12/10/08 Rain Ends, Flooding Still a Concern. Damage Reported.

Submitted by Brian Smith on December 10, 2008 - 10:01am.

Comments Below: 4

What a morning! There have been numerous reports of trees and power lines down and even rock slides along Lookout Mountain. During the overnight hours 1-4+ inches of rain has fallen with wind gust reports up to 60mph.

The only significant damage noted so far has been in Jackson County Alabama, just north of Scottsboro where a roof of a house has been blown off and windows blown in. This occurred just after 1am local time. The NWS will determine if this was a tornado later today. Other reports around the area are mainly due to tree damage.

Due to the rain the National Weather Service has issued a flood warnings on a few rivers and creeks Lookout Creek in Dade Co.

“RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS, LOW LYING FARMLAND, AND ROADS ADJACENT TO STREAMS. OTHER LOW LYING PLACES THAT NORMALLY FLOOD EASILY COULD BECOME DEATH TRAPS.

IF YOU COME TO A FLOODED OR CLOSED ROAD...TURN AROUND! DON`T DROWN! THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.”

The flood advisory will expire later this morning.

Notable Rain Totals:

TENNESSEE:

Dunlap: 4.38”

Sewanee: 4.08”

Monteagle: 4.07”

Pikeville: 3.29”

Signal Mountain: 2.42”

East Brainerd: 2.35”

Chattanooga: 2.10”

Cleveland: 2.00”

Etowah: 1.77”

GEORGIA:

Summerville: 3.52”

Ellijay: 3.04”

La Fayette: 3.03”

Trenton: 2.92”

Ringgold: 2.80”

Dalton: 2.60”

ALABAMA:

Sylvania: 3.92”

Scottsboro: 3.07”

Skyline: 2.63”

Woodville: 2.74”

Flooding will ease over the next few hours, but more rain is expected tonight and Thursday with an additional 1-2 inches possible. Thursday will also turn cooler with very windy conditions. There is a slight chance that the tail end of the rain late Thursday could switch to snow. We’ll watch this closely, but feel confident that this is mainly a rain event.

The best chances for the white stuff remain along the Plateau...for now. Patrick will have much more tonight at 6 and 11pm.

See you soon,

Brian

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Snow...

Submitted by Brian Smith on December 10, 2008 - 1:05pm.

Yes, the snow chances have increased. The models have not handled the amount of cold air or the strength of the “new” low well. I would prefer a bit more consistency, but the track of the 500mb low and the cold air advection, makes it interesting. I am in hopes the NAM will be a bit more robust in the next run or two. Nevertheless, I did include the chance of snow in my noon show and the ole’ “wait and see” lingo.

It seems that 9 times out of 10, the moisture runs out before the cold air moves in. While the 850temps support the change to snow, the surface temps are still looking too warm. We have plenty of cooling to do tomorrow first. I know that the Huntsville NWS is ramping ups their snow chances. My main worry for now is the Plateau.

Thanks for the responses.

Brian

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Brian, Thoughts on snowfall

Submitted by Arron (not verified) on December 10, 2008 - 6:54pm.

Brian, Thoughts on snowfall in rhea county as of now? I Take it they have increased? Also why hasnt nws morristown issued any winter weather watches/statements yet?

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