National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Locally Heavy Rainfall for the Carolinas; Thunderstorms and Fire Weather Concerns for Intermountain West

Heavy rainfall from scattered thunderstorms is expected across the Southwest, Intermountain West, and Plains. Isolated dry thunderstorms may initiate additional fires across the west. The coastal Carolinas may experience flash floods in the coming days due to repeated thunderstorms. Additionally, a wave of intense summer heat will hit the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast States this week. Read More >

Between December 1 and December 9, 2004, much of the Tennessee Valley received between 8 and 10 inches of rainfall. When combined with a wet November, these heavy rain events caused creeks, streams, and rivers across the area to flood. The heaviest rain fell from December 5th through the 8th, with several locations receiving 6 to 7 inches of rain over the 3-day period (for comparison, 5.59 inches of rain is normal for the entire month of December at Huntsville airport!)

 Rainfall Information
 
Rainfall map from the Lower Mississippi Forecast Center
Radar-derived precipitation estimates for December 1-9, 2004, courtesy the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (click to view a larger image). The darkest reds located in southeastern Franklin County, Alabama, correspond to 9-10 inches! Amounts along the Tennessee-Alabama line ranged from 6 to 8 inches.
 

Public Information Statement - Issued on December 8 detailing rainfall totals and river stages from the 5th-8th flooding

 
 Pictures line
 
Additional pictures and hydrographs are available for each site by clicking on the thumbnail or site name.
The Paint Rock River remained above flood stage for much of the first part of December. Here it is flooding an immense section of farmlands off Alabama Highway 65, just off U.S. 72.

 

Paint Rock River (Woodville)
western Jackson County, Alabama
surveyed December 9, 2004



 
Tennessee River (Florence/McFarland Park)
Lauderdale County, Alabama
surveyed December 10, 2004


 
Big Nance Creek (Courtland)
Lawrence County, Alabama
surveyed December 10, 2004


 
Tennessee River (Whitesburg/Lacey's Spring)
Madison & Morgan Counties, Alabama
surveyed December 10, 2004


 
Elk River (Fayetteville)
Lincoln County, Tennessee
(Hydrograph Available Only)