Severe Weather Threats Loom in East Tennessee and Kentucky

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Tornado Watch has been issued for much of East Tennessee and Kentucky until 4 a.m. EDT, as severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across the region. Multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have already been activated in areas including Anderson, Campbell, Grainger, Scott, and Union counties until 2:30 a.m. EDT, with additional warnings for Claiborne, Hancock, and Hawkins counties until 2:45 a.m. EDT.

The storms are likely to bring damaging winds exceeding 70 mph and hail, potentially as large as 1.5 inches in diameter. Tornadoes are also a concern, particularly for locations along and north of Interstate 40. Residents are urged to prepare for severe weather, especially after dark tonight.

The National Weather Service has indicated that varying levels of risk from Level 2 to Level 3 (out of 5) for severe storms are in effect for different parts of East Tennessee. Heavy rain accumulation between 1 to 3 inches could lead to localized flooding, increasing the risk of falling trees, especially as strong winds move through.

With storms expected to hit around 10 p.m. and last into Saturday morning, authorities recommend that residents have a safety plan in place, including identifying interior rooms away from windows to shelter in should a tornado warning be issued. They should also have an emergency bag packed with essential items like medications and important documents.

In Missouri, at least seven fatalities have been linked to severe weather, including five deaths in St. Louis due to high winds and tornado activity. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer noted the significant devastation in the area, stating, ‘This is a hard night for many families.’ Emergency services continue to search for survivors trapped in the rubble.

As storms continue to move eastward, officials are monitoring areas like Indianapolis, Louisville, and Memphis, where severe weather may also occur. Nearly 400,000 customers are reported without power across multiple states due to the storm system, with more than 200,000 outages in Michigan and over 100,000 in Missouri tomorrow.

Residents are reminded to stay indoors during severe weather events and follow any local emergency alerts for the latest updates on changing conditions.