Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 31, 2018

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
315 PM EDT Thu May 31 2018

.SHORT TERM...(Tonight and Friday)...

Currently seeing some stronger storms on radar across southern
portions of the forecast area. Expect these storms to produce wind
gusts in the 40-50 mph with small hail, frequent lightning and heavy
downpours. Models indicate that SBCAPE values of around 1500-2000
J/Kg in these areas and could see the storms pulse up to severe
limits throughout the afternoon hours. Deep layer 0-6 km shear is
weak and do not expect any well organized convection at this time.
With the recent widespread heavy rainfall across the area and PW
values near the 90th percentile, localized flash flooding will be an
issue this afternoon for areas of poor drainage. These storms are
developing along a very subtle upper level shortwave trough. The
main upper level feature to watch this evening into the overnight is
currently to the northwest. Current IR satellite imagery indicates a
couple of areas of cooling cloud tops to the north in Kentucky. The
first near Lexington and another further to the west approaching
Louisville. Expect the first round of showers and storms will move
into SW VA around 4-6 pm. Again, a strong to marginally severe
storms cannot be ruled out with damaging winds and quarter sized
hail being the main threats. Most of the models indicate a sharp
decrease in coverage around sunset with the loos of daytime heating.

Timing the MCS to the northwest will be the main challenge with the
forecast into tonight and early Friday. The Hi-Res models are
overall quicker with the decaying MCS racing across the area in the
04-08z timeframe. The GFS, ECMWF, and NAM are a good bit slower more
in the 12-16z timeframe generally after daybreak. Regardless, expect
the system will be weakening at this time with a small threat of
severe weather across northwestern portions of the forecast area
late tonight into early Friday morning. Again, with the recent
widespread rainfall the main threat will actually be localized
flooding from heavy rainfall, especially in areas of poor drainage.
Not thinking things will be widespread enough for a Flash Flood
Watch at this time but will continue to monitor the situation during
the evening and overnight hours. For now, have the line coming into
the area late tonight. Expect scattered to numerous showers
throughout much of the morning into the early afternoon on Friday.
Depending upon the timing of the system, may actually see a decrease
in coverage tomorrow afternoon.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Wednesday)...

An upper level trough will be sliding east across the Eastern
U.S. Friday night into Saturday. This feature will have plenty of
instability available to it as it slowly exits Saturday afternoon
into early evening. Therefore, kept a medium to high chance for
convection going on Saturday while dropping pops significantly
Saturday night with expected system departure. The next upper
trough drives east into the Central Great Lakes and Midwest later
Saturday night. Amplification will occur as the pressure trough
moves through the Mid South and Southern Appalachian region. There
will still be a fair amount of moisture and instability present
for another convective episode with this feature on Sunday, so
used a high chance probability for more showers and thunderstorms
at this time step. The upper trough low will shift slowly east on
Monday with a decent chance for enough dry air advection on
northwesterly flow to keep most of the forecast area dry. This new
weather regime may last into Thursday as the northwest flow
weakens and fades into rising heights aloft due to the arrival of
a massive Middle America ridge. Temperatures start out several
degrees above normal in this pattern but drop back to near normal
during the Monday through Thursday period.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN             71  86  70  87 /  30  60  60  20
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN  70  84  69  87 /  40  60  60  40
Oak Ridge, TN                       70  84  69  87 /  40  60  40  30
Tri Cities Airport, TN              66  81  65  81 /  30  60  60  50

&&

.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
TN...None.
VA...None.
&&

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Morristown TN
322 PM EDT Thu May 31 2018

NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-011930-
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-
322 PM EDT Thu May 31 2018 /222 PM CDT Thu May 31 2018/

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Strong to marginally severe storms will be possible this afternoon
across the Southern Appalachians. The main impacts with these
storms will be damaging winds and hail up to quarter size. Heavy
downpours on an already saturated ground will lead to areas of
localized flash flooding, especially in areas of poor drainage.

Another round of showers and storms will move in late tonight into
early Friday morning. The threats with these storms will once
again be damaging winds and hail up to quarter size. Best chances
for severe weather this evening will be north of I-40 and west of
I-75. Heavy rainfall will once again lead to the possibility of
localized flash flooding, especially in areas of poor drainage.

A flood warning remains in effect for areas in southwest North
Carolina along the Hiawasse River and associated tributaries
related to the higher than normal dam release from Lake Chatuge.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Showers and thunderstorms will move across the forecast area
Friday afternoon into Friday night. Some strong to severe storms
could occur, especially north of the Knoxville area, Friday
evening. Damaging winds would be the main concern, with some hail
possibly occurring as well.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation maybe needed this afternoon and evening.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
116 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

TNZ072-087-311745-
Blount Smoky Mountains TN-Southeast Monroe TN-
116 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL BLOUNT AND EAST
CENTRAL MONROE COUNTIES UNTIL 145 PM EDT...

At 116 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Smoky Mountains-Twentymile Creek, or 15 miles northwest of
Robbinsville, moving southeast at 15 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central
Blount and east central Monroe Counties.

