Chattanooga broke a Christmas Day precipitation record with 2.67 inches falling between midnight and 3 p.m., according to meteorologist Derek Eisentrout of the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn.
“That’s a lot of rain,” said Eisentrout, who noted the previous Christmas Day record was 2.01 inches in 1973.
With patches of rain still moving through the area well into the night, Eisentrout said the 2.67 total will rise, possibly to more than 3 inches of rain by midnight.
Eisentrout and his fellow forecasters were almost as busy as Santa overnight and into the day, posting a steady stream of thunderstorm and flooding watches, warnings and advisories.
Some meteorologists worked longer shifts to help deal with the situation, and one weather service employee was called in for several hours just to help post all the warnings and special weather statements.
“It’s been a long day,” Eisentrout said, fatigue in his voice.
Chattanooga also set a temperature record this week, with a new record high low temperature for Wednesday, Dec. 23.
The low temperature that day was 61, compared to 57 for the same day in 1879, Eisentrout said.
The waterlogged area should get a bit of a break Saturday and Sunday, when chances of rain drop to the 30-percent range.
“That being said, we’re still in a fairly active weather pattern,” Eisentrout noted.
Rain will likely be back Monday, he said, with a 70-percent chance of precipitation.
More flooding?
Perhaps.
The weekend may be a nice break, “but the soil is saturated,” Eisentrout said. “A two-day respite is not going to cure that.”