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Earthquake of 3.8 magnitude reported in East Tennessee

Posted at 2:24 pm January 20, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image courtesy U.S. Geological Survey

Note: This story was last updated at 3:35 p.m.

An earthquake of 3.8 magnitude was reported in East Tennessee on Monday afternoon.

The earthquake was felt in Oak Ridge at about 2:12 p.m. Monday, where it rattled homes and windows.

It was centered in Campbell County about one kilometer east of Fincastle, Tennessee, northeast of LaFollette, which is northeast of Oak Ridge, at a depth of about 35.4 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: Campbell County, earthquake, East Tennessee, Oak Ridge, U.S. Geological Survey

Oak Ridge Schools delayed two hours

Posted at 5:55 am December 11, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

Oak Ridge Schools are delayed two hours Wednesday.

Snow fell in East Tennessee starting Tuesday afternoon, and the National Weather Service in Morristown warned of possible ice on roads in some spots on Wednesday morning due to sub-freezing temperatures combined with snow, ice, and residual moisture on roads.

Anderson County Schools are closed Wednesday due to the weather and road conditions.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Anderson County Schools, Clinton City Schools, ice, Oak Ridge Schools, snow

Arctic front brings snow to East Tennessee; some schools closed, delayed

Posted at 7:52 am November 12, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Snowfall Forecast Nov 12 2019
A snowfall forecast map by the National Weather Service in Morristown at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. (Image courtesy NWS Morristown)

An Arctic front brought snow to East Tennessee early Tuesday morning, and some schools will be closed or start later than normal.

A small amount of snow fell in Oak Ridge, maybe a half-inch or so. Oak Ridge Schools are operating on normal schedules.

Anderson County Schools and Clinton City Schools are both closed due to road conditions.

Roane State Community College campuses are opening at 10 a.m. local time.

The forecast for the Knoxville area called for a 50 percent chance of snow before 10 a.m. Tuesday. Conditions were expected to be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

The temperature is forecast to drop to about 16 degrees overnight Tuesday night before warming about 10 degrees on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said widespread record cold is spreading from the Plains eastward toward the East Coast.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Anderson County Schools, Arctic front, Arctic Storm, Clinton City Schools, East Tennessee, National Weather Service, NWS, Oak Ridge Schools, snow

Trees down, power outages reported after thunderstorm

Posted at 3:08 pm October 31, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Fallen Tree Michigan Avenue Oct. 31 2019
A tree fell across Michigan Avenue during a severe thunderstorm in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Trees fell and power outages were reported after a thunderstorm in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The fallen trees and power outages were because of strong winds and heavy rain that lasted a few hours starting at about 11 a.m. Thursday, the City of Oak Ridge said.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department and Electric Department are responding to the damage reports and making repairs, the city said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, fallen tree, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, power outage

Severe thunderstorm warning includes Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:14 am October 31, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A severe thunderstorm warning issued Thursday includes Oak Ridge.

The severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Morristown. It is in effect from 10:58 to 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

The areas affected include Anderson, Campbell, Knox, and Union counties.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: National Weather Service, Oak Ridge, severe thunderstorm

Secret City Weather has new website

Posted at 11:54 am July 1, 2019
By Brandon Bonds Leave a Comment

Secret City Weather launched a new website on Sunday evening, which is now available at www.SecretCityWeather.com.

The new website replaces the former SecretCityWx.weebly.com, which will remain active for the foreseeable future, a press release said.

“The new website makes it easier to find local weather content for the East Tennessee area and adds to our growing portfolio of social media platforms that we use to publish local weather conditions, forecasting, and analysis,” said Brandon Bonds, owner of Secret City Weather. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Weather Tagged With: Brandon Bonds, East Tennessee, Secret City Weather, weather, weather forecasting

Woman injured by falling tree during Sunday storms

Posted at 12:34 pm April 15, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A woman was injured by a falling tree at a home on Nesper Road during the storms on Sunday, April 14, 2019, Oak Ridge officials said. A fallen tree damaged a quadplex near Nesper Road and New York Avenue. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

A woman was injured by a falling tree at a home on Nesper Road during the storms on Sunday, Oak Ridge officials said.

A storm at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday hit Oak Ridge with heavy rain and strong winds, the city said.

