Heavy rain, flooding likely this weekend

Capt. Steve Spencer, who monitors weather for the Wilson Emergency Management Agency, issued Friday a hazardous weather outlook for Wilson County for this weekend when expected heavy rain has the potential to produce localized flooding.

Spencer said as expected showers and thunderstorms develop, they will bring the likelihood of totals of 2-3 inches of rain. Those rain totals will be common over a wide part of Middle Tennessee from Saturday through Sunday night, with higher amounts "certainly possible."

Spencer's report also said these expected rains will be on the heels of several days of rain, which will increase the potential for runoff and localized flooding, especially in low-lying, poorly drained areas, along with some larger creeks.

"We've had about 1-2 inches this week, and we're looking at 2-3 inches on top of that," Spencer said. "The ground is already saturated, so the rain will just run off. It's not going to sink in."

Spencer cautioned everyone to be safe, especially when driving across flooded roadways. He referenced the National Weather Service slogan, "turn around, don't drown," as a good rule of thumb.

He said the higher temperatures the area is experiencing are unusual for January with temperatures near record highs.

"In Tennessee, when we have warm spells and winds out of the south, they bring moisture up with it," Spencer said. "This time of year, warm weather means wet weather. But we're not expecting any severe weather out of this system."

He also suggested everyone enjoy the warmer weather, because it won't be here for long.

"Next week, and the last half of the month, we're going to take a plunge," Spencer said. "With the cold Canadian air that's expected, we'll have a 30-40-degree drop in temperatures."