National Weather Service Archives

Tornado watch issued for Anderson County

Posted at 10:27 pm July 20, 2018
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Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected tonight. Damaging winds, large hail, and lightning will be the main threats with the storms. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

A tornado watch has been issued for Anderson County until 4 a.m. Saturday. In addition to Anderson County, the watch applies to other nearby East Tennessee counties, including Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union.

The tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service in Morristown at 8 p.m. Friday.

A tornado warning has been issued for the areas west of Roane County, between Cookeville and Crossville in Middle Tennessee. Crossville is about 90 minutes west of Oak Ridge and Cookeville is farther west.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said strong to severe thunderstorms are expected Friday night. Damaging winds, large hail, and lightning will be the main threats from the storms, forecasters said. [Read more…]

Rescuers respond to three calls of drivers trapped in high waters

Posted at 11:49 pm February 11, 2018
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A car is stuck in flood water on Mountain Road in Anderson County on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)

Rescuers in Anderson County have responded to three calls of drivers trapped in high waters, authorities said Sunday.

There were no injuries reported, but the cars remained in the flooded areas, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department said.

One of those rescue calls was on Airport Road just east of Oliver Springs. In that case, a man who called 911 at the Oliver Springs Police Department at about 9 p.m. Saturday was able to escape on his own through flood water reported to be chest-deep.

The other two rescue calls were on Mountain Road and Pumpkin Hollow Road in east Anderson County, said Mark Lucas, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy. [Read more…]

Man escapes from vehicle in flood water on Airport Road

Posted at 5:05 pm February 11, 2018
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A man escaped from a vehicle in flood water on Airport Road on the east side of Oliver Springs on Saturday night, Feb. 10, 2018, authorities said. The vehicle, reported to be a Jeep, was submerged under flood water at one time, but its top was visible early Sunday afternoon. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

OLIVER SPRINGS—A man escaped from a vehicle in flood water on Airport Road on the east side of Oliver Springs on Saturday night, authorities said.

The vehicle, reported to be a Jeep, was submerged under flood water at one time, but its top was visible early Sunday afternoon.

The man called 911 at the Oliver Springs Police Department at about 9 p.m. Saturday, and the Oliver Springs Police Department responded. Members of the Oliver Springs Fire Department also responded.

But the man was able to escape on his own through flood water reported to be chest-deep, authorities said. [Read more…]

Flooding closes several roads, Arrowhead Park in Oliver Springs

Posted at 9:41 am February 11, 2018
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Flooding has closed several roads in Oliver Springs and Arrowhead Park. The closures were announced Sunday morning, Feb. 11, 2018, by the Oliver Springs Police Department. (Photo courtesy Oliver Springs Police Department)

Flooding has closed several roads in Oliver Springs and Arrowhead Park. The closures were announced Sunday morning by the Oliver Springs Police Department.

“Please use caution while driving in Oliver Springs,” the Oliver Springs Police Department said. “Several secondary roads are closed such as Airport Road, Midway Drive, Strutt Street, and Bennett Road. Other roads have debris and standing water, so please be careful.”

There was heavy rain on Saturday, and more than two inches of rain were expected in the area between Saturday afternoon and Sunday night, with more rain possible this week, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

In Oak Ridge, the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Jefferson Circle is closed due to flooding. [Read more…]

High water reported, part of Airport Road closed as more rain expected

Posted at 11:33 pm February 10, 2018
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Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

OLIVER SPRINGS—High water was reported in parts of Anderson County and a short section of Airport Road on the east side of Oliver Springs was closed as rain continued to fall Saturday night.

More than two inches of rain was expected in the area between Saturday afternoon and Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

“Please use caution while traveling and allow extra time,” the National Weather Service said. “Remember, never drive through a flooded roadway. Turn around, don’t drown!”

There were reports that a vehicle had driven into the water flowing over Airport Road, but there were no immediate reports of injuries and it wasn’t clear if a rescue had been required. Airport Road floods regularly during heavy rains, and people sometimes try to drive through it and then get stuck. [Read more…]

Few inches of snow possible Tuesday

Posted at 9:30 pm January 15, 2018
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An arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing with it accumulating snow and frigid temperatures. Snowfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night, Jan. 16, 2018. Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

A few inches of snow are possible on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

There is a 30 percent chance of snow after 4 a.m. Tuesday in Oak Ridge, and snow is likely, mainly after 7 a.m., with a 70 percent chance of precipitation, forecasters said. Local school districts will be closed Tuesday because of the winter weather.

One to two inches of snow are possible Tuesday, and the high is forecast at 28 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Weather Service said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, other schools closed due to weather Tuesday

Posted at 9:29 pm January 15, 2018
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Accumulating snow is expected to begin along the plateau in the morning hours and progress eastward through the day. Roads may become snow-covered and slick soon after the beginning of snow, with temperatures below freezing on Tuesday afternoon and evening, Jan. 16, 2018. (Image by National Weather Service in Morristown)

Oak Ridge Schools and other local school systems will be closed due to winter weather, possibly including a few inches of snow, on Tuesday.

