Through 830 PM EDT (730 PM cdt)...scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue to develop...and move east at 25 mph into the Sequatchie Valley counties. An isolated shower or thunderstorm may also develop across the remainder of southeast Tennessee...as well as Cherokee and Clay counties of North Carolina. Hourly rainfall amounts will range from a tenth...to a quarter of an inch per hour. However...amounts up to one inch per hour will be possible...with the thunderstorms approaching the Sequatchie Valley counties.
Forecast for Northwest Monroe
Updated: 3:01 PM EDT on July 5, 2009
Tonight
Cloudy. A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Showers likely until early morning...then a chance of showers late in the night. Lows in the upper 60s. Light winds. Chance of rain 70 percent.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning and early afternoon...then a slight chance of showers late in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds 10 mph or less. Chance of rain 30 percent.
... Strong thunderstorms with heavy rains will be affecting Bledsoe ... Blount... Loudon... McMinn... Meigs... Monroe... Rhea and Roane counties...
At 650 PM EDT/550 PM CDT/... National Weather Service Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Kingston to 6 miles north of Spring City to 8 miles north of Pikeville... moving southeast at 30 mph.
Pea size hail... and wind gusts up to 30 to 40 mph are possible with these storms.
In addition to small hail and gusty winds... continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately! Lightning is one of natures primary killers. Remember... if you can hear thunder... you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
Locally heavy rains... in excess of one inch per hour... may occur with these thunderstorms. Motorists should be alert for ponding of water on roadways... and possible minor flooding of low lying areas. Do not drive through waters of unknown depth. Turn around! Don't drown!