Nashville braces itself for a wet and potentially flood-heavy weekend as the National Weather Service in Nashville issues a hydrologic outlook for widespread rainfall and flooding. Commuters and locals are advised to stay vigilant from Friday through Sunday, with forecasts indicating a near guarantee that the Cumberland River Below Old Hickory Dam will reach the "Action Stage," along with other rivers like the Buffalo and Duck Rivers showing significant chances of reaching varying flood stages, according to the National Weather Service.

As per the National Weather Service, Nashville's immediate forecast predicts a 40 percent chance of showers overnight and expected showers continuing into Wednesday with a high near 58 degrees, but the focus is now shifting towards the weekend when "there is an increased chance for flooding of area rivers this weekend into early next week," with rainfall amounts that could exceed 3 inches in some areas, the statement obtained from NWS warns with a sense of urgency, expecting these conditions to lead to quick rises in rivers and streams, especially with potential thunderstorms rolling in on Saturday.

The NWS forecasts don't show much relief following the downpour, as the chances for an inclement mix of rain and snow loom on Sunday with a cloudy high near 46 degrees before possibly plunging to around 19 degrees Sunday night. With the waterlogged state that much of Middle Tennessee finds itself in before the weekend's storms, residents in flood-prone areas are strongly encouraged to prepare for potential evacuations and to follow any guidance from local authorities.

Emphasis has been placed on smaller creeks and streams as well, which could see the immediate impact due to saturated soils that are susceptible to flash flooding, "This time of year rainfall rates of 0.5 to 1.0 inches per hour are enough to cause flash flooding, and overwhelm low lying and poor draining areas," according to the National Weather Service.