East Tennessee Flooding Hits Dozens of Communities Along I-75
Dozens of east Tennessee communities faced active flooding June 28 as heavy storms dumped up to 5 inches of rain, affecting Interstate 75 and state parks across more than 20 counties.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE — Heavy rainfall triggered multiple flood advisories and a flood watch across a wide swath of east Tennessee on June 28, with local law enforcement reporting active flooding in Campbell, Claiborne, Scott, Morgan and more than 20 other counties, according to the National Weather Service office in Morristown.
Between 3 and 5 inches of rain fell across the hardest-hit areas, prompting NWS Morristown to issue a series of escalating alerts throughout the morning and afternoon. The flooding affected low-lying areas, poor drainage zones, and stretches of major roadways.
Interstate 75 Among Affected Areas
One of the most significant traffic impacts involved Interstate 75 in Tennessee, where flooding was reported between mile markers 131 and 161. Motorists traveling through Campbell and surrounding counties were advised to exercise caution along that corridor.
Law enforcement reported flooding conditions at 1:39 p.m. EDT in the Campbell, Claiborne, and Scott county advisory area. Communities affected in that advisory included La Follette, Oneida, Jacksboro, Huntsville, Helenwood, Jellico, Caryville, Winfield, Royal Blue, Elk Valley, Norma, Ketchen, Smokey Junction, Cove Lake State Park, Slick Rock, Indian Mountain State Park, Robbins, Fincastle, Elgin and White Oak.
Morgan and Scott Counties Hit Early
Flooding in Morgan and Scott counties began earlier in the day. At 10:06 a.m. EDT, Doppler radar confirmed heavy rain from thunderstorms, with between 2 and 4 inches already on the ground and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected. NWS Morristown issued a flood advisory for those counties until 2:00 p.m. EDT.
By 11:53 a.m. EDT, members of the public reported continued flooding in Morgan and Scott counties, with 1 to 3 inches of additional rainfall recorded. Water was reported over roadways in multiple locations. Communities impacted in those advisories included Wartburg, Oliver Springs, Harriman, Sunbright, Oakdale, Frozen Head State Park, Deerlodge, Elgin, Petros, Slick Rock, Pine Orchard, High Point, Robbins, Rugby State Park, Rugby and Coalfield.
Flood Watch Covered More Than 20 Counties
A broader flood watch issued at 10:18 a.m. EDT and in effect until 4:00 p.m. EDT encompassed a large portion of east Tennessee. The watch covered Anderson, Blount Smoky Mountains, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke Smoky Mountains, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, North Sevier, Northwest Blount, Northwest Cocke, Northwest Greene, Roane, Scott TN, Sevier Smoky Mountains, Southeast Greene, Unicoi, Union and Washington TN counties.
NWS Morristown warned that showers and storms with locally heavy rainfall would continue through mid-afternoon, raising the risk of rivers, creeks, and streams overflowing their banks. Low-water crossings were also flagged as potential hazard points throughout the watch area.
Residents in affected areas are encouraged to avoid flooded roadways and monitor updates from the National Weather Service. Flood safety information is available at weather.gov/safety/flood.
