Flood — Cocke, Tennessee

2024-09-27 to 2024-09-28 · near Hartford, Cocke, Tennessee

Event narrative

The river gauge on the Pigeon River at Newport exceeded the 12 foot major flood stage at 5:30 am EST on the 27th. (This stage is not unusual, and has happened over a dozen times in the 2000s.) However, the gauge remained above major flood stage for 23 hours, cresting at 29.57 feet at 5:07 pm EST on the 27th, more than 6 feet above the previous record crest that stood for over 120 years. As the flood wave moved down from the state line, it destroyed portions of I-40 and a popular rafting venue. A river gauge near Hartford was destroyed, and flooding in Hartford occurred. Structures and agricultural land near Edwina were ruined. Numerous structures in and around the river in the vicinity of Newport were destroyed or damaged. Substantial and damaging flooding occurred in downtown Newport. All damages for Cocke County (which suffered two other river floods elsewhere) will be included in this entry. Rumors during the afternoon of the 27th that Walters Dam had failed were false, but its power station outside of Hartford had to be evacuated due to the excessive river flooding.

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 → (35.8345, -83.1500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1218838. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.