Flash Flood — Sumner, Tennessee

2016-07-07 · near Mitchellville, Sumner, Tennessee

Event narrative

Major flash flooding affected much of Sumner County, especially in and near Cottontown, Bethpage, Hendersonville, Gallatin, and Castalian Springs, with numerous homes, businesses, vehicles and roads damaged by flooding. TEMA reported 30 homes were damaged and 4 bridges severely damaged by the flash flooding. Homes were flooded in locations such as Tyree Springs Road in Hendersonville, where residents were trapped by flood waters; Stoneridge Farms Apartments at 2325 Nashville Pike in Gallatin; and on Old Douglas Road in Gallatin, where one home was inundated by three feet of water. Businesses that were flooded included Long Hollow Nursery around 6 miles west of Gallatin. Roads that were flooded and closed in Hendersonville included Lower Station Camp Creek Road between Saundersville Road and Jenkins Lane, Indian Lake Road and Drakes Creek Road at Stop Thirty Road. In Cottontown, roads that were impassable due to flood waters included Bugg Hollow Road where Briggance Branch and Station Camp Creek flooded the roadway, and Pee Dee Branch Road at Upper Station Camp Creek Road. Other flooded roadways were Old Douglas Road in Gallatin, Old Hopewell Road near Lauderdale Lane in Bethpage which was washed out, Deshea Creek Road northeast of Gallatin which was washed out, and Saddle Club Road in Westmoreland which was also washed out. One man had to be rescued from clinging to a tree after his vehicle was washed away in flood waters on Liberty Lane about 5 miles northwest of Gallatin. Another man was rescued after driving into flood waters in Castalian Springs. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Wider weather episode

A major severe thunderstorm and flash flood event affected Middle Tennessee from Wednesday, July 6 into Thursday, July 7. Three rounds of thunderstorms called Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) moved across the area over these two days, with the first MCS occurring on Wednesday afternoon July 6, the second MCS from Wednesday night into Thursday morning July 6-7, and the third MCS during the afternoon of July 7. The first MCS produced several reports of wind damage across northern parts of Middle Tennessee, while the second MCS produced scattered wind damage and dropped 3 to 8 of rain, which caused major flash flooding over northern Middle Tennessee. The final MCS on Thursday afternoon July 7 brought another round of more widespread wind damage.

Based on reports from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and local media, the flash flooding damaged or destroyed over 65 homes, businesses, and other buildings across Stewart, Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner, and Cheatham Counties, as well as washed out numerous roads and bridges. Amazingly, no injuries or fatalities were reported despite the widespread damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.6256, -86.5519)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 634933. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.