Strong, fast-moving thunderstorms barreled across parts of East Tennessee on Sunday afternoon, dumping heavy rain and kicking up gusty winds that snapped tree limbs and triggered local alerts. The line of storms brought brief but intense downpours that cut visibility and raised the risk of localized flooding in low-lying spots.
What the NWS warned
The National Weather Service in Morristown reported that Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms racing east at roughly 30 to 45 mph, producing wind gusts up to 50 mph along with torrential rainfall that could trigger localized flooding. Forecasters warned that the gusts could knock down tree limbs and toss around unsecured outdoor items. They urged anyone caught outside to seek sturdy shelter and keep an eye on changing conditions, according to NWS Morristown.
Local officials sound the alarm
Monroe County Emergency Management pushed out the advisory on Facebook, sharing radar snapshots that lined up with the NWS outlook and calling out communities in the path of the storms, including Cleveland, Athens, Madisonville, Benton, Ducktown, Etowah, Charleston, and Wildwood Lake. The county reminded residents not to drive through flooded roadways and to tie down or bring in loose outdoor items while the storms moved through, as posted by Monroe County Emergency Management.
Counties in the crosshairs
Weather service products and county officials highlighted portions of Meigs, McMinn, southwestern Monroe, Bradley, and Polk counties as most at risk for damaging gusts and flash flooding, with the strongest radar returns showing up over valleys and near ridgelines. Officials cautioned residents to expect downed limbs, scattered power outages, and water-covered local roads, and recommended delaying nonessential travel until the line of storms passed through, per NWS Morristown.
How to stay safe
If you are in the warned area, head to a sturdy building away from windows, avoid driving through standing water, and secure loose outdoor items before storms arrive. Keep phones charged, follow local emergency pages and NWS updates, and wait at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before heading back outside.
