The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 03:07 PM
One Dead In Hamilton County Flooding As Storms Hit Tennessee Wednesday;
A person died and emergency shelters have been opened after heavy rains caused flooding in Tennessee.
Soddy-Daisy Police Capt. Jeff Gann tells the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the death was believed to be a drowning related to flooding on Wednesday. Soddy-Daisy is located about 17 miles (27 kilometers) north of Chattanooga.
Soddy-Daisy's police department warned residents on its Facebook page about swift water moving along roads and ditches.
Officials said multiple homes in Soddy-Daisy have been flooded and officials are evacuating residents.
Hamilton County Schools shut down Wednesday morning due to flooding. Officials said buses were running and parents were welcome to pick up children.
Hamilton County Schools spokesman Tim Hensley said more heavy rain and flooding is forecast later in the day. He said heavy flooding around schools, especially in northern parts of the county, is predicted.
The National Weather Service says a flash flood watch is in effect in the area through Thursday evening.
For Wednesday, periods of rain, downpours and some thunder can be disruptive for your work or school commute. Localized flooding may occur with some poor drainage, especially in low-lying areas on through Thursday, with more rain at times. Drive safely.
Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 or more inches of rain will spread out in our area over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This morning started out rainy for a portion of the area, with some heavy downpours and thunder.
Wednesday is rainy at times, as rounds of moderate to heavy downpours move through along with some thunderstorms. This can add up to more than an inch of rainfall today alone, and could lead to runoff issues. We're topping out around 77 degrees.
LOOKING AHEAD
Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with patchy fog, and scattered rain. The low will be around 64 degrees.
We'll have more rain and storms move through at times Thursday as well, 80% coverage of our area throughout the day. This makes for another cooler day, with a high around 74 degrees.
The average high for Knoxville this time of year is 79 degrees, so have some seasonable temperatures this week!
We'll have scattered showers Friday, and a high around 78 degrees.
Then a few showers will linger into Saturday, with a high around 80 degrees.
Isolated rain will develop at times Sunday into next week, with highs in the low 80s ... so not bad for this time of year!