The other districts that will be closed include Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County.

The National Weather Service in Morristown said an arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians Tuesday, bringing frigid temperatures and snow that will accumulate.

“Snowfall of one to three inches is expected Tuesday into early Tuesday night,” the National Weather Service said. “Please stay tuned to the latest forecast for further updates.” [Read more…]

Roads icy: Oak Ridge Schools, Roane State closed today

Posted at 8:46 am January 8, 2018
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A tractor-trailer jack-knifed on Interstate 40 West at mile marker 349 in Roane County. That roadway is closed, the Tennessee Department of Transportation said. I-40 East at MM 349 has one lane open. Roads are very icy in this area, TDOT said Monday morning, Jan. 8, 2018. The Oak Ridge/Gallaher Road exit is Exit 356. (Photo courtesy TDOT)

Note: This story was last updated at 10 a.m.

Oak Ridge Schools are closed today as a layer of ice coated the ground in Oak Ridge, making roads and sidewalks slippery.

The schools had originally planned to open two hours late.

Other local school systems are also closed today (Monday, January 8) as the forecast had called for freezing rain or a wintry mix of precipitation around school arrival time this morning. Among the other school systems closed are Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County. Roane State Community College is closed today as well (see here for more information). [Read more…]

Updated: Oak Ridge government, schools delayed; Anderson County Schools closed

Posted at 7:53 pm January 7, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Light ice accumulations are possible late tonight and into Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. The main problems are expected to be patches of ice on roads. During the day Monday, temperatures will warm, and the precipitation should eventually turn to all rain. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

Note: This story was last updated at 8:45 p.m.

Light icing and freezing rain are possible tonight (Sunday, January 7), and Oak Ridge government offices will open two hours late on Monday, Oak Ridge Schools will start two hours late, and Anderson County Schools will be closed.

Oak Ridge Schools said the two-hour delay is weather-related.

Anderson County Schools Director Tim Parrott said the county school closure is due to the predicted forecast of ice and the safety of students and staff. [Read more…]

City workers repair broken water lines Saturday

Posted at 3:38 am January 7, 2018
By John Huotari 1 Comment

An Oak Ridge Public Works Department crew repairs a broken water line underneath Northwestern Avenue near Nevada Circle at lunchtime Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. The crew here is supervised by Oak Ridge Public Works Department Utility Line Maintenance Crew Chief Michael Brown, left. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

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

The Oak Ridge Public Works Department continued to repair broken water lines on Saturday as cold winter weather caused ground to shift, breaking some pipes.

One crew was repairing a six-inch water line underneath Northwestern Avenue near Nevada Circle at about lunchtime Saturday, and there was another busted line reported on East Tennessee Avenue just east of Georgia Avenue.

Saturday night, city workers repaired another broken water line underneath Northwestern Avenue, this time near Nasson Lane and Princeton Avenue, and two more water line breaks were reported on Emerson Circle and Kentucky Avenue.

A crew was out past 1 a.m. Sunday finishing repairs on that second water line break under Northwestern Avenue, the one near Nasson Lane, as temperatures dropped again overnight. [Read more…]

Dangerous wind chills expected tonight, this week

Posted at 10:09 pm January 1, 2018
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Wind chill advisories are in effect tonight (Monday, Jan. 1, 2018), mainly across the higher elevations. Dress appropriately for the very cold temperatures. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

The low in Oak Ridge tonight (Monday, January 1) is forecast at 3 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures this week are expected to remain very low, mostly below freezing and dropping back down to 9 on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

A wind chill advisory is in effect from midnight to 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, including in Oak Ridge and Clinton.

“An Arctic air mass remains across the region with very cold temperatures expected to occur tonight,” the National Weather Service said. “The combination of the cold air and wind will result in dangerously cold wind chills between 5 below zero to 15 below zero.”

The very cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin, the Weather Service said. Wind chills could range from 0 degrees to 10 below zero in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. [Read more…]

Arctic cold expected, starting Saturday night through at least mid-week

Posted at 10:37 pm December 30, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Bitterly cold air with prolonged sub-freezing temperatures are expected early next week. From Saturday night, Dec. 30, 2017, through at least mid-week next week, temperatures will be at or below freezing across much of the area. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

Bitterly cold air with prolonged sub-freezing temperatures is expected early this week. From Saturday night, Dec. 30, 2017, through at least mid-week next week, temperatures will be at or below freezing across much of the area. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

Bitterly cold air with prolonged sub-freezing temperatures is expected early this week, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

From Saturday night, December 30, through at least mid-week this week, temperatures will be at or below freezing across much of the area, the National Weather Service said.

The forecast in Oak Ridge calls for a low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday night, a high of 30 on Sunday, a low of 15 on Sunday night, a high of 25 on Monday, and a low of 9 on Monday night. The high on Tuesday is forecast at 29. [Read more…]