Flash Flood — Carter, Tennessee

2024-09-27 to 2024-09-28 · near Roan Mtn, Carter, Tennessee

Event narrative

Streams were reaching the base of bridges in the area and homes in low lying areas were being evacuated at 8:15 am EST. By 9:25 am EST, significant and damaging flooding was widespread throughout the Roan Mountain vicinity. The impacts and threats from flooding would persist through the day and night. These flooding rains overflowed the Doe and Watauga Rivers, which would impact areas in the county downstream later in the day. Damage values for the whole county will be entered in a subsequent entry.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Helene caps off a several day heavy rainfall event in association with a stalled closed upper low that drew a stream of tropical moisture into the area on the 25th and 26th. The arrival of Helene on the 27th yielded catastrophic flash flooding and river flooding, as well as significant wind damage as wet soils and strong wind gusts led to forest damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.1331, -82.0357)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1218673. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.