More Rain Expected; Flooding A Concern

A rainy week including possible soaking rains Tuesday could impact the already saturated ground across the Upper Cumberland.

“We have already seen flooding occur across the Southeastern U.S. due to heavy rains through February and early March,” NOAA Deputy Director Mary Erickson said. “With many states at risk with at least minor flooding across central and the southeast U.S,, any heavy rainfall events could trigger flood conditions.”

More than 5.25 inches of rain fell at Crossville during March, almost two inches above normal. 13 of the last 15 days have produced at least a trace of rain at Crossville’s official weather station.

The first two months of the year produced rainfall more than eight inches above normal. Those kinds of numbers lead to a flood threat. Erickson said NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center put Tennessee in a minor risk category for flooding this spring.

Minor flooding includes minimal property damage and some public threats such as flooded roads.

Erickson said the long-term models show above average temperatures and precipitation in Tennessee through June.