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.
The Weather Service said a slow-moving low pressure system is moving across the Ohio Valley, pulling moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the region. Showers with moderate rain and isolated afternoon thunderstorms are moving north at 25 mph across the plateau and central Tennessee Valley.
“Since the ground is already saturated, any additional rainfall may cause additional ponding of water in poor drainage areas as well as flooding of smaller creeks and streams,” the Weather Service said.
The flood watch applies to Anderson, Campbell, Loudon, Knox, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties, among others. It also applies to parts of southwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia.
The Weather Service said most flood deaths occur in automobiles.
“Never drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway,” forecasters said. “Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road.”
The forecast for Oak Ridge says the chance of showers could drop to 40 percent on Monday, and the chance of thunderstorms on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday ranges from 20 percent to 60 percent.
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