Severe flooding in Tennessee on Tuesday, August 12, brought traffic on a key interstate to a standstill and caused deadly consequences in the Chattanooga area.
Interstate Flooding Halts Traffic
Video footage from the scene showed vehicles stranded on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga, where floodwaters rose so high that some cars were almost completely submerged, with only their roofs visible above the brown, murky water. The Tennessee Department of Transportation confirmed that I-24 was closed between I-75 and US 27 in Hamilton County due to widespread flooding, with crews prioritizing work on that section.
By late evening, the waters had receded, allowing officials to reopen the roadway after clearing disabled vehicles.
Tragic Loss of Life
The extreme weather turned deadly when a mother, father, and child were killed after a tree fell onto their vehicle during the heavy rain, according to local media reports. The incident underscored the dangers brought by the sudden and intense storms that swept across eastern Tennessee.
Record-Breaking Rainfall
Chattanooga recorded 6.52 inches of rain on August 12, shattering the city’s previous record for that date of 1.93 inches set in 2013. Most of the rainfall occurred between noon and 8 p.m., with some areas east of downtown also receiving around 6 inches, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.
Ongoing Flood Risks
Flash flood watches remain in effect across parts of eastern and central Tennessee, with forecasters warning that additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms could bring more flooding through Wednesday, August 13. Pydynowski noted that some storms may produce intense downpours capable of worsening conditions, with unsettled weather expected to linger into Thursday and Friday.
