May 1 & 2 2010 Epic Flood Event for Western and Middle Tennessee
Information Updated 05/18/2010

 

What is a 100 year flood?  A 100 year flood is an event that statistically has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. A 500 year flood has a .2% chance of occurring and a 1000 year flood has a .1% chance of occurring.

The map below relates to amount of rainfall that fell to the chances of that amount of rain actually occurring.

Average Recurrence Intervals 1000 Year Flood Map
 
May 1 and 2, 2010 Tennessee Rainfall Totals

 

Record or Near Record River Flood Levels Across Middle Tennessee
Location Record Old Record Date of Old Record Flood Stage
Cumberland at Clarksville 62.58' 57.1' March 14, 1975 46'
Cumberland at Nashville
 51.86'
 47.6'
 March 15, 1975
 40'
Red River near Port Royal 49.48' 48.3' March 13, 1973 30'
Duck River at Centerville
 47.5'
 37.6'
 February 14, 1948
 22'
Harpeth River near Kingston Springs 38' 33.2' January 7, 1946 20'
Duck River near Hurricane Mills 33' 30.7' February 14, 1948 24'
Harpeth River at Bellevue 33' 24.3' February 13, 1948 20'
Buffalo River near Lobelville 25.7' 25.2' May 28, 1991 14'
Harpeth River at Franklin 35.1* 35.2 February 13, 1968  30'
* NEAR RECORD        

12 Highest Rainfall Totals - COOP and CoCoRaHS Observers
Location Total Two Day Rainfall
Camden 4.5 NE 19.41"
Fairview 3.8 SW 18.04"
Fairview 2.9 SW 17.71"
Belle Meade 1.4 NNE 17.67"
Mt Moriah Birdsong Marina 17.51"
Brownsville 1.0 SE 17.5"
Jackson 4.9 NW 17.36"
Brentwood 2.5 NE 17.15"
Bon Aqua 3.0 ESE 17.09"
Brentwood 2.8 NE 17.07"
Belle Meade 1.2 ESE 17.02"

 

Flooding Facts:

  • Fifteen (15) observation sites had rainfall measurements exceeding the maximum observed rainfall associated with Hurricane Katrina landfall.
  • The two day rainfall of 13.57 inches at Nashville International Airport shattered the monthly rainfall record for May which was 11.04 inches.
  • The rainiest month in Nashville is 13.92 inches in January 1950.
  • Nashville International Airport experienced its 1st and 3rd rainiest days on back to back days.
  • The heaviest rainfall occurred in a swath across Davidson, Williamson, Dickson, Hickman, Benton, Perry, and Humphreys Counties.  An average of 14 to 15 inches of rain fell equivalent to 420 billion gallons of water in just two days.

 

Comparison to Hurricane Katrina Total Rainfall Amounts

Hurricane Katrina Rainfall Totals

 

 

 

Here are additional links to information pertaining to May 2010 Epic Flood Event.

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