Flash Flood, Cherokee
- When
- March 28, 10:03 AM EST to 11:30 AM EST
- Where
- Cherokee County, 4 mi NNE of Hothouse to 5 mi NE of Hothouse
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 35.074, -84.223
Streams were out of their banks and flooding yards.
Flash Flood in North Carolina, March 28, 2021
A major weather system that brought damaging thunderstorms and flooding rainfall to the Tennessee Valley also had impacts, although lesser, in southwestern North Carolina. The ground was already near saturation due to heavy rains from a few days earlier.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
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 MRX wrote it up.
A major weather system that brought damaging thunderstorms and flooding rainfall to the Tennessee Valley also had impacts, although lesser, in southwestern North Carolina. The ground was already near saturation due to heavy rains from a few days earlier.
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 Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 28, 6:53 AM EST, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 28, 6:53 AM EST, 3 hours 10 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
National Weather Service Morristown TN
753 AM EDT Sun Mar 28 2021
.UPDATE...
FOR 12Z AVIATION.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight)...
Elevated convection will continue to pose a threat of heavy
rain/flooding across the northern portions of our area over the next
few hours. Between 08-13Z, the line of storms across Middle TN is
expected to track across our area, with damaging winds being the
main severe threat. Additional heavy rainfall from this line will
further exacerbate ongoing flooding in the northern Plateau and
northern Valley counties. The surface warm front appears to be
located close to CHA at the moment, with a slight northward push
possible before the line arrives. The primary area of concern with
this line will be south of I-40 where convection could become
surface-based, giving a higher chance of damaging wind gusts and the
potential for quick-forming tornadoes along the QLCS.
The QLCS is expected to move a little faster than what most of the
models project, and should be exiting our area in the 13-15Z time
frame. Some showers may linger behind it until the 850 mb
front/trough axis pushes through in the early afternoon. Clouds
should clear out in the evening with the midlevel trough passage.
This clearing along with building high pressure allowing winds to
drop off to nearly calm after midnight will result in low temps
tonight in the 30s for most of the Valley, and 20s in the mountains.
The counties that are in the active frost/freeze program - from
Union-Grainger-Hamblen counties south - are expected to have lows in
the 36-39 range. This is just above the borderline for a second
period Frost Advisory, so will hold off on issuing one with this
package.
The Flash Flood Watch will be continued unchanged, although it will
likely be able to be ended earlier than 00Z. The Wind Advisory
appears on track as gusts in the mountains have been in the 40s.
This may also be able to be canceled before the 18Z end time.
DGS
.LONG TERM...(Monday through Friday)...
High pressure continues to build southeast behind cold front Monday
for a quiet weather day and slightly below normal temperatures in
the upper 50s to mid 60s. Monday night another mostly clear night
but southerly flow will start returning as high pressure shifts east
of the Appalachians. Lows will rebound into the upper 30s to mid
40s. Tuesday southerly flow will warm temperatures another 10
degrees with increasing clouds but rain holding off during the day.
Tuesday night and Wednesday another system approaches as new upper
trough digs into the Rockies and moves into the Plains and western
Great Lakes on Wednesday. Cold front will move into the forecast
area Wednesday and should stop temperatures from rising more than
about 10 degrees from mild morning lows as skies will be cloudy
and showers abundant. Showers and isolated thunderstorms possible
Wednesday along and ahead of the front.
Much colder airmass will move in behind the front Wednesday night
and Thursday with some snow showers on the leading edge of a
secondary cold front late Wednesday night and early Thursday. This
system will be short lived so no significant accumulation
expected. Skies expected to clear by Thursday morning with strong
cold air advection dropping temperatures down into the upper 20s
by early morning across northern sections and around freezing to
mid 30s central and southern areas. The cold air advection
continues Thursday and temperatures will only rebound into the 40s
to lower 50s. Higher elevations will stay in the 30s. Thursday
night a significant freeze possible over all but extreme southern
valley near Chattanooga. May need to issue freeze products for
Thursday night. Slow warming trend Friday and Saturday. Highs
Friday mid 40s to mid 50s and then Saturday much warmer in the
upper 50s to mid 60s.
TD
&&
.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.
For the next hour, a line of showers and some embedded
thunderstorms will move east of the terminals. Lower ceilings and
visibilities will continue mainly MVFR conditions but possibly
IFR for an hour. Showers will persist through late morning behind
initial line with mainly MVFR conditions. Gusty west to northwest
winds to about 20 knots will continue through most of the day.
Skies will begin to clear from the southwest between about 18 and
00Z. VFR conditions from about 22Z through the end of the TAF
period with winds decreasing after 00Z this evening.
TD
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...Flash Flood Watch through this evening for Cherokee-Clay.
