Middle Tennessee Weather News

Middle Tennessee's Youngest Cooperative Observer

At 12 years of age, White House's Christian Massie is the youngest cooperative weather observer in Middle Tennessee. Christian actually started observing two years ago, at age 10. Christian also happens to be the son of National Weather Service senior forecaster Darrell Massie.

According to the young Massie, his interest in weather doesn't necessarily derive from his father profession. His interest is genuine, and he says he would like to become a meteorologist.

When asked how he got the idea to volunteer as a cooperative observer, Massie says his father "asked me if I wanted to become an observer and help with the weather and I was interested." Christian says he was aware of the responsibility involved. Cooperative observers are asked to take observations of rainfall, snowfall, and high and low temperatures each day, record the data, and transmit them to the National Weather Service via telephone.

So does Christian Massie sometimes find it difficult to get his observations in on time? "Yes, I do," he admits, "especially in the school year because there is so much going on in the morning." Massie usually takes his observations at six o'clock each morning during the school year, and around eight o'clock during the summer.

He describes his duties, "I get my observing book, check the high and low temperature, reset the the temperature instrument, and write the temperatures in the book. Then I get the measuring stick and measure the rain at the rain gauge. In the winter, I measure the snow." And on taking snowfall measurements, Christian offers his method. "I take the measuring stick and measure it in an open area away from trees."

The elder Massie adds,

I think Christian has done a remarkable job as a Co-op observer. He is very responsible -- especially considering his age. I don't know that I would've had the same amount of diligence when I was 12. I think it's certainly been a good learning experience for him. In the winter time it's almost like watching him do a science experiment when he measures the water equivalent of the snow. He has to bring the rain gauge inside, measure some warm water, write down the measurement and then add the warm water to the snow and melt it down. Then, he pours the warm water/melted snow mixture into the measuring tube, measures the amount and subtracts out the amount of warm water he originally added. It's quite a little procedure to run through. His sister, Maura, who's a year younger than Christian, sometimes takes the observation when he can't do it. Sometimes dad and mom fill in.

October, 2003 will mark the two year anniversary of weather observations in White House and, hopefully, the observing will continue for many more years into the future.

Bow Echo Complex Produces Widespread Wind Damage

During the evening of Friday, August 22, a powerful storm system produced widespread wind damage across the mid state. Between 7:07 p.m. and 10:05 p.m., the National Weather Service in Old Hickory received 30 individual reports of severe weather from 18 different counties. In addition, according to The Tennessean, about 35,000 Nashville Electric Service customers lost power.

There were numerous reports of downed power lines, and trees blocking roads due to the sustained high winds. There were four high school football games canceled in Sumner County, and there were some tense moments at the Wilson County Fair in Lebanon as the storms hit. The peak wind gust measured at the Nashville International Airport was 47 miles per hour, although many places were likely hit with much stronger winds.

NOAA Weather Radio Expansion Brings 11th Transmitter to Middle Tennessee

Many residents between Nashville and the Cumberland Plateau can expect significantly improved NOAA Weather Radio reception due to the recent installation of a transmitter at Hickman, in extreme southern Smith County. The new transmitter broadcasts on the frequency of 162.5 mHz, and gives reliable coverage to DeKalb, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, and Wilson Counties.

Huntsville Weather Office to Include 3 Tennessee Counties

The National Weather Service Office in Old Hickory will soon transfer forecast and warning responsibilities of 3 Tennessee counties to the new Huntsville office. Effective November 5, Huntsville's County Warning & Forecast Area will encompass Franklin, Lincoln, and Moore Counties, which are located in extreme southern Middle Tennessee.

A Belated Correction, And An Apology

In the spring 2003 issue of Middle Tennessee Weather News, we reported an incident in which two children were killed in a flash flood near Elkton in February. The reported claimed the automobile deaths occurred after the driver, the children's aunt, had driven around a high water barricade. As it turns out, there was no barricade in place at the time, and the road was not closed until after the tragedy. The NWS regrets having disseminated false information, and we extend our apologies to the victims' family.

Middle Tennessee's Unusual Summer from a Hydrologic Point-of-View

The weather pattern from late spring through early summer was such that Middle Tennessee received well above normal rainfall. May and June were especially wet months. Widespread flooding occurred during May and, sadly, there were 4 flood-related deaths. At Nashville the rainfall total for May was 10.73 inches, followed by 7.08 inches in June. A total of 17.81 inches for the 2-month period which was 8.66 inches above normal, and is a record for that two-month period. July rainfall returned to near normal or just slightly below normal. Through the last full week of August, rainfall amounts for the month were near normal.

There are two indices used by the National Weather Service to indicated relative dryness or wetness. They are the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and Crop Moisture Index (CMI). The PDSI indicates the prolonged and abnormal moisture deficiency or excess. The CMI gives the short-term or current status of purely agricultural drought or moisture surplus and can change rapidly from week-to-week. Both indices indicate general conditions and not local variations caused by isolated rain. As of the 23rd of August, for Middle Tennessee, the PDSI was indicating unusually moist conditions and the CMI was indicating normal to slightly dry conditions.

Leading into the driest time of the year for Middle Tennessee, September and October, the threat of flooding is less than at other times of the year. With river and stream levels down, autumn presents an opportunity to clear debris from waterways and clean out culverts. Both of these activities will improve the evacuation of water during times of heavy rain. It is also the time of year when area reservoirs are lowered to their winter pool levels in order to provide storage for the upcoming winter and spring rains. The additional reservoir storage ultimately provides flood control below the reservoirs.

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other weather-related hazard. The national 30-year average for flood deaths is 127. That compares with a 30-year average of 73 deaths for lightning, 68 for tornadoes, and 16 for hurricanes. The main reason seems to be that people underestimate the force and the power of water. Many of the flood-related deaths occur in automobiles when they are swept downstream. Whether you are walking or driving, if you come upon a flooded road, turn around, don't drown. You will not know the depth of water, nor will you know the condition of the road under the water.

Michael Murphy
Service Hydrologist

[Editor's addendum: Not only was the summer of 2003 wetter than normal, it was also cooler. The season began with the fifth coolest June on record in Nashville, with a mean daily temperature of 71.9 degrees. It was the coolest June since 1974. The city did not record its first 90-degree reading until the 25th. Temperatures returned to more summer-like values in July. Still, the mean daily temperature for the month was 0.8 degrees below normal, and there were only 11 days when the high temperature reached 90 degrees or more. The normal is 17. The mid state finally fell into a normal summer-like pattern around the second week of August, with several warmer-than-normal days.]

Photograph of the Quarter

The first two photographs were taken last November 10, and were provided by Shelby Yeidel of Madison. The above snapshop, our photograph-of-the-quarter, is an unusual look at some cumulus tops near sundown.

Sharon Prince sent us this photograph on July 13, looking northward into Grundy County at a severe thunderstorm that produced some wind damage during the late afternoon. Note the multiple anvils along the top of the picture.

Greg Bearden provided this excellent example of mammatus clouds. This photograph was taken around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, approximately 7 miles southeast of Spring Hill.

If you have a unique weather photograph you would like to share, please either e-mail it to the editor, or send it to National Weather Service, 500 Weather Station Rd., Old Hickory, TN 37138, Attn: Mark A. Rose. If you mail your photograph(s), we will scan them and mail them right back.