Oak Ridge Today

Flooding causes road, school closings

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The rain that continued to fall in East Tennessee on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, has led to school and road closures. Pictured above, floodwaters from East Fork Poplar Creek fill a basin near the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue.

The rain that continued to fall in East Tennessee on Thursday has led to school and road closures.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said Oak Ridge received an estimated 4.47 inches of rain between 5 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, and 5 a.m. Thursday, February 6.

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

Anderson County Schools are closed Thursday due to the continued threat of flooding.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said Thursday morning that the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and North Jefferson Circle is closed due to flooding.

And the ORPD said drivers should use caution on State Route 95/Oak Ridge Turnpike between Imperium Drive and Southwood Lane. Traffic is down to one lane due to flooding, the ORPD said.

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Oak Ridge Schools delayed two hours

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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.

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

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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.

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Trees down, power outages reported after thunderstorm

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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.

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Woman injured by falling tree during Sunday storms

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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.

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Oak Ridge had more than 15 inches of rain in February

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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…]

Oak Ridge police conduct water rescue

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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…]

Updated: Rain causing widespread flooding, road closures

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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…]

Heavy rain causes flooding, high water

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East Fork Poplar Creek is flooded near South Illinois Avenue as heavy rain falls continuously on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

East Fork Poplar Creek is flooded near South Illinois Avenue as heavy rain falls continuously on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Heavy, continuous rain on Tuesday caused flooding on roadways and high waters in creeks.

Coal Yard Road in east Oak Ridge is closed due to flooding, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Water pooled on other roads was causing large puddles, and some drivers were driving around that water.

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department encouraged drivers to slow down and watch for water as minor flooding was reported in Oak Ridge.

“Heavy, continuous rain has created hazardous driving conditions,” the City of Oak Ridge said. [Read more…]

SR 116 closed after landslide in north Anderson County

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State Route 116 is closed Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in north Anderson County between Indian Fork Lane and Bunch Cemetery due to a slide after heavy rains on Wednesday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Transportation)

A section of State Route 116 is closed Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, in north Anderson County due to a landslide after heavy rains on Wednesday, Feb. 6. (Photo courtesy Tennessee Department of Transportation)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12 p.m. Feb. 8.

A section of State Route 116 was closed Thursday morning in north Anderson County after a landslide following heavy rains on Wednesday, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The hillside alongside and beneath the road gave way, and part of the road collapsed.

TDOT spokesperson Mark Nagi said there is no timeline for how long the road might be closed, but it will be a long-term closure.

On Friday, WYSH Radio in Clinton reported that one lane of the road was open. [Read more…]

City put brine on roads to prepare for winter weather

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The Oak Ridge Public Works Department said snow plows are ready if needed, and crews put brine on the roads on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in an effort to reduce impacts on driving conditions from the winter weather forecast to start overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department said snow plows are ready if needed, and crews put brine on the roads on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, to try to reduce the impact on driving conditions from the winter weather that is forecast to start overnight Monday and continue into Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department put brine on roads on Monday to try to reduce the effect that winter weather might have on driving conditions. Snow plows are ready, and the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department are preparing by bringing in extra emergency response staff, the City of Oak Ridge said.

Snow is possible, and temperatures are expected to plunge in the Oak Ridge area on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the seven-day forecast by the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The snow is expected starting overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. The low on Wednesday night is forecast at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. [Read more…]

Snow in Oak Ridge

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Many roads in Oak Ridge were covered by a wet, slushy snow on Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 2018, and some were slippery even when they appeared relatively clear. Pictured above is South Illinois Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Many roads in Oak Ridge were covered by a wet, slushy snow on Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 2018, and some were slippery even when they appeared relatively clear. Pictured above is South Illinois Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:15 p.m.

Many roads in Oak Ridge were covered by a wet, slushy snow on Sunday morning, and some were slippery even when they appeared relatively clear.

The Oak Ridge Police Department said there were slick spots coming into Oak Ridge from Solway.

Oak Ridge Today measured about 5/8 inch of snow on a sidewalk in one spot mid-morning Sunday.

Main roads such as Illinois Avenue and Oak Ridge Turnpike were mostly clear, with slush in some spots such as the median, while side streets remained snow-covered. [Read more…]