“As a result, there were widespread power outages across the city with downed power lines and fallen trees,” the city said.

Emergency crews responded to many storm damage calls, including a roof that was partially blown off a building on Warehouse Road. Trees fell on buildings and houses and across roads.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, CodeRed Emergency Notification, falling tree, Nesper Road, power outage, storm

Oak Ridge had more than 15 inches of rain in February

Posted at 9:37 am March 5, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Oak Ridge had more than 15 inches of rain in February, a record, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The Oak Ridge Automated Surface Observing Systems recorded 15.62 inches of precipitation during February.

“Records for that site only go back to 1998,” the NWS said. “2019 is the wettest February on record.”

The monthly normal for Oak Ridge is 4.11 inches of rain, the National Weather Service said. The 15.62 inches of precipitation is 3.8 times the monthly normal of 4.11 inches. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Slider, Top Stories, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Automated Surface Observing Systems, flooding, National Weather Service, NWS, Oak Ridge, precipitation, rain, wettest February

Boys basketball game rescheduled to Sunday

Posted at 3:36 pm February 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had been scheduled to play West in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game today (Saturday, February 23), but the game has been rescheduled to Sunday as heavy rain causes flooding and road closures across the area.

The elimination basketball game is now scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School.

Filed Under: Front Page News, High School, Sports, Weather Tagged With: basketball, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Region 2-AAA quarterfinal, West

Water flowing across all lanes of Highway 95, which is closed

Posted at 3:14 pm February 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include part of Highway 95, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

 

Water is flowing across all lanes of State Route 95 in west Oak Ridge, and the highway is closed, the Oak Ridge Police Department said Saturday afternoon.

ORPD Officer Trae Sweeten posted video of the flooding just west of Southwood Lane. Water is flowing across all lanes and into the nearby East Fork Poplar Creek, the ORPD said.

The ORPD said SR 95/58 is completely closed between Imperium Drive and Rarity Oaks Parkway.

“Conditions will worsen,” the ORPD said. “Please obey all road closures!”

VIDEO UPDATE: #ORPD Officer Sweeten shows us the flood conditions along Highway 95 (OR Turnpike), just west of Southwood Lane. Water is flowing across all lanes and into the nearby creek. Conditions will worsen. Please obey all road closures! #OakRidge #TNwx pic.twitter.com/rDWJrSiWPR

— Oak Ridge Police (@OakRidgePolice) February 23, 2019

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: flooding, National Weather Service, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, rain, road closures, SR 95, State Route 95, Trae Sweeten

Oak Ridge police conduct water rescue

Posted at 1:46 pm February 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said. (Photo courtesy ORFD)

 

The Oak Ridge Police Department had a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said.

The vehicle was on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge, one of several roads in the area that has had at least a portion of it closed.

“We are asking everyone to stay home and off the roads today while we respond to flooding in Oak Ridge,” the Fire Department said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: flooding, Highway 95, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, rain, road closures, water rescue

Updated: Rain causing widespread flooding, road closures

Posted at 12:14 pm February 23, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

The Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures due to flooding on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, include eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, pictured above; Gum Hollow Road; and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle. (Photo courtesy ORPD)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:45 p.m.

Days of continuous, heavy rain are causing widespread flooding and road closures in the area, including in Oak Ridge.

Late Saturday morning, the Oak Ridge Police Department said road closures include Gum Hollow Road, eastbound Highway 95 east of the Highway 95/58 split, and Jefferson Avenue at Jefferson Circle and Royce Circle.

“There are a number of flooded roads in Oak Ridge right now,” the ORPD said. “Please avoid areas with standing water and obey any road or lane closures for your own safety.”

Saturday afternoon, the Oak Ridge Fire Department said the ORPD conducted a water rescue at a partially submerged vehicle on Oak Ridge Turnpike (Highway 95) in west Oak Ridge.

The Police Department cited the advice that law enforcement officers and weather forecasters often give during flooding conditions: “Turn around, don’t drown.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Roane County, Slider, Top Stories, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Airport Road, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Arrowhead Park, Bennett Road, flooding, Gum Hollow Road, Highway 95, Jefferson Avenue, Kayla Wyatt, Midway Drive, Molly Brewer, National Weather Service, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, ORPD, rain, road closures, Roane County, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Valarie Emery, water rescue, Windrock Road

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