A stationary frontal boundary stalled near the Tennessee Valley for nearly a week in mid to late February 2019. Persistent southwest flow aloft brought copious amounts of Gulf of Mexico moisture northward and interacted with this boundary for many days, causing a prolonged period of heavy rain and flooding throughout Middle Tennessee from Tuesday, February 19 through early Sunday, February 24.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 OHX wrote it up.
A stationary frontal boundary stalled near the Tennessee Valley for nearly a week in mid to late February 2019. Persistent southwest flow aloft brought copious amounts of Gulf of Mexico moisture northward and interacted with this boundary for many days, causing a prolonged period of heavy rain and flooding throughout Middle Tennessee from Tuesday, February 19 through early Sunday, February 24. Due to the heavy rainfall that had already fallen earlier in the month along with the already unusually wet winter season so far, widespread flash flooding and river flooding resulted, with dozens of water rescues being conducted and numerous homes and businesses flooded. This flood event was considered the worst in Middle Tennessee since the historic flood of May 2010, and damage from the flash flooding and river flooding resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration being declared for many Middle Tennessee counties on April 17, 2019. In addition, the heavy rainfall throughout February 2019 set new monthly rainfall records at many locations, including Nashville and Crossville, both of which saw over a foot of rain. By the end of the month, nearly the entire state of Tennessee had received between 10 and 20 of rain for February 2019.
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 Feb 22, 9:12 AM CST, 1 hour 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 912 AM CST Fri Feb 22 2019 .UPDATE... FOR MORNING DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... Moderate to occasionally heavy rains continue to stream into Middle TN this morning. Biggest area of concern is still south of I-40 and west of I-24 where the bulk of the rain is falling this morning. To this point, we've been spared any extremely heavy rain by the fact that we remain north of the warm front, which is still way down in Central Alabama. This is keeping the instability south of us along with the convection. However, this is going to be the biggest concern this evening as the warm front slowly lifts northward. Convection will be our biggest enemy in this situation because it means rain rates will quickly increase from what is 0.5-1.0 in/hr (which is close to manageable) to 1.0-2.0 in/hr or more. Not much has changed in the overall big picture. This morning's rainfall in the southwest is only going to serve to exacerbate the flash flood potential later this afternoon and tonight when the warm front lifts northward. In the meantime, if any convection starts, Flash Flood warnings are likely to come out quicker. This remains a very dangerous situation. If you haven't done it already, please develop a plan so that you and your loved ones have higher ground to retreat to if flash flooding begins in your area. && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF DISCUSSION. Rain will continue to impact terminals for periods through the end of the taf cycle. There will be breaks in the rain, but chances will be high enough to keep in the prevailing lines. Thunder was left out until at least 03z when a heavier band of rain and storms starts lifting from south to north. Ceilings will be on a downward trend toward IFR, if not LIFR by this evening. Winds today will be out of the east between 5-10 kts before switching to the southeast as a warm front lifts north of the terminals. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Saturday evening for Bedford-Cannon- Cheatham-Clay-Coffee-Cumberland-Davidson-De Kalb-Dickson- Fentress-Giles-Grundy-Hickman-Houston-Humphreys-Jackson-Lawrence- Lewis-Macon-Marshall-Maury-Montgomery-Overton-Perry-Pickett- Putnam-Robertson-Rutherford-Smith-Stewart-Sumner-Trousdale-Van Buren-Warren-Wayne-White-Williamson-Wilson. && DISCUSSION......Unger AVIATION........07
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 623 AM CST Fri Feb 22 2019 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-231130- 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- 623 AM CST Fri Feb 22 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Heavy rain is again very likely across Middle TN today and especially tonight. 2 to 3 inches may fall by Saturday morning and with the already very soggy ground, at minimum localized flooding is expected, and widespread flooding is very possible. The heaviest rain will be in the south today but move over the I-40 corridor tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Additional heavy rainfall is likely on Saturday and flash flooding will be very possible. Folks who live in southwest portions of Middle TN need to have a plan in place now in case the need arises to evacuate to higher ground. Please don't take this lightly. Have somewhere to go at a moment's notice to escape flood waters. In addition, some strong to severe storms will be possible Saturday afternoon and evening...especially across the southwest. Damaging straight line winds and a couple tornadoes will be the main threat with these storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed through Saturday due to the ongoing flooding potential and the severe potential on Saturday.