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 3546 8410 3559 8397 3560 8395 3553 8382
      3552 8385 3552 8388 3547 8392 3546 8396
      3541 8402 3539 8401 3537 8401
TIME...MOT...LOC 1716Z 314DEG 11KT 3550 8398

05/MA

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
153 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

TNZ081>086-099>101-311830-
Sequatchie TN-Rhea TN-Bledsoe TN-West Polk TN-Northwest Monroe TN-
Bradley TN-Hamilton TN-Meigs TN-McMinn TN-
153 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN RHEA...NORTHERN
BRADLEY...EASTERN SEQUATCHIE...SOUTHWESTERN BLEDSOE...NORTHWESTERN
POLK...MEIGS...MCMINN...SOUTHWESTERN MONROE AND NORTHEASTERN HAMILTON
COUNTIES UNTIL 230 PM EDT/130 PM CDT/...

At 152 PM EDT/1252 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles southwest of
Sweetwater to 7 miles north of Charleston to 9 miles south of Dayton
to near Pikeville. Movement was southeast at 15 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Cleveland, Athens, Dayton, Sweetwater, Dunlap, Madisonville,
Pikeville, Decatur, Benton, Soddy-Daisy, Etowah, Lakesite,
Charleston, East Cleveland, Englewood, Graysville, Tellico Plains,
Niota, Calhoun and Flat Top Mountain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3521 8539 3540 8542 3563 8536 3566 8532
      3553 8504 3557 8478 3560 8448 3538 8420
      3526 8435 3513 8453
TIME...MOT...LOC 1752Z 328DEG 14KT 3551 8451 3539 8476 3537 8507 3556
8525

05/MA

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
228 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

NCZ060-061-TNZ081>087-098>102-311900-
Clay NC-Cherokee NC-Sequatchie TN-Northwest Monroe TN-Marion TN-
Rhea TN-Bledsoe TN-West Polk TN-East Polk TN-Southeast Monroe TN-
Bradley TN-Hamilton TN-Meigs TN-McMinn TN-
228 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEROKEE...CLAY...SOUTHWESTERN
RHEA...BRADLEY...SOUTHEASTERN SEQUATCHIE...SOUTHWESTERN BLEDSOE...
POLK...SOUTHWESTERN MEIGS...MCMINN...EASTERN MARION...MONROE AND
HAMILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM EDT/200 PM CDT/...

At 228 PM EDT/128 PM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from 14 miles southeast of
Madisonville to near Cleveland to 7 miles north of Soddy-Daisy.
Movement was southeast at 30 mph.

Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Chattanooga, Cleveland, Athens, Dayton, Dunlap, Madisonville,
Andrews, Murphy, Benton, Ducktown, Hayesville, Soddy-Daisy, Signal
Mountain, Etowah, Walden, Lakesite, Charleston, Ridgeside, Harrison
and East Cleveland.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8556 3546 8541 3549 8485 3557 8421
      3539 8401 3531 8404 3524 8401 3522 8396
      3525 8385 3499 8356
TIME...MOT...LOC 1828Z 307DEG 28KT 3535 8421 3520 8479 3536 8514

05/MA

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
301 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

NCZ060-061-TNZ086-087-099>102-311945-
Clay NC-Cherokee NC-West Polk TN-Northwest Monroe TN-East Polk TN-
Southeast Monroe TN-Bradley TN-Hamilton TN-
301 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CHEROKEE...WESTERN CLAY...
SOUTHERN BRADLEY...POLK...SOUTHEASTERN MONROE AND SOUTHEASTERN
HAMILTON COUNTIES UNTIL 345 PM EDT...

At 301 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 13 miles west of Town Of Santeetlah to near
Ducktown to 8 miles southeast of Wildwood Lake to 6 miles northwest
of Cohutta. Movement was southeast at 25 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Chattanooga, Andrews, Murphy, Ducktown, Wildwood Lake, South
Cleveland, Collegedale, Tellico Plains, William L. Davenport Refuge,
Waterville, Big Frog Mountain, Parksville, Red Clay State Park,
Copperhill, Flint Springs, Archville, Brasstown, Culberson, Ooltewah
and Apison.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8509 3508 8517 3511 8485 3518 8450
      3551 8413 3542 8401 3531 8404 3523 8400
      3522 8396 3526 8380 3519 8372 3515 8373
      3515 8369 3498 8394
TIME...MOT...LOC 1901Z 314DEG 20KT 3529 8409 3508 8441 3498 8479 3502
8504

05/MA

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
444 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

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

0420 PM     TSTM WND DMG     HAYESVILLE              35.05N 83.82W
05/31/2018                   CLAY               NC   911 CALL CENTER

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY.

&&

DGS

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
528 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

TNZ015>017-VAZ005-006-008-312230-
Sullivan TN-Hancock TN-Hawkins TN-Washington VA-Scott VA-Russell VA-
528 PM EDT THU MAY 31 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SULLIVAN...HAWKINS...HANCOCK...
SOUTHERN RUSSELL...SOUTHERN SCOTT AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES AND THE
CITY OF BRISTOL UNTIL 630 PM EDT...

At 528 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Allison Gap to near Sneedville. Movement
was southeast at 20 mph.

Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Kingsport, Bristol Tn, Bristol Va, Abingdon, Rogersville, Gate City,
Sneedville, Surgoinsville, Weber City, Spurgeon, Colonial Heights,
Walnut Hill, Oak Grove, Gray, Church Hill, Mount Carmel, Bluff City,
Glade Spring, Damascus and Bulls Gap.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3642 8241 3643 8240 3644 8267 3638 8275
      3633 8294 3624 8307 3653 8340 3660 8315
      3659 8299 3664 8296 3693 8183 3679 8170
      3666 8163
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 310DEG 18KT 3691 8186 3652 8330

DGS