Damp weather expected through weekend

Storms that poured more than an inch of rain over the Chattanooga area are on their way out and warmer weather is expected by Monday, according to local meteorologists.

Cool, damp weather will stick around for the weekend, but temperatures will begin to climb Monday and reach the 60s by Tuesday, WTVC NewsChannel 9 chief meteorologist David Glenn said.

"We're going to see passing areas of rain -- nothing severe, nothing heavy," Mr. Glenn said. "Some of the highest elevations ... might see some snowflakes kind of mixed in there, but we're not expecting any problems from that."

So far this year, not including Friday's rainfall, the Chattanooga area has gotten 10.24 inches of rain -- 2.45 inches below normal, but higher than the 8.08 inches recorded in the same time period last year, said meteorologist Shawn O'Neill with the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn.

But for those looking forward to the upcoming whitewater rafting season on the Ocoee River, the increased rainfall won't be a big help, said Carlo Smith, owner of Adventures Unlimited. The Ocoee is dam-controlled and under contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority to receive the same amount of water each day, regardless of rain amounts, he said.

While that means the river might not be as thrilling after big rains, the setup helps during times of drought, Mr. Smith said.

"You've got a lot of rivers across the region that, when there's a drought, they don't run because of lack of rainfall, whereas the Ocoee runs regardless," he said. "We pay TVA to put water on the river and, by doing that, it provides recreation not only for rafting, but for all kayakers and all the folks that come and watch."

Mr. Smith noted, however, that cleanup of the Nov. 10, 2009, rock slide on U.S. Highway 64, which runs alongside the Ocoee, has pushed the start of rafting season back tentatively to the first week of April.

On Friday in North Georgia, rainfall didn't reach the expected levels that caused the National Weather Service in Peachtree City, Ga., to put out a flood watch, said meteorologist Jessica Fieux. Dalton, for instance, received just over half an inch, she said.

Erik Hopkins, spokesman for East Ridge Public Safety, said Camp Jordan Parkway will be closed this weekend due to the rain and will open once the water drains off, which could be as late as Monday.

Staff writer Perla Trevizo contributed to this story.