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Main road through Oliver Springs closed due to flooding

Posted at 12:17 pm February 6, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

East Tri County Boulevard was closed near Mahoney Road and Midway Drive in Oliver Springs as floodwater from Poplar Creek flowed over the four-lane road Thursday morning, Feb. 6, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 8:20 a.m. Feb. 7.

Note: The Oliver Springs Police Department reported at 7:12 p.m. Thursday that East Tri County Boulevard and Windrock Road had re-opened.

OLIVER SPRINGS—The main road through Oliver Springs was closed due to flooding Thursday morning.

Floodwaters were flowing over all four lanes of East Tri County Boulevard near Midway Drive before 11 a.m. Thursday, and the Oliver Springs Police Department was redirecting traffic down Mahoney Road.

Midway Drive, which veers off from Tri County Boulevard, was submerged under water from Poplar Creek.

The Oliver Springs Police Department reported at about 11 a.m. Thursday that the city was impassable, and Mahoney Road, which heads west out of the city, is now closed due to flooding.

“You will now have to come downtown and go out Dutch Valley or go around via Oak Ridge and Harriman,” the OSPD said. “If you do not know these areas well, please stay in until the flood levels are down and roads opened.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, East Tri County Boulevard, flash flooding, flooding, Mahoney Road, Midway Drive, National Weather Service, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Police Department, rain

Flooding causes road, school closings

Posted at 9:19 am February 6, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Top Stories, Weather, Weather Tagged With: flooding, rain

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

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

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)

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…]

Filed Under: Slider, Weather, Weather Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, flash flood watch, flooding, National Weather Service, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Public Works Department, rain

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…]

Filed Under: Weather Tagged With: National Weather Service, Norris, precipitation map, rain

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…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: 2018, rain, Tennessee Valley, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, wettest year

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)

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…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories, Weather Tagged With: James Everett, rain, Tennessee River Valley, Tennessee Valley, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, yearly rainfall totals

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)

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…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Airport Road, Anderson County, Clinch River, East Tri County Boulevard, flood water, Melton Hill Dam, Midway Drive, National Weather Service, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs Fire Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, rain, Tennessee Valley Authority

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, 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…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, Weather, Weather Tagged With: Airport Road, Arrowhead Park, Bennett Road, East Tri County Boulevard, flooding, Jefferson Avenue, Jefferson Circle, Midway Drive, National Weather Service, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Oliver Springs Police Department, rain, Strutt Street

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Classifieds

Public Notice: Comment period extended for Draft EA for Lithium Processing Facility at Y-12

EXTENSION OF THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING … [Read More...]

Public Notice: Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Lithium Production Facility at Y-12

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING FACILITY AT THE Y-12 … [Read More...]

Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment for the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) (DOE/EA-2144), Finding of No Significant Impact, and Wetland Statement of Findings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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