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 100 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:42 UTC.
35 flash flood, 3 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several roads across Maury County were flooded and closed, including Kettles Mill Road, Rally Hill Road, Hicks Lane, Old Williamsport Pike, Mt. Joy Road near Solvay Road, Wheeler Field Road near Bob's Lake Road, Carpenters Bridge Road, and Mooresville Pike.
Several roads were flooded and closed across Lawrence County, including Wayland Springs Road south of West Point, Bluff Road near West Point, and Weakly Creek Road northeast of Lawrenceburg near the Giles County line.
East County Farm Road near the Community Care Center was closed due to high water.
Lawrence County Emergency Management reported 95 percent of all low water crossings in the county were flooded and impassable, with all creeks rising. Waterford Road in the Henryville community was also underwater, as was Highway 242 between mile markers 3 and 4 around 3 miles north of Iron City.
Tennessee Highway Patrol reported parts of Highway 31 were underwater. In addition, media reports indicated that Giles County Fire and Rescue evacuated a mother, her three children, and several dogs from a home surrounded by flood waters on Alf Harris Road in Prospect.
Perry County 911 Center reported numerous roads were flooded and closed across the county, especially in northern and western sections. Roads that were flooded and closed including Cypress Creek Road and Russell Creek Road. Media reports also indicated a vehicle became trapped in flooding on Cypress Creek Road, but the driver got out safely.
Riverside Drive in Columbia was reportedly flooded and closed.
Media reports indicated 10 to 15 roads across Marshall County were impassable, and another 15 to 20 roads were covered with high water or debris. Flood waters from Rock Creek and the Duck River were threatening several homes between Lewisburg and Chapel Hill.
A driver was rescued from a vehicle on Sulphur Springs Road after driving around a high water barricade. Roads were also taking on flood waters in the Royal Glen subdivision as well as in the 4600 block of Shores Road.
Media reports indicated Gwinn Road at Little Shoal Creek was flooded and closed.
Several roads were flooded and closed across Lewis County, including Rackley Road, 1285 Darbytown Road, the 1500 block of Sieber Ridge Road, Texas Bottoms near Sinckler Road, and Napier Road at Murphy Bridge.
Media reports and local law enforcement reported 34 roads were flooded and closed across Coffee County, including Skinner Flat Road, Estern lane, and Scott Swinney Drive in Manchester. A water rescue was conducted in the 1500 block of Hillsboro Viola Road, and another water rescue of a family was conducted in Hillsboro.
Social media photos showed part of Firetower Road was washed out.
Rising water on Percy Priest Lake resulted in water rescues from Four Corners marina, as several docks went underwater with multiple people stuck on boats. Flooding was also reported on the I-65S at Harding Place exit ramp.
Several roads were flooded and closed across Williamson County, including 3rd Avenue, West Harpeth Road at Hunter Road, Boyd Mill Pike, Floyd Road, Old Natchez Trace, 2089 Kidd Road, 2084 Wilson Pike, Clovercroft Road, and Moran Road.
Fifteen roads were flooded and closed across Maury County and numerous other roads were covered in high water.
Cross the River Drive was flooded and closed at the East Fork Stones River near the Arts Center of Cannon County in Woodbury.
Numerous roads were flooded and closed across Bedford County, including Highway 30 between the Duck River Bridge and Sulphur Springs Road, Sevier Street, Lipscomb Street, Coopertown Road, Maxwell Chapel Road, Threet Road, Longview Road, Rattlesnake Lodge Road, McDale Lane, Blue Ribbon Parkway, and many others.
Several secondary roads were flooded and impassable across southern Dickson County.
Media reports indicated extensive flooding affected roads and a few homes in the Kimbro Woods subdivision, partially due to poor drainage issues. Armstrong Valley Road between Veterans Parkway to south of Yeargan Road was also flooded and closed.
Jolly Creek Road was flooded and closed.
