Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Tennessee, September 1 to 2, 2017

Name: Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Tennessee, September 1 to 2, 2017
Start: 2017-09-01T00:00
End: 2017-09-02T15:30
Location: Tennessee

September 1 to 2, 2017 · NWS OHX · 16 events in 9 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: $275,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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 OHX wrote it up.

One week after Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the middle Texas coast, a weakened but still intense Tropical Depression Harvey moved across Middle Tennessee from Thursday August 31, 2017 into Friday September 1, 2017. Supercells rotating around Harvey spawned four weak tornadoes in Davidson, Maury, and Perry Counties. In addition, strong northeast winds up to 50 mph associated with the circulation of Harvey brought down numerous trees and power lines in areas along and west of I-65, knocking out power to thousands of residents. Finally, the heavy rainbands of Harvey produced 8-11 of rain in some areas, leading to major flash flooding of homes and roads. The flash flooding along with the strong winds continued from the late evening hours on August 31 into the morning hours on September 1.

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 Nashville, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 31, 9:50 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 9:50 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Nashville TN
1050 PM CDT Thu Aug 31 2017

.UPDATE...
FOR EVENING DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Center of remnants of Harvey currently across extreme northeast
MS...and is expected to push across the mid-state very close to
BNA through Friday. Northwest Middle TN remains focus for heaviest
rain...with amounts dropping to the southeast. Isolated flooding
already occurring likely to expand some overnight as heavy rain
continues. While small threat of severe storms remains overnight
...flooding is the main issue.

Updated to QPF to latest numbers which actually drops amounts
slightly east as wrap-around rain likely to largely affect the
north/west. As the center of Harvey moves closer...winds will
become quite gusty and a wind advisory may need to be issued.

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

Remnants of hurricane Harvey expected to push across the mid-state
...resulting in degraded flying conditions through the period.
CIGs/VSBYs expected to down way down tonight...and largely remain
that way through the period. Winds also expected to become gusty
20-30 mph.

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch through Friday afternoon FOR Cannon-Cheatham-
Clay-Davidson-De Kalb-Dickson-Hickman-Houston-Humphreys-Jackson-
Lawrence-Lewis-Macon-Maury-Montgomery-Overton-Perry-Pickett-
Putnam-Robertson-Rutherford-Smith-Stewart-Sumner-Trousdale-Wayne-
Williamson-Wilson.

&&

DISCUSSION......11
AVIATION........07

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 31, 10:47 AM CST, 13 hours 13 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Nashville TN
1147 AM CDT Thu Aug 31 2017

TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-011000-
Stewart-Montgomery-Robertson-Sumner-Macon-Clay-Pickett-Houston-
Humphreys-Dickson-Cheatham-Davidson-Wilson-Trousdale-Smith-
Jackson-Putnam-Overton-Fentress-Perry-Hickman-Lewis-Williamson-
Maury-Marshall-Rutherford-Cannon-De Kalb-White-Cumberland-Bedford-
Coffee-Warren-Grundy-Van Buren-Wayne-Lawrence-Giles-
1147 AM CDT Thu Aug 31 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle
Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

A Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for most of Middle Tennessee.
Locations across the higher elevations of the Upper Cumberland
Region, southern portions of the Cumberland Plateau Region, and
far southern counties across central and eastern portions of the
mid state are not within this watch area currently.

There is a slight risk of severe storms for counties near the
Tennessee/Alabama border this afternoon through early this
evening. There is a marginal risk of severe storms for locations
around the I-40 corridor and southward up to the above mentioned
slight risk area for this afternoon through early this evening.
With any severe storms that do occur, the formation of isolated
tornadoes will be the primary threat.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Heavy rain will persist through Friday as Tropical Depression
Harvey moves across Middle Tennessee. Forecast rainfall amounts
from today through Friday afternoon range from up to 1 inch along
the Cumberland Plateau, to 3 to 5 inches across the Nashville
Metro Area, to 6 to 8 inches around Clarksville and Land-between-
the-Lakes.

