PM     HAIL             CLEVELAND               35.18N 84.87W
03/01/2017  E0.50 INCH       BRADLEY            TN   AMATEUR RADIO

0345 PM     HAIL             CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017  E0.25 INCH       HAMILTON           TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            AT WDEF STUDIO.

0345 PM     HAIL             CLEVELAND               35.18N 84.87W
03/01/2017  E0.75 INCH       BRADLEY            TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNE CLEVELAND         35.23N 84.84W
03/01/2017                   BRADLEY            TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON EAGLE DRIVE.

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017                   HAMILTON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE LIGHT POLE DOWN AND TENT BLOWN ACROSS STREET ON
            UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA CAMPUS.

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CHATTANOOGA             35.07N 85.26W
03/01/2017                   HAMILTON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ONE BUSINESS HAD ITS ROOF BLOWN OFF AND THERE ARE SEVERAL
            TREES INTO HOUSES.

0355 PM     HAIL             BENTON                  35.18N 84.65W
03/01/2017  E0.50 INCH       POLK               TN   AMATEUR RADIO

&&

EHAGNER

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 128 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:42 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: March 1, 4:40 PM EST
Where: Cherokee County, 0.89 mi SE of Unaka
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: State Official
Coordinates: 35.190, -84.140

Several trees were reported down across the county.

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

Every storm in North Carolina in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in North Carolina, March 2017

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: 674762.