Knoxville flooding in Tennessee storms

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A cold front drove through Tennessee on Monday, dumping heavy downpours of rain and triggering flash flood watches and tornado watches.

"We've not had a lot of wind damage," said National Weather Service meteorologist Bobby Boyd in Nashville. "Flash flooding has been the issue."

In Knoxville, 1-to-2 inches of rain fell Monday morning and afternoon, flooding streets, basements and backyards. Volunteer Boulevard was impassable Thursday afternoon at the University of Tennessee, and Broadway at Interstate 640 was a trouble spot where most vehicles could not get through and some had to be rescued.

No serious injuries were reported.

The storms were being pushed by a front that was expected to drop temperatures by 40 degrees by Tuesday morning.

"When I came in the morning at 4 a.m., I had 71 degrees on the thermometer in my truck," Boyd said. "The airport's got 58 now (at noon) and the high tomorrow will be 57. The low tonight will be 32."

Radar indicated rotation that could have been funnel clouds over Murfreesboro at noon Monday. There were reports of pea-sized hail.

There had been no reports of deaths, injuries or serious damage from the storms.

Dean Fleenor, a spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said the state command center in Nashville had not been activated, but the agency was monitoring weather developments.

Flash flooding was widespread across the central part of the state. There were reports of trees and power lines down in the Dover area northwest of Nashville. There was also a report of wind damage north of Fredonia, which is near Manchester.

By noon, most of the rain had cleared West Tennessee.

East Tennessee was getting the brunt of the storms by Monday afternoon with a tornado watch in effect up the Tennessee River valley from Chattanooga through Knoxville to the Tri-Cities. A tornado warning was issued in the early afternoon for the Knoxville area.

There was also a flash flood watch in effect for areas of East Tennessee north of Gatlinburg.

Boyd said the heavy weather for Monday afternoon would likely occur east of Interstate 65 and south of Interstate 40.

More: Storms hit Chattanooga area with reports of damage, twisters

Upcoming Events