By WKMS News Team
Murray, KY – UPDATED 4:12 PM CST The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is operating area dams along the Cumberland River and its tributaries to minimize flooding and reduce lake levels due to heavy rainfall throughout Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Record high lake elevations are being recorded at various Dams surrounding Nashville. Flood stage at Nashville is 40 ft. The National Weather Service forecasts the Cumberland River will crest at 11 and-a- half feet above flood stage around 6:00 this evening. Clarksville is currently 14.78 feet above flood stage at 60.78 feet. Flooding in Clarksville will persist for some time until the main river flows subside. Nashville Public Radio News Director Anita Bugg reports the flood waters are moving further from Lower Broadway. Bugg says the playing field at the Titans' LP stadium is under four feet of water. Bugg also says Opryland Hotel is evacuated along with all the other hotels throughout the city.
Emergency Management officials in some western Kentucky counties continue to monitor flooding after heavy weekend rainfall. Muhlenberg County Deputy Director Laura Montgomery says the Green River will crest tomorrow. The river is currently sixteen feet above flood stage, and officials plan to monitor flooding into Wednesday. Water on roads is expected to recede in Trigg and Calloway counties in the next 24 hours. Christian County officials say all major roads are clear, but some side roads are still flooded. The Cumberland River may overflow later in the week as water moves in from the Nashville area. Turkey Bay in Land Between the Lakes remains closed, and spokesperson Kathryn Harper says other recreation areas may close as lake levels rise. Updated LBL closures are available online.
Lake Barkley is also feeling the effects of the weekend's heavy rain on the Cumberland River. Barge traffic is closed at the lock due to higher water levels and faster currents making navigation hazardous. Lake Manager Mike Looney says Barkley Lake is seven feet above its normal summer pool of 3 hundred and 59 feet and the dam is discharging 2 hundred and 60 thousand cubic feet of water per second downstream to handle the increase. Looney says they will continue to push the water for 12 hours then cut back to avoid releasing into the Ohio in front of a crest caused by heavy rains to the northeast coming down the river. This will also reduce the danger of flooding downstream lake and riverside properties. Looney also reports a few barges were working the Tennessee this morning, but traffic could be closed there as well depending on how rain has affected the river upstream.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has declared 52 Tennessee counties as disaster zones after devastating weekend storms and flooding. In Nashville Tennessee Department of Transportation officials say flood waters have cleared from some major roadways. Motorist Information Coordinator John Hall says I-24 and I-40 are open. Parts of I-40 between Nashville and Memphis are one lane and traffic is moving slowly. Hall say many exit ramps into Nashville and the Briley Parkway remain closed. Major rivers continue to rise, though small streams have begun to go down. Cumberland River levels may crest at 14 feet above flood stage around seven tonight. Nashville airport officials say entrances at Donelson Pike and I-40 East are open, and most flights remain on schedule. Transportation officials say the road conditions are changing rapidly and they advise all travelers to call ahead to their destination before making the trip.
Here is a list of websites and phone numbers for updates:
TDOT Road information: Call 511 for Tenneesee residents, out of state call 877-244-0065