rain Archives - Oak Ridge Today

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

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…]

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…]

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, 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

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)

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

Posted at 1:22 pm February 12, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 2:25 pm February 7, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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: https://nwschat.weather.gov/p.php?pid=201902071821-KMRX-NOUS44-PNSMRX. [Read more…]

TVA confirms 2018 was wettest year

Posted at 1:21 pm January 2, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Valley Authority is spilling or sluicing through gates at reservoirs including Chickamauga, pictured above, with heavy rain in the forecast from Thursday, Dec. 27, to Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. (Photo courtesy TVA)

The Tennessee Valley Authority was spilling or sluicing through gates at reservoirs including Chickamauga, pictured above, with heavy rain in the forecast from Thursday, Dec. 27, to Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. (Photo courtesy TVA)

The Tennessee Valley Authority confirmed Wednesday that 2018 was the wettest year in the Tennessee Valley in 129 years of record keeping.

There was a basin average of 67.1 inches of rain across the Tennessee Valley in 2018, TVA said.

The previous record was 65.1 inches in 1973.

The TVA rain gauge on Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina received 118.8 inches of rain in 2018.

The Tennessee Valley region normally averages 51 inches of rain a year. [Read more…]

TVA: 2018 sets record for rainfall in Tennessee Valley

Posted at 1:01 pm December 28, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Tennessee Valley Authority is spilling or sluicing through gates at reservoirs including Chickamauga, pictured above, with heavy rain in the forecast from Thursday, Dec. 27, to Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. (Photo courtesy TVA)

A record amount of rain has fallen in the Tennessee River Valley in 2018, and the year isn’t over yet. The rain might not be either.

The previous record of 65.1 inches of rain was set in 1973. The record, based on 129 years of weather data, was announced by the Tennessee Valley Authority on Friday.

“As 2018 draws to a close, yearly rainfall totals for the TVA region continue to climb to near record levels, and the trend for above average rainfall totals continues right up to year’s end,” the public utility said.

“For the week before Christmas, rainfall averaged two inches in the eastern Valley and 1.4 inches in the western Valley,” said James Everett, senior manager for TVA’s River Forecast Center. “We began spilling and sluicing at several locations the day after Christmas to increase flows and increase flood storage capacity, and that will likely continue into the New Year.” [Read more…]

Man escapes from vehicle in flood water on Airport Road

Posted at 5:05 pm February 11, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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…]

Latest on Hurricane Irma: Expected impacts in Tennessee Valley

Posted at 7:32 pm September 9, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The forecast for Hurricane Irma and its expected impacts across East Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and southwest North Carolina as of Saturday afternoon, Sept. 9, 2017. (Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown)

The National Weather Service in Morristown on Saturday afternoon released updated information on the expected impacts of Hurricane Irma in East Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and southwest North Carolina.

The strong winds and outer rain bands of the hurricane, which has weakened to a Category 3 storm from an earlier Category 5, started hitting the Florida Keys on Saturday as officials warned of a potentially deadly storm surge in southern Florida.

The storm track appeared to have moved farther west than originally forecast, and Hurricane Irma was expected to now have a bigger impact on central and western Florida as it moved up the peninsula.

The remnants of the storm, which had sustained winds of 125 mph on Saturday afternoon, are expected to move across the southeast United States and into the Tennessee Valley, possibly starting Monday afternoon and continuing through Tuesday, with scattered showers through Thursday. [Read more…]