TVA prepping for major rain

Published 6:30 am Tuesday, February 19, 2019

High rainfall and potential flooding are expected this week in the Tennessee Valley, including in Athens and Limestone County.

As a result, the Tennessee Valley Authority is moving water to create storage at reservoirs, limiting downstream water releases and also trying to keep the public informed of potential flooding.

“After record rainfall in 2018, we are seeing much of the same so far in early 2019,” said James Everett, senior manager for TVA’s River Forecast Center. “With above-average rainfall totals on already saturated ground possible next week, we are moving lots of water through the system to create as much storage as possible in our reservoirs while also limiting flows to protect downstream areas.”

Everett says multiple rounds of moisture moving up from the Gulf of Mexico could bring 5 to 10 inches of rainfall to parts of the Valley through next weekend, with heavier amounts possible locally. Rainfall intensity is expected to increase Tuesday through Thursday and continue into the weekend.

High priority

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As TVA works to manage the unusually high amounts of rainfall, TVA is working to continually provide the latest information about this unfolding weather event.

“Providing accurate and timely information to the public is a high priority for us,” said Tom Barnett, general manager for River Management. “TVA prevents about $250 million in flood damage across the region each year. Though we cannot prevent all flooding during exceptional events like these, we do strive to keep the public informed about our actions to minimize the impacts so that everyone can better prepare.”

The latest river stage information can be found at:

• For Whitesburg, Alabama: http://tva.me/Ud3U50lEFh5

• For Florence, Alabama: http://tva.me/PCeS50lEFha

Preparation underway

TVA has been monitoring the system closely since early last week and spilling or sluicing water from its tributary reservoirs – including Apalachia, Cherokee, Douglas, Melton Hill and Norris – to create more storage for expected rainfall. At the same time, TVA has been spilling water through all dams on the main stem of the Tennessee River to accommodate the tributary releases to come. Once the heaviest rains arrive, TVA will use the storage space it has created in the tributary reservoirs to hold back water as it manages high flows along the main stem. Even so, the heavy rains expected could raise both tributary and main stem reservoirs to summer pool or above later this week.

What to expect

In partnership with the National Weather Service, TVA will continue to monitor and update forecasts and will adjust releases and other river management actions accordingly. TVA river management activities — including spilling, sluicing, hydro generation and reducing flows at some locations — will be ongoing at tributary and main-stem sites across the valley. Water release strategies will be updated around the clock by TVA’s River Forecast Center staff as the rainfall forecast develops.

Expected impacts across the Valley this week include:

• Tributaries may rise to summer pool or higher, especially Blue Ridge, Chatuge, Fontana, Hiwassee, Norris, Nottelly and South Holston;

• Levels on the Tennessee River main-stem river pools will also rise sharply in response to heavy rain; 

• Chattanooga will see elevated river levels but is expected to remain below flood stage. Depending on rainfall, levels could rise to near flood stage by Friday; 

• Significant flooding, resulting from some of the highest river levels in decades, is expected in North Alabama and below Pickwick Dam from Savannah to Johnsonville; 

• There may be significant flooding along the unregulated portions of rivers below dams, especially Tims Ford Dam on the Elk River and Normandy Dam on the Duck River, as well as other locations in western North Carolina and north Georgia, including Copperhill and McCaysville; and 

• High water flows could force lock closures on all lower main stem rivers to protect public safety and transportation.

Stay informed

TVA said it places a high priority on collaborating with its public safety partners — the National Weather Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others — to quickly and continuously provide the latest information on weather forecasts, expected rainfall, water levels and potential impacts.

TVA said it will reach out to National Weather Service, farmers, marinas, local EMAs and other groups across the Valley to provide advanced warning about rising river levels. Residents in flood-prone areas should stay tuned to National Weather Service alerts for warning information, TVA said.

TVA said it will continue to update public and media outlets, as well as post information on its website at www.tva.com/februaryrains2019. For the latest information, updated around the clock, check Facebook and Twitter feeds.