Strong storms expected Thursday with damaging winds, chance of tornadoes in Chattanooga area

WRCB Forecast.
WRCB Forecast.

Forecasters are warning residents in the Chattanooga region that strong storms with damaging winds are expected to develop later this afternoon along with a slight risk of tornadoes as another system moves across the already storm-torn South.

A rainy Thursday started out with 30-35 mph winds, according to a WRCB-TV Channel 3 weather statement. A wind advisory is in effect for Franklin County, Tennessee, and Jackson and DeKalb counties in Alabama until 3 p.m., and for the southeast portion of Monroe County, Tennessee, until 8 p.m.

The storm systems will be passing through between 4 and 9 p.m. and there's a 5% possibility of tornadoes and 15% chance of damaging winds in Bradley and Hamilton counties, WRCB reports.

Residents across the region should monitor their weather radios and turn off "Do not disturb" settings on their smartphones in order to get timely alerts. Double check location settings.

"After noon we will see most of the rain fading away for a few hours as we climb to about 70 degrees," WRCB meteorologist David Karnes wrote in his Thursday weather blog.

After 3 p.m. Thursday, strong, isolated storms will develop "that could produce damaging winds and isolated tornadoes," he wrote in the blog. "While the [tornado] risk is small, this would be a good evening to NOT be in a manufactured home if at all possible."

Karnes said 1-1.5 inches of rain is expected with the system.

In a broader look, the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, early Thursday issued a "hazardous weather outlook" for more than 30 counties in East Tennessee and more counties in Southwest North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.

The weather service outlook statement predicted strong to severe storms this afternoon and evening with the highest risk across the Cumberland Plateau and southern Tennessee Valley. The main risk will be damaging winds, but an isolated tornado or two is possible particularly across the Cumberland Plateau and southern Tennessee Valley. Marginally severe sized hail will also be possible, weather service officials said.

Southerly wind gusts could reach 60 mph across East Tennessee's mountains and foothills, weather service officials said.

But relief's in sight, according to Karnes.

"Friday looks great with a few clouds and temps ranging from 57 to 74," he said. "Saturday we will have a few showers mainly in the morning and a high of 74 in the afternoon. Sunday will be cool and dry with a high of 68."

Contact Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569. Follow him on Twitter @BenBenton or at www.facebook.com/benbenton1.

Read more at our news partner WRCB's website.

FIVE-DAY FORECAST

Friday A 10% chance of precipitation early will give way to partly sunny skies High 77 Low 53 Saturday Rain and sun with 50% chance of rain High 65 Low 57 Sunday Mostly sunny High 63 Low 47 Monday Mostly sunny High 70 Low 43 Tuesday Mostly sunny High 70 Low 43 Source: WRCB-TV Channel 3

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