May 2024 Severe Weather
The May 2024 severe weather outbreaks were a series of severe thunderstorms that caused damage in Scott County and knocked out power to thousands of people.
Round 1
On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. included Scott County and much of the rest of Tennessee, as well as most of Kentucky, in an “enhanced risk” for severe weather for the following day — Wednesday, May 8. An enhanced risk is the third step on the SPC’s five-step threat assessment scale for severe weather. Statistically, it means there is a 30% risk of severe weather within 25 miles of any point.
The SPC warned that all modes of severe weather were possible, including tornadoes.
As it turned out, there wasn’t much wind or hail associated with the storms, although Scott County was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at one point, and Morgan County was placed under a Tornado Warning.
However, 4.10 inches of rain were recorded in Oneida by the National Weather Service — the first time more than two inches of rain had fallen in Scott County in a single day since February 2023, and the most rain in a day since 4.88 inches fell on March 28, 2021 and washed away the historic Burnt Mill Bridge near Robbins. It was the most rain ever recorded in a single day in Scott County during the month of May, and the fifth-greatest single-day rainfall total regardless of month.
Both the Oneida Special School District and the Scott County School System were closed on Thursday, May 9, 2024 due to flooding.
Round 2
The second round of severe weather was on Wednesday, May 22. Severe weather had not been in the forecast when the day began; in fact, there was only a slight chance for thunderstorms in the forecast that morning.
However, it became increasingly clear during the early evening hours that severe weather was possible. The National Weather Service began warning at 6:24 p.m. that damaging winds were possible after 7 p.m. in portions of Scott, Morgan and Campbell counties. At 6:51 p.m., the NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for all three counties.
Just before 7:15 p.m., the severe thunderstorm struck in the Oneida area, blocking multiple roadways with downed trees and causing widespread power outages. At the peak, more than 1,400 homes were without power in Plateau Electric Cooperative’s service area, most of them in Scott County. Utility crews worked throughout the night to restore power, and some areas remained in the dark on Thursday, May 23. Multiple homes were damaged by the wind. No injuries were reported.
Despite reports of rotation, there were no tornadoes, and a Tornado Warning was never issued by the National Weather Service.
Round 3
The third and final round of severe weather was on Sunday, May 26, continuing into the early morning hours of Monday, May 27. This time, severe weather was forecasted well in advance, and Scott County was included in an “enhanced risk” area for severe weather by the Storm Prediction Center.
The SPC first issued a Tornado Watch for Scott and all neighboring counties Sunday morning. The watch remained into effect until 4 p.m. A second Tornado Watch was later issued Sunday evening, and was in effect until 6 a.m. Monday morning.
Severe thunderstorms struck around lunch time Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for most of Scott County at 12:30 p.m. The storm rolled through the Oneida area at around 1 p.m. Again, hundreds of homes lost power, and Plateau Electric Cooperative crews were busy throughout the rest of the day restoring power, mostly in the West Oneida and Winfield areas.
Sunday afternoon’s thunderstorm caused significant tree damage in some areas. The worst was along the Fentress/Pickett County line just west of Scott County. Pickett State Park was closed indefinitely as crews began recovery efforts there.
A short time later, a Tornado Warning was issued for Norma and extreme eastern Scott County. However, no damage was reported.
Another line of thunderstorms moved through the region around 2 a.m. Monday morning, resulting in yet another Severe Thunderstorm Warning for much of Scott County. The latter thunderstorms proved to be tamer than the earlier ones, resulting in little additional damage and power outages.
By the time the final thunderstorms cleared the area on Memorial Day morning, a total of 10.38 inches of rain had been reported in Scott County for the month of May — an all-time record for the month.