Flash flooding closes schools, roads across state

NASHVILLE (AP) — Flood and flash flood warnings were issued for much of Tennessee after up to 5 inches of rain fell across the state Thursday, causing roads and schools to close.

The flood warning by the National Weather Service in Nashville covered 22 Middle Tennessee counties and was expected to last until morning Friday. Late Thursday widespread flooding was reported, with much of the concentration between Interstate 65 and the Cumberland Plateau. Up to 2 more inches of rain was expected by forecasters on Friday.

Several small streams and creeks were out of their banks, and several roads were closed by flooding.

Early Friday the weather service issued a flash flood warning for seven counties in East Tennessee after more than 2 inches of rain fell since Thursday evening. More rain was expected throughout the night across the Cumberland Plateau.

River flood warnings also were issued in Middle Tennessee for the Duck River at Shelbyville and the Elk River at Prospect.

Moderate flooding was expected along the Duck River in Bedford County. The river was expected to exceed its 25-foot flood stage overnight, then crest at 28 feet on Friday. Flooding could be extensive throughout Shelbyville as backwater from the Duck River pushes smaller streams out of their banks.

Minor flooding was forecast along the Elk River in Giles County. The river was expected to top its flood stage of 26 feet overnight and crest near 34 feet on Saturday. Some homes in low-lying areas along the river could begin to flood at these levels, the weather service said.

Earlier Thursday, Kurt Pickering, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, said the state hadn’t sent emergency workers to the hard-hit areas. Also, no serious property damage had been reported.

‘Things are being handled at the local level,’ he said. ‘We hope Mother Nature will turn off the spigot soon. This doesn’t appear to be a repeat of last May’s storms.’

Water was reported in some Shelby County homes, the weather service said. Water also neared homes five miles northwest of Jackson in Madison County.

Flash floods were reported in Henderson and Chester counties.

Schools closed early in many parts of the state, including Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Coffee, DeKalb, Dickson, Giles, Hickman, Humphreys, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Maury, Putnam, Rutherford, Warren, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson counties, officials said.

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