Weather Service issues flood watch for Chattanooga area

photo Flood watch tile

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for East Tennessee until 10 p.m. tonight and northeast Georgia until 12 a.m.

Lookout Creek, near New England, Ga., and Chickamauga Creek are currently under a flood warning.

Chickamauga Creek is expected to hit flood stage at 18 feet tomorrow afternoon.

"That's very minor flooding," said Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys, with WRCB-TV 3.

Today's rainfall combined with the saturated soil from previous rain creates the possibility of flooded streets and low-lying areas, said Morristown, Tenn., National Weather Service meteorologist Derek Eisentrout.

Rain will continue through the evening hours with some areas receiving up to a quarter-inch of rain per hour.

Several homes and businesses have already experienced flooding along the intersection of Hickory Valley Road and McCutcheon Road.

"Don't go out and about if you don't have to," advised Eisentrout. "If water crosses the road, turn around."

As of 4 p.m., the Chattanooga area has received 2.08 inches of rain today, bringing the monthly total to around 9.6 inches. The highest recorded January rainfall for Chattanooga was 12.34 inches in 1947.

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