Another strong late Winter season low pressure system moved across the Southern Appalachian region. The tight pressure gradient between the eastward moving low and high pressure over the eastern third of the Nation resulted in very strong low level winds.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 MRX wrote it up.
Another strong late Winter season low pressure system moved across the Southern Appalachian region. The tight pressure gradient between the eastward moving low and high pressure over the eastern third of the Nation resulted in very strong low level winds. Mountain wave wind acceleration occurred across the Far East Tennessee Mountains with several reports of wind gusts greater than 70 mph. There was just enough instability for the formation of a few convective storms that produced some wind damage.
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 9, 6:43 PM EST, 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
643 PM EST Sat Mar 9 2019
.AVIATION...Showers and a few storms will move through overnight.
This activity will weaken as it moves into our area. This should
keep TYS and TRI VFR through the period but a brief drop to MVFR
is possible. Gusty winds are possible as the showers move through.
CHA and TYS may see some low-level wind shear between the 02 and 04Z
hour but not confident enough to include in TAFs. CHA will stay MVFR
until later tomorrow morning. TRI will be gusty tomorrow afternoon
behind the frontal passage.
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...None.
TN...Wind Advisory until 5 AM EDT Sunday for Johnson-Southeast Carter-
Southeast Greene-Southeast Monroe-Unicoi.
High Wind Warning until 5 AM EDT Sunday for Blount Smoky
Mountains-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Sevier Smoky Mountains.
VA...None.
&&
SRHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Morristown TN 302 PM EST Sat Mar 9 2019 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-102015- 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- 302 PM EST Sat Mar 9 2019 /202 PM CST Sat Mar 9 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Southwest North Carolina...East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A strong frontal system will push into the forecast area tonight. Showers and thunderstorms, some with heavy rain that could produce localized flooding, will be possible ahead of this system. The overall threat of severe weather is low but a few stronger storms could produce some damaging winds. The areas most favorable for such storms would be the plateau and western portions of southern Tennessee Valley. Additionally, this system is expected to produce strong and gusty winds across the higher elevations and foothills of the East Tennessee mountains this afternoon into tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated.
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:50 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A 74 mph wind gust was recorded at the Cove Mountain wind tower.
A few trees and power lines were reported down in Gatlinburg and the surrounding area.
A few trees were reported down.
A few power outages were reported between Cagle and Dunlap.
One tree was reported down along High 30W.
A few trees were reported down.
A few power outages were reported between Cagle and Dunlap.
A 98 mph wind gust was recorded at the Cove Mountain wind tower.
One tree was reported down along Highway 30W.
Numerous power outages were reported across Gatlinburg. The local power company estimated nearly 3000 customers without power across the county.
A 72 mph wind gust was recorded at the Camp Creek wind tower.
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, March 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: 800532, 800509, 800495, 800496, 800498, 800500, 800497, 800507, 800499, 800505, 800503.