KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee Valley Authority River Forecast Center this morning in a media conference call said that even though today (Tuesday) will see a lull in rainfall, more weather is expected to move through the river system’s area again tomorrow. James Everett, Senior Manager of the River Forecast Center, told news media outlets that Pickwick Lake is now 6-feet above flood stage, and probably will rise another foot today.
Everett said that TVA found extra runoff capacity in its tributary dams and, because their holding capacity has not topped out, they are reducing some of the flow into the main river today. Everett said that this should help Pickwick and Kentucky Lakes (the lakes that have the largest holding capacity) maintain lower levels.
Everett warned residents and campers in low lying areas to move to higher ground as much as possible, because rainfall tomorrow and throughout the rest of the week will most certainly cause additional flooding in those low lying areas. He noted that in the last 7-days rainfall totals are in excess of 550-percent of normal. and more is on the way.
The River Forecast Center is not expected to hold an update conference call on Wednesday unless the situation worsens, but expects to conduct another one on Thursday.
