A new round of heavy rain may bring significant flooding in the Chattanooga area, according to the National Weather Service. A Flood Warning covers Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie counties.
The forecast includes up to two inches of additional rain.
High gusts of wind are also expected with the latest storm.
Some locations that will experience flooding include Chattanooga, Jasper, Soddy Daisy, Signal Mountain, South Pittsburg, Walden, Lakesite, Whitwell, Kimball, Monteagle, Ridgeside, Fairmount, Harrison, Red Bank, Collegedale, Powells Crossroads, Orme, Flat Top Mountain, Lookout Mountain and North Chickamauga Creek Gorge.
The new line of storms comes after extensive rain has already caused minor flooding and road closures in a number of locations.
South Chickamauga Creek is expected to rise 3.5 feet above its flood stage of 18 feet.
Lookout Creek was set to go 2.3 feet above its flood stage of 12 feet.
West Chickamauga Creek was set to go a foot above its 11-foot flood stage.
The NWS issued this Special Weather Statement at 9:45 a.m.:
DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING HEAVY RAINFALL LEADING TO WIDESPREAD FLOODING ACROSS MUCH OF EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA... A STALLED WARM FRONT CONTINUES TO PROMOTE PROLONGED AND WIDESPREAD FLOODING ACROSS MUCH OF EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. MANY ROADWAYS ARE INUNDATED BY FLOOD WATERS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. MOTORISTS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO USE CAUTION AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOOD WATERS, AND DO NOT DRIVE AROUND FLOOD BARRIERS. LASTLY, SATURATED SOILS COMBINED WITH HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL MUDSLIDES ON STEEPER SLOPES. TURN AROUND DONT DROWN!
Here is the Hazardous Weather Report from the NWS:
Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall will traverse the region today. Given the already saturated ground and high stream flows, additional flooding is possible. Significant stream and river flooding, roadway flooding, mud slides, and main stem river flooding are expected. Potential life threatening flooding is possible.
A line of strong to marginally severe storms will move into the region tonight. The main threat will be damaging wind gusts. Trees will be easily uprooted due to the saturated ground. Winds will increase in the higher elevations tonight into early Sunday as the cold front approaches from the west. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph will be possible in the high terrain.
The Flood Warning continues for the South Chickamauga Creek until late Monday night. * At 05:15 AM Saturday the stage was 19.4 feet. * Flood stage is 18 feet. * Minor flooding is occurring and Minor flooding is forecast. * Forecast...The river will continue rising to near 21.5 feet by tomorrow early afternoon...but is then expected to begin falling. The river will fall below flood stage by Monday evening. * Forecast...The river will continue rising to near 21.5 feet by tomorrow early afternoon. The river will fall below flood stage Monday evening. * At 22.0 feet...Airport Road is closed to traffic. A couple of homes are slightly flooded near intersection of Mack Smith Road and May Street. Flooding becomes extensive around the north end of the airport.Flood Warning extended until late Sunday night.
The Flood Warning continues for the Lookout Creek near New England. * Until late Sunday night. * At 6 a.m. Saturday the stage was 13.8 feet...and rising. * Minor flooding is occurring and Minor flooding is forecast. * Flood stage is 12.0 feet. * The river will continue rising to near 14.3 feet by this afternoon. The river will fall below flood stage tomorrow late evening. * At 15.0 feet...Minor flooding continues to expand along Sells Lane in Trenton...Mason Road near Rising Fawn...and Creek Road near New England. These roads and other roads with creeks flowing into Lookout Creek will flood causing the roads to be closed. The water will be a few feet deep on portions of these roads. Also minor flooding will continue to expand downstream as the creek crosses the Tennessee border into the Tiftona area. * This crest compares to a previous crest of 15 feet on April 24, 2018.
The West Chickamauga Creek near Fort Oglethorpe. * Until Monday afternoon. * At 5 a.m.Saturday the stage was 11.4 feet...and rising. * Minor flooding is occurring and Minor flooding is forecast. * Flood stage is 11 feet. * The river will continue rising to near 12 feet by this evening. The river will fall below flood stage Monday morning. * At 13.0 feet...Minor flooding expands further into the woodlands and fields near the creek upstream and downstream from the gauge on the Georgia Highway 146 or Cloud Springs Road bridge. Minor flooding of the creek also expands much further downstream as it crosses the Tennessee border into the south East Ridge area. * This crest compares to a previous crest of 12.0 feet on Feb 25 2016.Flood Warning extended until late Monday night.