Oak Ridge Today

NWS: Chance of snow Wednesday, sunny Thanksgiving

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National Weather Service Storm Warning

The National Weather Service says a strong regional storm system could bring heavy rain, sleet, and snow early this week. (Images courtesy National Weather Service)

The National Weather Service in Morristown is warning of a strong regional storm system that could bring heavy rain, sleet, and snow to East Tennessee and southwest Virginia early this week.

Forecasters said rain will move into the area tonight (Monday night) and could briefly change over to or mix with sleet around daybreak Tuesday. The rain is expected to continue Tuesday, with some minor local flooding possible.

Colder air moving into the region on Tuesday night could change the rain to snow, starting at higher elevations in the evening and working down to the foothills and some valleys after midnight, forecasters said.

 

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Pictures: Flooding on Windrock Road in Oliver Springs

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Windrock Road Flooding

Flooding along Windrock Road in Oliver Springs on Sunday afternoon after days of heavy rain.

Days of heavy rain that tapered off Sunday flooded streams and roads in East Tennessee, and caused many cities to reschedule their July 4 fireworks shows.

Here are two pictures of flooding along Windrock Road in Oliver Springs on Sunday afternoon. [Read more…]

Fireworks still scheduled for tonight as heavier rains move out of area

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July 4 Fireworks Setup

Workers set up fireworks at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge for a Sunday evening (July 7) show. (Photo by Darryl Kerley)

The Oak Ridge fireworks show is still scheduled for this evening, and crews were loading the fireworks Sunday morning, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said.

The July 4 fireworks were rescheduled for 10 p.m. today (Sunday, July 7) because of forecasts calling for heavy rain before and on Independence Day.

The event itself starts at 7 p.m. today at A.K. Bissell Park. Radio host Jack Ryan will be transmitting live from the park beginning at 6 p.m. and will conclude the live broadcast on Merle 96.7 FM with a patriotic medley as the fireworks are shot, according to a city press release last week. [Read more…]

Heavy rains continue, flood watch in effect through Sunday evening

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East Tennessee Flood Watch

A flood watch remains in effect in East Tennessee through Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. (Image courtesy NWS/Morristown)

Heavy rains have continued through this weekend, and a flood watch remains in effect for much of East Tennessee through Sunday evening.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said an additional one to two inches of rain is possible through 8 p.m. Sunday.

The Weather Service has issued a urban and small stream flood advisory through 10:30 a.m. in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. Local law enforcement personnel have reported minor flooding across low-lying areas and some county roadways, and some small streams are “bank full,” forecasters said.

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NWS forecasts wet holiday week, flood watch in effect

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National Weather Service Holiday Week

The National Weather Service is forecasting a wet holiday week, and a flood watch is in effect through 8 p.m. Friday. (Image courtesy NWS/Morristown)

The National Weather Service in Morristown in forecasting a wet holiday week, and a flood watch remains in effect in East Tennessee from 8 p.m. today to 8 p.m. Friday.

Between two to five inches of rain is expected, with some local levels exceeding that, the Weather Service said.

The Weather Service is forecasting heavy rain tonight and Thursday, with thunderstorms or a chance of thunderstorms continuing through Sunday. The heavy rain could start tapering off late Friday. [Read more…]

Storm knocked trees onto homes, woman reports possible lightning strike

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Tree on Delaware Avenue Home

A tree fell on a vacant Delaware Avenue home during a severe Monday night storm. (Photo by Brad Jones)

A strong storm that blew through Oak Ridge on Monday knocked two trees down onto homes. One fell onto a firefighter’s house and caused several thousand dollars worth of damage, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said.

Firefighters also responded to a call from a woman who called 911 and said she thought she had been struck by lightning during the 7 p.m. storm.

“Upon arrival, the fire department found her in the living room of her home complaining of chest pain,” Kerley said. “She stated she was standing looking out the window when lighting hit in front of her, and she began experiencing chest pain. She was transported to Methodist Medical Center for evaluation.” [Read more…]

Winds knock down gazebo, snap trees at Rarity Ridge

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Rarity Ridge Gazebo

A community gazebo at Rarity Ridge collapsed during a brief storm in Oak Ridge on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Bob Wolf)

A community gazebo collapsed and trees snapped at Rarity Ridge during a brief Wednesday afternoon storm, a resident said.

The wind damage, which occurred between about 4:15 and 4:30 p.m., appeared to be in a very localized area inside the residential development in west Oak Ridge, resident Bob Wolf said.

Soffits had blown off the front and rear porches of one home, and shingles were missing. Another house had its gutter torn off, and the white plastic fencing at several homes was damaged, Wolf said. [Read more…]

Severe thunderstorms expected through this evening

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Severe Thunderstorms

Severe thunderstorms are expected across East Tennessee through this evening, with damaging winds and large hail possible. (Image courtesy of National Weather Service in Morristown.)

Severe thunderstorms are expected across East Tennessee through this evening, with damaging winds and large hail possible.

Localized flooding and isolated tornadoes are also possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The forecast for Oak Ridge calls for showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after midnight. [Read more…]

Snow blankets Oak Ridge, more possible in region today

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March Snowfall in Oak Ridge

A light layer of snow blankets the ground at A.K. Bissell Park on Wednesday morning.

A light layer of snow blanketed Oak Ridge on Wednesday morning, and forecasters said regional snow showers and windy conditions will continue through this evening.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said the heaviest snowfall will occur along the mountains of southwest Virginia and east Tennessee.

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect for much of the Ohio River valley and mid-Atlantic states, as well as for parts of the southern Appalachians.

[Read more…]

More snow falls in Oak Ridge, Anderson County

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Anderson County Snowfall

Light snow continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday morning, and there was close to two inches on the ground in Oak Ridge and Anderson County. The picture above was taken on Oliver Springs Highway near Marlow Circle.

Light snow continued to fall in East Tennessee on Sunday morning, and there was close to two inches on the ground in Oak Ridge and Anderson County.

The temperature was above freezing and many roads were wet and slushy, but a few patches of snow remained, including on bridges.

It was the second day of snow in Oak Ridge, and the two days produced the first significant accumulation of snow in the Secret City this winter.

[Read more…]

Saturday morning flurries dump an inch or more of snow

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South Illinois Avenue Accident

A furniture truck and a sedan crashed Saturday morning on slippery, snow-covered South Illinois Avenue. There didn’t appear to be any injuries, but the northbound lanes were closed for more than an hour.

The last time it snowed in Oak Ridge, some residents were disappointed that it didn’t stick.

This time was different. Saturday morning flurries quickly dumped an inch of snow or more on Oak Ridge, covering roadways and making driving treacherous.

There appeared to be at least several minor accidents, including on Oak Ridge Turnpike, Lafayette Drive, and South Illinois Avenue.

[Read more…]

Tornado watch, wind advisory issued for Anderson, Roane

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A tornado watch has been issued for 33 Tennessee counties, including Anderson, Campbell, Loudon, Knox, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. The tornado watch remains in effect through 1 p.m. today.

The National Weather Service in Morristown has also issued a wind advisory through 9 p.m. today. The advisory said strong to damaging winds are possible across the southern Appalachians, including in Anderson, Knox, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. Damaging winds of more than 60 mph are possible.

Forecasters said severe thunderstorms are moving into the area ahead of a cold front this morning, with widespread damaging winds and isolated tornadoes possible. Widespread wind damage and tornadoes have been reported across western and middle Tennessee.

[Read more…]