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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…]

Almost 4 inches of rain fell around Norris

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Almost 4 inches of rain fell in Norris overnight starting Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Norris is the area around 3.97" near the lower left portion of the large dark orange area in the map above by the National Weather Service in Morristown. (Image courtesy NWS)

Almost 4 inches of rain fell around Norris overnight starting Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Norris is the area around 3.95 near the lower left portion of the large dark orange area in the precipitation map above by the National Weather Service in Morristown. (Image courtesy NWS)

 

Areas near Norris saw around 4 inches of rain last night (starting Wednesday, February 6), according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

You can see a collection of rainfall observations across the area during the past 24 hours here: . [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…]

Oak Ridge, Anderson County schools closed Tuesday due to weather

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Oak Ridge and Anderson County schools will be closed Tuesday due to weather.

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, cold weather in forecast for next two days

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Photo courtesy NOAA/National Weather Service

Photo courtesy NOAA/National Weather Service

 

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.

“An arctic cold front will move across the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians late tonight and Tuesday morning, bringing with it widespread precipitation,” the National Weather Service said in a winter weather advisory. “The precipitation will likely begin as a mixture of rain and snow but quickly transition to all snow around daybreak Tuesday morning. Snow and ice-covered roadways are expected area-wide, causing travel problems.”

A winter storm warning is in effect for the Great Smoky Mountains in Blount, Cocke, Sevier, and southeast Monroe counties from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, with heavy snow expected. [Read more…]

Basketball games rescheduled to Monday

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The Oak Ridge basketball games that had been scheduled for Tuesday at Karns have been moved to Monday because of the threat of snow and cold winter weather on Tuesday.

There is an 80 percent chance of snow in the Oak Ridge area on Tuesday, and the low Tuesday night could be 16 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the seven-day forecast by the National Weather Service in Morristown. [Read more…]

Airport Road, Midway Drive close in OS due to flooding

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Note: This story was updated at 1:05 p.m.

Airport Road and Midway Drive in Oliver Springs have closed due to flooding, and weather forecasters have issued a flash flood watch for the area.

Airport Road, which is on the east side of Oliver Springs, frequently floods during heavy, prolonged rains, and drivers sometimes get stuck there when they try to drive through the water, which can be high and moving fast.

A flash flood watch is in effect until 1 p.m. Friday in Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Knoxville, and Anderson, Morgan and Roane counties, among other communities, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. Heavy rain continues today (Friday, December 28), with flooding possible, forecasters said. [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…]

Tornado watch issued for Anderson County

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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)

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

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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)

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

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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)

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

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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, 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…]

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