Also, areas generally east of I-65 remain under a marginal risk of
severe storms on Friday, with isolated tornadoes once again being
the primary threat.

Winds will increase across most of Middle Tennessee tonight and
Friday as the center of Harvey tracks across the mid state.
Sustained speeds of 10 to 20 mph will be common, with gusts of
30 mph or greater in many areas, is expected.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon through Friday
afternoon for severe storms and possible flooding.

Spotter Thunderstorm Reporting Criteria
Tornado
Funnel Cloud
Flooding
Hail >= 1/2 INCH
Winds > 50 MPH (Measured)
Structural Damage
Trees or Power Lines Down

31

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 31, 10:50 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1150 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

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

1130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 NE BELLE MEADE        36.12N  86.83W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROLLAND RD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX1700776

MR3

Local storm report, Aug 31, 10:51 PM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1151 PM CDT THU AUG 31 2017

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

0515 PM     TORNADO          3 NW MOUNT PLEASANT     35.58N  87.23W
08/31/2017                   MAURY              TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            7 POWER POLES DOWN ALONG WITH TREES. TDS OBSERVED ON
            RADAR AT TIME OF REPORT.

0700 PM     FLASH FLOOD      NASHVILLE               36.17N  86.78W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   TWITTER

            VIDEO AND PICTURES SHOW CARS PARTIALLY SUBMERGED AT
            VANTAGE WAY AND ROSA PARKS BLVD.

0755 PM     FLASH FLOOD      8 NNW NASHVILLE         36.28N  86.84W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WATER RESCUES ONGOING ALONG WHITES CREEK.

0901 PM     FLASH FLOOD      8 N NASHVILLE           36.29N  86.78W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MULITPLE ROADS CLOSED IN THE WHITES CREEK AREA
            INCLUDING LICKTON PIKE AND KNIGHT RD.

0910 PM     FLASH FLOOD      10 SE CENTERVILLE       35.69N  87.32W
08/31/2017                   HICKMAN            TN   FACEBOOK

            WATER OVER HOOVER RD AT DUNLAP RD IN THE SHADY GROVE
            COMMUNITY.

0928 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 SW FAIRVIEW           35.96N  87.15W
08/31/2017                   WILLIAMSON         TN   AMATEUR RADIO

            HAM REPORTED ROAD FLOODING AT HWY 100 AND GLENHAVEN DR
            IN FAIRVIEW.

0948 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SE NASHVILLE          36.12N  86.72W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MURFREESBORO PIKE NORTH OF BRILEY PARKWAY IS FLOODED.

1059 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 SE KINGSTON SPRINGS   36.09N  87.09W
08/31/2017                   CHEATHAM           TN   911 CALL CENTER

            A FEW ROADS ARE CLOSED AROUND KINGSTON SPRINGS
            INCLUDING WEST KINGSTON SPRINGS RD AND OLD BRUSH CREEK
            RD.

1130 PM     HEAVY RAIN       15 NE CENTERVILLE       35.95N  87.26W
08/31/2017  M5.02 INCH       HICKMAN            TN   COCORAHS

            5.02 INCHES OF RAIN MEASURED SO FAR TODAY.

1130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      13 WNW SPRING HILL      35.81N  87.14W
08/31/2017                   MAURY              TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            HAY HOLLOW RD AND LEIPERS CREEK RD ARE FLOODED.

1130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SE MOUNT PLEASANT     35.50N  87.13W
08/31/2017                   MAURY              TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING REPORTED AT TARIPEN BRANCH.

1130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      7 NW MOUNT PLEASANT     35.62N  87.28W
08/31/2017                   MAURY              TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING WAS REPORTED AT TAYLOR STORE RD.

