The National Weather Service is predicting that the Nolichuckey River may crest at 22 feet tomorrow. That’s over a 6′ increase from the 15.5′ level predicted yesterday. That would put the river two feet ABOVE the Major Flood Stage and would be the highest the river has been since 1901. The flooding that washed out most of the bridges in Greene County in 1977 was 21.52′.
The river had reached just over 19′ at the official measuring station in Unicoi County by midday on Friday, up 10′ from just 24 hours before. The river had risen because of the heavy rains from a stalled cold front that dropped over 6″ of rain in parts of the drainage area.
The forecast is subject to change, and the river crest could be higher or lower depending on the exact track of the rains. Stay tuned this weekend for more details.
Historic Crests from the National Weather Service
| 1. | 24.00 ft | on 05-21-1901 |
| 2. | 21.52 ft | on 11-06-1977 |
| 3. | 18.57 ft | on 08-13-1940 |
| 4. | 15.55 ft | on 09-17-2004 |
| 5. | 15.53 ft | on 01-15-1995 |
| 6. | 14.92 ft | on 09-08-2004 |
| 7. | 13.85 ft | on 08-16-1928 |
| 8. | 13.45 ft | on 01-08-1998 |
| 9. | 12.76 ft | on 03-12-1963 |
| 10. | 11.63 ft | on 08-17-1994 |
| 11. | 11.62 ft | on 04-19-2019 |
| 12. | 11.59 ft | on 03-26-1965 |
| 13. | 11.52 ft | on 02-13-1966 |
| 14. | 11.50 ft | on 08-03-1921 |
| 15. | 11.48 ft | on 08-18-2021 |
| 16. | 11.05 ft | on 06-21-1972 |
| 17. | 11.00 ft | on 04-05-1957 |
| 18. | 10.87 ft | on 05-06-2013 |
| 19. | 10.71 ft | on 06-16-1949 |
| 20. | 10.69 ft | on 03-26-1935 |
| 21. | 10.60 ft | on 04-05-1977 |
| 22. | 10.55 ft | on 10-22-1929 |
| 23. | 10.30 ft | on 07-15-1934 |
| 24. | 10.28 ft | on 05-30-2018 |
| 25. | 10.27 ft | on 01-19-1996 |
| 26. | 10.08 ft | on 11-20-2003 |
| 27. | 10.02 ft | on 04-13-2020 |
| 28. | 10.01 ft | on 03-17-1973 |
| 29. | 9.50 ft | on 12-03-1991 |
| 30. | 9.30 ft | on 03-17-1990 |
| 31. | 9.29 ft | on 05-07-1984 |
| 32. | 9.27 ft | on 09-22-1989 |
| 33. | 9.19 ft | on 07-04-2013 |
| 34. | 9.19 ft | on 01-27-1996 |
| 35. | 9.06 ft | on 01-31-2013 |
| 36. | 9.01 ft | on 10-15-2014 |
| 37. | 8.96 ft | on 02-02-1983 |
| 38. | 8.95 ft | on 10-23-2017 |
| 39. | 8.81 ft | on 09-17-2018 |
| 40. | 8.74 ft | on 01-09-2024 |
| 41. | 8.69 ft | on 12-02-2015 |
| 42. | 8.00 ft | on 04-21-1992 |
| 43. | 7.89 ft | on 02-03-1982 |
| 44. | 7.83 ft | on 03-01-1987 |
