Recent Rainfall Creating Dangerous Situation on Tennessee River

[WesL]

The Tennessee Valley Authority is warning those who live, work and play around the Tennessee River and associated reservoirs to use caution as recent rainfall has created higher than normal water levels and fast moving currents.

TVA -
"After seeing drought conditions most of last year, the Tennessee Valley is now trending ahead of the normal rainfall pace for the calendar year, with a total of 18.5 inches representing a surplus of about one inch. Runoff is still running a deficit for the year at 8.5 inches or about 68% of normal due to lingering effects from the drought."

Those rains while helping with drought conditions have forced the TVA to release more water from dam locations bringing the swift currents in the Tennessee River to more extreme rates than usual. Over the past 24 hours Wheeler Dam was averaging 685,709 gallons of water per second and Guntersville Dam was averaging just over 630,188 gallons per second. Those levels could continue fluctuate with additional rain expected this week and boaters are urged to stay off the river or use extreme caution.


River Information - https://www.tva.gov/Newsroom/TVAs-River-Forecast-Center-Managing-Flows-from-Record-Rain
Lake Level information - https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Lake-Levels

 

[StormStalker]

A boat went through the spillways at Pickwick Dam over the weekend and unfortunately the two anglers did not make it. Saturday Wilson was going almost wide open and there were probably 7 or 8 boats setting there below the dam. That current was crazy. I love to fish but not that much!