1130 PM     FLASH FLOOD      2 NE BELLE MEADE        36.12N  86.83W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROLLAND RD CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX1700764 OHX1700765 OHX1700766 OHX1700767 OHX1700768
OHX1700769 OHX1700770 OHX1700771 OHX1700772 OHX1700773 OHX1700774
OHX1700775 OHX1700776

MR3

Local storm report, Aug 31, 11:03 PM CST, 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1203 AM CDT FRI SEP 01 2017

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

1154 PM     FLASH FLOOD      1 W NASHVILLE           36.17N  86.81W
08/31/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            I-40 EASTBOUND AT DR. DB TODD JR BLVD BRIDGE IS FLOODED
            WITH 5 CARS STALLED OUT AND FAR TWO RIGHT LANES
            IMPASSABLE

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX1700777

SHAMBURGER

Local storm report, Aug 31, 11:24 PM CST, 36 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1224 AM CDT FRI SEP 01 2017

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

1211 AM     FLASH FLOOD      3 SW NASHVILLE          36.14N  86.82W
09/01/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   TWITTER

            SEVERAL REPORTS OF FLOODING IN WEST NASHVILLE. A HOME
            AND CARS ARE FLOODED ON BATTLEFIELD DRIVE NEAR BELMONT.
            WEST END NEAR CENTENNIAL PARK FLOODED. HIGHWAY 100
            FLOODED NEAR THE KROGER IN BELLE MEADE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX1700778

SHAMBURGER

Local storm report, Aug 31, 11:40 PM CST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1240 AM CDT FRI SEP 01 2017

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

1239 AM     FLASH FLOOD      5 WNW NASHVILLE         36.21N  86.87W
09/01/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   TWITTER

            HOMES FLOODED ON CATO ROAD AND EATONS CREEK ROAD IN
            NORTHWEST NASHVILLE

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX1700779

SHAMBURGER

Local storm report, Aug 31, 11:45 PM CST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1245 AM CDT FRI SEP 01 2017

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

1234 AM     FLASH FLOOD      2 NW OAK HILL           36.10N  86.81W
09/01/2017                   DAVIDSON           TN   TWITTER

            SEVERAL CARS AND APARTMENTS FLOODED AT ROYAL ARMS
            APARTMENTS ON RICHARD JONES IN GREEN HILLS

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX1700780

SHAMBURGER

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 heavy rain, 4 strong wind, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Humphreys

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Humphreys forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.041, -87.776 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusty northeast winds up to 50 mph associated with Tropical Depression Harvey affected Humphreys County during the early morning hours on September 1. Several trees and power lines were blown down across the county with scattered power outages.

Strong Wind, Houston

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Houston forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.286, -87.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusty northeast winds up to 50 mph associated with Tropical Depression Harvey affected Houston County during the early morning hours on September 1. Several trees and power lines were blown down across the county with scattered power outages.

Strong Wind, Stewart

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Stewart forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.501, -87.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusty northeast winds up to 50 mph associated with Tropical Depression Harvey affected Stewart County during the early morning hours on September 1. Several trees and power lines were blown down across the county with roads closed due to downed trees. Scattered power outages also occurred with up to 1300 people without power.

Strong Wind, Montgomery

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.497, -87.383 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gusty northeast winds up to 50 mph associated with Tropical Depression Harvey affected Montgomery County during the early morning hours on September 1. A peak wind gust of 49 mph was measured at the Clarksville Outlaw Field ASOS at 305 AM CDT (205 AM CST). Several trees and power lines were blown down across the county with scattered power outages knocking out power to up to 3400 people.

Flash Flood, Davidson

When: September 1, 12:00 AM CST to 2:00 AM CST
Where: Davidson County, 0.74 mi WNW of Forest Grove to 1.58 mi SSW of Newsom
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.374, -86.892

Major flash flooding continued to affect much of the western two-thirds of Davidson County from the evening hours on August 31 into the early morning hours on September 1, with the worst flooding occurring in northwest Davidson County. Numerous homes were flooded on Cato Road and Eatons Creek Road in northwest Nashville and a home was flooded on Vailview Drive in north Nashville. Other homes and cars were flooded on Battlefield Drive near Belmont University with apartments and cars flooded at the Royal Arms Apartments in Green Hills. Many roadways were underwater and closed due to flooding including West End Avenue near Centennial Park and Highway 100 near Lynnwood Terrace in Belle Meade. A total of 30 water rescues were conducted across Davidson County including in Goodlettsville and Whites Creek as well as along Browns Creek, Mill Creek, and Sevenmile Creek.

