The Southeast Burns: The Great Fires of 2016

[Thundersnow]

Wildfires are beginning to pop up in Northern Davidson County. No rain chances until atleast next weekend. It has been about 2 month since any significant rainfall has occured in Middle and Eastern TN.

There was a fire on the side of the road on Briley Parkway this week... probably someone's cigarette the culprit.

There's dry brush everywhere... with dry leaves having fallen.  Fires will ignite quickly out there.
Post Merge: November 12, 2016, 06:55:57 PM

Good grief that website is a train wreck.
Post Merge: November 11, 2016, 01:32:38 PMMy dad is driving through the mountains from Chattanooga to Greenville today. He called me from Clayton, GA and reported that the smoke was so thick everyone was using their headlights. The rough ridge fire went over 10000 acres yesterday (has doubled in size since wednesday). That area is expected to get 20-30 mph winds tonight. Really not a good situation at all. A photo taken from Parksville lake yesterday of the rough ridge fire:

 

Strangely beautiful yet ghastly photo to look at.

The region desperately needs a substantial rain system.

[dwagner88]

Code purple air quality alert today in much of east TN. I believe that is unprecedented here. I've seen code red before, but never purple.

[Thundersnow]

I think smoke is spreading into Middle TN now.  I was just driving back from lunch to Nolensville, and there is a very noticeable haze with a yellowish tint to the sky.  I can smell it too... unmistakable smell of smoke or something burning.  Not sure where the closest fire is... but, smoke is now encroaching the Nashville area from the southeast side...


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Post Merge: November 13, 2016, 12:57:21 PMMy eyes are actually burning.  This is insane.
Post Merge: November 13, 2016, 12:58:07 PMGetting reports of smoke in Christiana and Triune as well.
Post Merge: November 13, 2016, 01:13:10 PMThe country is burning down.  Riots in the streets.  All well in America, situation normal. 

[JHart]

It's smoky all across northern Rutherford County with a distinct burning smell filtering into everything.  I have never seen anything like this around here... not that I can see much through my watery eyes.

[WXHD]

I thought I was going crazy. Saw a yellowish haze on the horizon. Glad that I may still be going crazy but at least that's not part of it!

[Charles L.]

We are experiencing the same thing up here. Not as hazy here, but the smell is very much present.

[dwagner88]

Chattanooga looks like Beijing. METAR reports smoke/haze for the last 2 days and visibility has fluctuated between 2-4 miles. It looks overcast. I doubt that it actually is though.

[Eric]

Hey Southeast TN, come get your smoke/haze...we don't want it. 

Thank you,
The rest of TN.

[Curt]

I'm in Sevier Co this week. I wouldn't even know there are mountains nearby. Smell is nasty. Smoke made it just east of Memphis yesterday.

On another note, most of west tn if not all of tn minus UHI got to freezing or below. Many stations in my neck of Shelby Co- granted ex-urban- were around 30. Growing season and grass cutting bye bye way too late. 

[dwagner88]

Ignore the terrible background music and check out this neat drone footage of a grass fire on hwy 27 downtown today. This is probably the result of 1 cigarette butt being thrown out of a window:

[Thundersnow]

Tonight
Areas of smoke. Patchy frost after 3am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind.

Smrost?

Sorry- this is all so bizarre.


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[Matthew]

What are thoughts about having a separate thread created for the drought /fires?  It appears the situation will get worse in the coming weeks & it appears there is no relief in the short to mid forecast.

[cgauxknox]

What are thoughts about having a separate thread created for the drought /fires?  It appears the situation will get worse in the coming weeks & it appears there is no relief in the short to mid forecast.

This is a good idea.  If we had any other event with impacts across large parts of the state for multiple weeks it definitely would have it's own thread.  Knoxville continues to have issues with smoke and Chattanooga is back under a Code Purple air quality alert today.

[BRUCE]

What are thoughts about having a separate thread created for the drought /fires?  It appears the situation will get worse in the coming weeks & it appears there is no relief in the short to mid forecast.

i agree totally... I know it's a bad situation in. Places east of us... But you know the weather is boring when lead weather and about the only weather is fires and smoke .. And agree. Relief looks unlikely as this weekend a threat appears to be getting more questionable ... Pattern going forward looks very Niña like. Starting to see the analog 98 99 getting tossed around. Especially if this Niña can become stronger ... We had a decent sleet event early that year January...  And after that we all know the rest of the story ....

[Thundersnow]

Note the separate thread now on the fires.