TN...Flash Flood Watch through this evening for Anderson-Bledsoe-
Blount Smoky Mountains-Bradley-Campbell-Claiborne-Cocke
Smoky Mountains-East Polk-Grainger-Hamblen-Hamilton-Hancock-
Hawkins-Jefferson-Johnson-Knox-Loudon-Marion-McMinn-Meigs-
Morgan-North Sevier-Northwest Blount-Northwest Carter-
Northwest Cocke-Northwest Greene-Northwest Monroe-Rhea-
Roane-Scott-Sequatchie-Sevier Smoky Mountains-Southeast
Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast Monroe-Sullivan-Unicoi-
Union-Washington-West Polk.
Wind Advisory until 2 PM EDT this afternoon for Blount Smoky
Mountains-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Johnson-Sevier Smoky
Mountains-Southeast Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast
Monroe-Unicoi.
VA...Flash Flood Watch through this evening for Lee-Russell-Scott-
Washington-Wise.
&&Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 28, 2:40 AM EST, 7 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Morristown TN 340 AM EDT Sun Mar 28 2021 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-290730- 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- 340 AM EDT Sun Mar 28 2021 /240 AM CDT Sun Mar 28 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A line of showers and strong thunderstorms will sweep rapidly across the entire area this morning. The primary threat will be damaging winds, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. A threat of flooding will also continue across much of the area today as more showers and storms move over the same areas that were hit Saturday and overnight. The heavy downpours could lead to flash flooding across the area. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A cold airmass will move into the eastern Tennessee Valley and Southern Appalachians Wednesday night through Thursday night. Below freezing temperatures are expected over northern sections Thursday morning. Much colder temperatures are forecast for Friday morning with a hard freeze over all but the extreme southern Tennessee Valley. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter reports may be needed today for damaging wind gusts and flooding reports.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Mar 28, 9:18 AM EST, 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1018 AM EDT SUN MAR 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM FLASH FLOOD BLOUNTVILLE 36.53N 82.33W
03/28/2021 SULLIVAN TN 911 CALL CENTER
CHILDERS FERRY ROAD FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE.
&&Local storm report, Mar 28, 9:23 AM EST, 40 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1023 AM EDT SUN MAR 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM FLASH FLOOD KINGSPORT 36.53N 82.56W
03/28/2021 SULLIVAN TN 911 CALL CENTER
PRINCETON ROAD FLOODED AND IMPASSABLE.
&&Local storm report, Mar 28, 9:30 AM EST, 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1030 AM EDT SUN MAR 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0930 AM FLASH FLOOD DUCKTOWN 35.04N 84.39W
03/28/2021 POLK TN 911 CALL CENTER
ROCKSLIDE BLOCKING ONE LANE OF HIGHWAY 64.
&&Local storm report, Mar 28, 9:49 AM EST, 14 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1049 AM EDT SUN MAR 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 AM FLASH FLOOD BRISTOL TN 36.57N 82.20W
03/28/2021 SULLIVAN TN 911 CALL CENTER
PARKING LOT EAST OF BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY
IS FLOODED.
&&Local storm report, Mar 28, 9:52 AM EST, 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1052 AM EDT SUN MAR 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1032 AM FLASH FLOOD 8 NW DEERLODGE 36.29N 84.84W
03/28/2021 MORGAN TN PUBLIC
GATEWOOD FORD BRIDGE IS UNDERWATER. LOCATED
NEAR THE MORGAN FENTRESS COUNTY LINE IN
DEERLODGE.
&&Local storm report, Mar 28, 9:58 AM EST, 5 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1058 AM EDT SUN MAR 28 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 AM FLASH FLOOD 8 NW DEERLODGE 36.29N 84.84W
03/28/2021 MORGAN TN PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS FLASH FLOOD REPORT FROM 8
NW DEERLODGE. GATEWOOD FORD BRIDGE IS
UNDERWATER. LOCATED NEAR THE MORGAN FENTRESS
COUNTY LINE IN DEERLODGE.
&&The radar
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 143 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:02 UTC.
Event by event
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Rip Currents in Puerto Rico, March 28, 2021
- Strong Wind in Wisconsin, March 28, 2021
- Rip Current in Florida, March 28, 2021
- Dust Storm and High Wind in Washington, March 28, 2021
- Damaging Winds in Maryland, March 28, 2021
- Damaging Winds in South Carolina, March 28, 2021
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 28, 2021
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Idaho, March 28, 2021
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Georgia, March 28, 2021
- Damaging Winds in New Jersey, March 28, 2021
- Wildfire and High Wind in Montana, March 28 to 29, 2021
- High Wind in Idaho, March 28 to 29, 2021
More
Every storm in North Carolina in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, March 2021
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: 951373.