A strong low pressure system moved northeast from the Lower Mississippi Valley across the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains. A few strong thunderstorms developed ahead of the system cold front generating some wind damage.
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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 strong low pressure system moved northeast from the Lower Mississippi Valley across the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains. A few strong thunderstorms developed ahead of the system cold front generating some wind damage. The strong pressure gradient associated with the the storm system produced mountain wave wind acceleration in a few spots as well. Locally heavy rain produced some brief flooding.
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 Apr 18, 9:43 PM EST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
1043 PM EDT Thu Apr 18 2019
.DISCUSSION...
A few minor updates to the forecast the evening. Temperatures have
been slower to drop due to the continued southern winds and
increasing cloud cover. Overnight lows in the low 60's for much
of the CWA while higher elevations on the Cumberland Plateau will
drop into the high 50's. The more northeastern portion of
Tennessee also has been a little drier from the ongoing
downsloping winds. Some minor adjustments to the overnight winds
as the high wind event looks to peak later on. Models have been
indicating a minor chance for severe storms tonight with modest
Theta-e and decent positive Omega values. Soundings have shown
high 0-6km shear with very little to no CAPE. This looks to be a
very marginal event for thunderstorms with the highest potential
south of I-40, with high straight line winds being the largest
threat. Soundings indicate perceptual water values increasing
overnight with rainfall amounts of up to an inch for the more
southern counties.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN 59 64 42 58 / 90 70 60 50
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 62 65 43 53 / 80 80 60 70
Oak Ridge, TN 60 64 42 54 / 90 80 60 70
Tri Cities Airport, TN 59 67 44 51 / 80 80 60 70
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
TN...High Wind Warning until noon EDT Friday for Blount Smoky
Mountains-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Johnson-Sevier Smoky
Mountains-Southeast Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast
Monroe-Unicoi.
VA...None.
&&
PWHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Morristown TN 354 PM EDT Thu Apr 18 2019 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-192000- Cherokee-Clay-Scott-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins-Sullivan- Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen-Northwest Cocke- Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene-Southeast Greene- Washington-Unicoi-Northwest Carter-Southeast Carter-Roane-Loudon- Knox-Jefferson-Northwest 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-Russell- 354 PM EDT Thu Apr 18 2019 /254 PM CDT Thu Apr 18 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Strong to severe thunderstorms could impact the southern plateau and southeast Tennessee tonight ahead of a cold front. The main threat will be damaging straight-line winds in excess of 60 mph, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Locally heavy rainfall will accompany the showers and thunderstorms which could lead to localized flooding of low lying or poor drainage areas. Mountain wave enhancement of the winds is expected late today through tonight, with very strong and gusty winds across some of the higher elevations and foothills of the East Tennessee mountains. A high wind warning has been issued for these areas. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Strong to severe thunderstorms could impact mainly northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia Friday morning. The main threat will be damaging straight-line winds in excess of 60 mph, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Locally heavy rainfall will accompany the showers and thunderstorms which could lead to localized flooding of low lying or poor drainage areas. Very windy conditions will continue over some of the higher elevations of the east Tennessee Mountains and adjacent Foothills Friday morning. Cold air will move in Friday night through Saturday night. The cold air will change the rain to snow across the highest elevations of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Some light snow accumulations are possible, generally at or above 3000 feet. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed Tonight into Friday. AD/TD
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 135 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:33 UTC.
5 high wind, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Approximately 15-20 trees, 18-25 inches in diameter, were either uprooted or snapped off about 20 feet above the ground in a location on top of a ridge.
The Clingmans Dome wind tower recorded a 57 mph wind gust.
The Clingmans Dome wind tower recorded a 57 mph wind gust.
A rubber membrane on the roof of an apartment complex was ripped off. Unknown whether actual structural damage occurred.
A wind gust of 81 mph was recorded three miles east southeast of Wears Valley at the Cove Mountain wind tower.
Look Rock National Park Service mesonet site recorded a 57 mph wind gust.
A branch of the Little Pigeon River was blocking access to Spence Mountain Loop, and was also flooding near the intersection of Maples Branch Road and Pittman Center Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, April 2019
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: 809196, 809199, 809200, 809201, 809197, 809198, 814349.