Several roads were flooded and closed across Cumberland County, including Highway 70N near the Crossville Flea Market.
Several main highways were flooded and closed across northern Dickson County, including Highway 49W at Bartons Creek, Highway 48 near Woods Valley, and Highway 48N at Sulphur Creek just south of Charlotte. Multiple water rescues were also conducted.
Social media reports indicated numerous roads across Davidson County were flooded. River Road near the Commodore Yacht Club was flooded with nearby buildings flooding and people moving vehicles to higher ground. Southbound Ellington Parkway near the Douglas Road exit was also flooded, and Rosa Parks Boulevard by the Farmers Market was flooded with a water rescue conducted for a person stranded in a submerged vehicle. General Bate Drive at Graybar Lane in Berry Hill was also flooded with the basement of a nearby home flooded.
Lickton Pike near Old Springfield Highway was flooded in Goodlettsville. Old Hitt Lane at the low water crossing just south of New Hitt Lane in Goodlettsville was also flooded, and the high water barrier had been swept away into trees.
Highway 242 at Mile Marker 2 was covered by water in southwest Lawrence County.
Several roads were flooded and closed in the Shackle Island and Goodlettsville areas, including Brinkley Branch Road, Sandy Valley Road, Hogans Branch Road, and Crencor Drive at Madison Creek Road.
Several roads were flooded and closed in northern Cheatham County, including Main Street near Highway 49 and Tennessee Waltz Parkway in Ashland City, as well as Sweethome Road at Spring Creek Road in Chapmansboro.
Old Highway 52 at Leath Lane was flooded and closed. A local resident reported the flood waters were the highest in the past 15 years.
Maury County Emergency Management assisted Hickman County Emergency Management in a water rescue of a woman from a vehicle stranded in Mill Creek near Wrigley. Highway 438 in Coble was also flooded and closed.
Highway 52 at Highway 111 in Livingston was flooded and closed.
Widespread flooding continued across northern Dickson County in the Cumberland Furnace and Charlotte areas, with Highway 48N at St. Paul Road flooded and closed. Water rescues were also ongoing in the Dry Hollow area.
Over 30 swift water rescues were conducted across Sumner County, mainly in southern parts of the county. Mary's Magical Place, a special needs park in Hendersonville at Highway 386 and Indian Lake Boulevard, was damaged by rushing flood waters from Drakes Creek and closed for several weeks for repairs.
Numerous roads were flooded and closed across Maury County, including Howard Bridge Road at Fred White Road east of Columbia. Roads that were flooded and closed in Columbia included Tom J Hitch Parkway, Glade Street at the 7th Street, 8th Street, and 9th Street intersections, and 8th Street at the Woodland Street and Bridge Street intersections.
TDOT and local media reported a large landslide covered both lanes of I-24 eastbound between Old Hickory Boulevard and Briley Parkway in north Nashville. The interstate was closed for nearly 3 weeks through March 15 to remove debris and repair the roadway.
Numerous roads were flooded and closed across Grundy County, including Paynes Cove Road, Highway 41 at the Coffee County line, Highway 50 at Bethel Church Road, Bells Mill Road, Burroughs Cove Road, Northcutts Cove Road, Sherwood Road, Hubbards Cover Road, Highway 108 at Wesley Chapel Road, Garretson Road, Frontier Road, Yoder Road, and Cove Creek Road.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated several roads were flooded and closed across southeastern Cannon County, including Ivy Bluff Road, Pleasant View Road, and Ivy Bluff Trail.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated Ivy Bluff Trail was flooded and closed.
Trees and power lines were blown down on Colony Road with power outages in the area.
Gusty west winds up to 45 mph in the wake of the heavy rain event blew siding off a home in Mount Juliet.
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, February 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: 810962, 810961, 810963, 810964, 810965, 810966, 810967, 810968, 810971, 810970, 810973, 810972, 810969, 810974, 811288, 811289, 811290, 811293, 811294, 811300, 811302, 811303, 811304, 811314, 811309, 811306, 811322, 811361, 811362, 811364, 811363, 811367, 811325, 811369, 811389, 811376, 811378, 811380, 811382, 811391.