Update: 6:45 p.m.: The significant weather advisory has expired.
Update, 6:20 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm is moving toward Clarksville, according to a significant weather advisory from the National Weather Service.
The advisory was issued for northern Dickson, western Montgomery, southeastern Stewart and eastern Houston counties through 6:45 p.m.
At 6:04 p.m. Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles northwest of Dickson, moving north at 35 mph, the advisory said.
Half-inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
The storm caused a delay in the Clarksville Academy football game vs. Grace Christian.
Update, 3:25 p.m.: Montgomery County emergency officials are preparing for heavy winds from Hurricane Laura, with gusts up to 50 mph.
“We’ll be monitoring the weather throughout the day and tonight into Saturday morning,” said Ed Baggett, director of the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency.
“We’re expecting to have weather moving in around noon time. We could have some possible storms pop up throughout the afternoon and late evening, with some winds 20 to 30 mph and possible gusts up to 50 mph,” Baggett said.
“It should be out of here by Saturday morning early, and Saturday evening we’re expecting a cold front to come in.”
Update, 1:30 p.m.: Weather experts are worried that Hurricane Laura will bring heavy rain and flash flooding to the area.
“Our main concern continues to be heavy rain and the potential for flash flooding,” Rick Shanklin, Warning Coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky.
“These tropical systems are very efficient rain producers, and sometimes it may not seem like it hasn’t rained that much, it can, and that can lead to flash flooding.”
Shanklin said they’re also concerned about tornadoes with this storm.
“The wind dynamics with these type systems are such that they can spin up tornadoes. Usually they’re brief, usually they’re relatively weak, but we’ll have to watch that aspect of it as well.”
Previously:
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – New forecasts from the National Weather Service show that Hurricane Laura will weaken before reaching Middle Tennessee on Friday, likely as a tropical depression.
The storm made landfall Thursday morning in Louisiana.
The track of the storm also shifted north, though Clarksville is still in its path.
A tornado threat is expected to develop during the afternoon and nighttime hours, according to the NWS.
Here’s the day-by-day NWS forecast, as of 8 a.m. Thursday:
Friday: Rain associated with the remnants of Laura becoming more widespread. Thunderstorms are expected by the afternoon and evening, and a few could quickly become severe, posing a threat for tornadoes. Highs in the 80s.
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday night: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 72. South wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west southwest 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west northwest in the evening.
Lee Erwin contributed to this report.