Flash Flood — Carter, Tennessee

1998-01-07 · near Countywide, Carter, Tennessee

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain over several hours triggered flash flooding. The heaviest rain fell between 1900 EST, January 7 and 0100 EST, January 8, where two to five inches fell during the period. Nearly 8 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in a rain gage in the headwaters of the Doe River, enabling the Doe River at Elizabethton, TN to reach its record flood stage of 10.92 feet. Approximately one foot of snow in the mountains had melted the previous day, adding to runoff problems. Several tributaries of the Doe River flooded and caused damage. The water system in Roan Mountain was heavily damaged. Twelve bridges along with several sections of roadway were rendered unusable. Over two hundred mobile homes and more than a dozen houses were destroyed. Nearly two hundred other houses and buildings, and six businesses were severely damaged.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5627163. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.