|in the Whites Creek area with many water rescues conducted. Several roads were also flooded in Whites Creek including Lickton Pike and Knight Road. Other roads were flooded and closed in parts of Nashville with several vehicles submerged and water rescues conducted, including at Vantage Way and Rosa Parks Blvd, Murfreesboro Pike north of Briley Parkway, Rolland Road, and Interstate 40 eastbound at Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd. where 5 cars stalled in the high water.

Flash Flood, Cheatham

When: September 1, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Cheatham County, 1.35 mi W of Poplar Ridge to 0.91 mi WNW of Griffintown
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.377, -87.144

Two homes were flooded along Sycamore Creek north of Ashland City with water in their basements. Several roads were flooded and closed in Ashland City including Fairgrounds Road, Chestnut Street, Duke Street, and Brookhollow Drive.

Flash Flood, Sumner

When: September 1, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Sumner County, 2.36 mi SSW of Millersville to 1.76 mi WSW of White Hill
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.337, -86.711

Highway 31W, Highway 76, and Flat Ridge Road in the Millersville and White House areas were flooded and closed. Two RV campgrounds in the area were also flooded and evacuated.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: September 1, 2:00 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 3.15 mi SSE of Port Royal to 2.85 mi NNW of Port Royal
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.509, -87.125

Ten roads were flooded and closed across eastern Montgomery County, including Highway 76 near Port Royal which was completely washed out.

Heavy Rain, Robertson

When: September 2, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Robertson County, 0.95 mi N of Greenbrier
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.444, -86.798

A 72 hour rainfall total of 10.93 inches was measured at CoCoRaHS station Greenbrier 1.4 N.

Heavy Rain, Dickson

When: September 2, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Dickson County, 1.58 mi ENE of Taylor Xrds
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.212, -87.406

A 72 hour rainfall total of 8.36 inches was measured at CoCoRaHS station Vanleer 2.8 SE.

Heavy Rain, Robertson

When: September 2, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Robertson County, 1.78 mi WSW of Springfield
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.493, -86.911

A 72 hour rainfall total of 8.98 inches was measured at CoCoRaHS station Springfield 1.8 WSW.

Heavy Rain, Robertson

When: September 2, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Robertson County, 2.61 mi N of Cedar Hill
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.587, -87.006

A 72 hour rainfall total of 10.67 inches was measured at CoCoRaHS station Cedar Hill 2.6 N.

Heavy Rain, Robertson

When: September 2, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Robertson County, 4.07 mi SSW of Coopertown
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.381, -86.990

A 72 hour rainfall total of 9.18 inches was measured at CoCoRaHS station Pleasant View 2.8 ESE.

Heavy Rain, Davidson

When: September 2, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Davidson County, 1.3 mi NNW of Goodlettsville
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.337, -86.731

A 72 hour rainfall total of 7.87 inches was measured at CoCoRaHS station Goodlettsville 1.5 W.

Heavy Rain, Cheatham

When: September 2, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Cheatham County, 0.58 mi S of Shacklett
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 36.122, -87.099

A 72 hour rainfall total of 6.83 inches was measured by the KINT1 River Gauge (Harpeth River near Kingston Springs).

Heavy Rain, Montgomery

When: September 2, 3:30 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 1.25 mi WNW of Walnut Grove
Reported by: River/Stream Gage
Coordinates: 36.554, -87.142

A 72 hour rainfall total of 9.86 inches was measured by the PORT1 River Gauge (Red River near Port Royal).

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Tennessee, September 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: 721707, 721708, 721709, 721710, 721712, 721713, 721714, 721715, 721723, 721728, 721727, 721724, 721726, 721729, 721730, 721725.