Flash Flood — Lawrence, Tennessee

2014-06-05 · near New Haven, Lawrence, Tennessee

Event narrative

Major and widespread flash flooding occurred across northern Lawrence County, with several homes flooded and road closures due to roads being washed out in up to 20 different places. A 72 year old man drowned when his car was swept off the washed-out roadway at the intersection of Denson Road and Highway 240 in Summertown. Three people were rescued out of a flooded house at 35 Waterfork Road in Henryville. Buffalo Road at Highway 242 was down to one lane due to flooding. Highway 240 had 1 foot of water over the roadway. Branch Drive and Lance Drive in Lawrenceburg were also flooded.

Wider weather episode

A weak cold front moving southward out of Kentucky spawned numerous showers and thunderstorms throughout Middle Tennessee from the late evening hours on June 4 and continuing throughout the day on June 5. Many reports of damaging winds were received with these storms. In addition, as the front stalled across southwest Middle Tennessee early on June 5, thunderstorms began training across the same areas from Lobelville to Pulaski, dumping up to 8 inches of rain and causing major flash flooding. The flooding damaged numerous roads, homes, and businesses, and resulted in 2 fatalities due to drowning.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.3864, -87.5640)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 517173. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.