Flood Alerts Issued for East Tennessee Communities Including Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge
Heavy rainfall of 2 to 4 inches triggered flash flood warnings and advisories Sunday afternoon across Cocke, Jefferson and Sevier counties, affecting popular tourist destinations including Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE — The National Weather Service office in Morristown issued a Flash Flood Warning and a Flood Advisory Sunday afternoon for parts of east Tennessee after 2 to 4 inches of rain fell, leading to reports of flooding in several communities.
The Flash Flood Warning, issued at 1:19 p.m. EDT, covered Cocke, Jefferson, and Sevier counties and expired at 2:30 p.m. EDT. A subsequent Flood Advisory was issued at 1:54 p.m. EDT and remains in effect until 4:30 p.m. EDT for the same area.
Where Flooding Is Occurring
Flash flooding has been reported in small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses, and low-lying areas with poor drainage. Minor flooding continues under the active Flood Advisory, and some low-water crossings may be impassable.
Communities affected include Morristown, Sevierville, Newport, Gatlinburg, Dandridge, Pigeon Forge, White Pine, Baneberry, Parrottsville, Pittman Center, Fairgarden, Bird Crossing, Chestnut Hill, Harrisburg, Cosby, Hartford, Bybee, Elkmont, and McMahan. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also among the impacted locations.
Rainfall Totals and Timeline
The National Weather Service reported 2 to 4 inches of rain in the advisory area by early Sunday afternoon. Public reports of flooding in the affected zone were received by 1:54 p.m. EDT, according to NWS Morristown.
Both alerts were based on public-reported flooding rather than automated sensor data, the agency noted in its alert summaries.
What Residents Should Know
The National Weather Service urges residents in affected areas to avoid flooded roadways and low-water crossings, as water depth can be difficult to judge and conditions can change quickly. Additional flood safety information is available at weather.gov/safety/flood.
The Flood Advisory for Cocke, Jefferson, and Sevier counties is set to expire at 4:30 p.m. EDT on June 28. Residents are advised to monitor updated forecasts from NWS Morristown as conditions evolve.
