Flash flood and severe storm warnings hit Middle Tennessee, Nashville

Severe weather warnings started to land in Middle Tennessee just before 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. Dickson County was under a tornado warning that expired at 9:30 p.m., while Davidson County and wide swaths of the region were under flash flood warnings as heavy rain fell.

Mt. Juliet Police warned flooding conditions were present in the area and officers were responding. Flash floods can be life-threatening, and travel is discouraged.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were popping up regularly across the region, as well.

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According to the National Weather Service forecast, the storm threat should end by midnight. A flash flood watch was set to continue until 7 a.m. for many counties in the region.

"Wind gusts to 60 mph and hail up to 3/4" diameter remain the primary threats, along with the flooding, of course," the National Weather Service in Nashville posted on X.

The service warned that the wind speeds could be high enough to drop trees and that rain could fall at a rate of 3 to 4 inches per hour.

Tuesday's forecast

What started as an unbearably hot day, with a heat index upward of 110 in Nashville, will end with a severe weather threat capable of producing heavy wind gusts, a lot of rain and a possible tornado.

Middle Tennessee is under a heat advisory until 8 p.m. July 21 as the region suffers through major heat, the second-highest heat classification, the National Weather Service said. But by the evening, Nashville will be under a flood watch as "near record" rainfall moves into the region.

"While there could be some isolated spots that reach 110 degrees Tuesday, cloud cover will impact the ability to get too far above that," the weather service said in their forecast discussion. "Regardless, it will be hot, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water, resting in the AC or shade, and know the signs of heat illness."

Nashville city services are on standby to help people through the heat.

"First and foremost, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty," Nashville's Office of Emergency Management said July 20. "As we brace for these hot days ahead, let us all take the necessary precautions to ensure our safety and the safety of those around us. Stay informed, stay cool, and look out for one another."

The Office of Homeless Services will expand its outreach services to canvass encampments with water and cooling supplies and offer free rides to shelters.

Then the rain will move in.

"The atmosphere is chock full of moisture right now, and that's the way it will stay through mid-week," the weather service said.

A line of storms will sweep south from Kentucky into the region as early as 6 p.m., with activity likely overnight.

"As you know, here lately, we've been having some flash flooding in places, so the soils are pretty saturated, and you know the rain rates with some of these storms will be pretty heavy," Matt Reagan, meteorologist for the weather service, said July 20.

But then, there will be some short salvation for those of us who have slogged through Mother Nature's tantrums lately.

"When we get through Tuesday night, we actually get a little bit of relief from the humidity," Reagan said. "Temperatures will be cooler, and we'll have a couple dry days to kind of catch our breath. If you look at the lows Thursday and Friday morning, you see some low to mid 60s. So that's going to feel quite refreshing."

What does heat exhaustion, heat stroke look like?

Heat exhaustion and heat stoke can look similar and most of the remedies are also similar. Heat stroke, however, can lead to death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Dizziness
• Thirst
• Heavy sweating
• Nausea
• Weakness

Heat exhaustion, if not treated, can lead to heat stroke.

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Unconsciousness

In both circumstances, the person experiencing a heat crisis should be moved to a cooler area, clothing should be loosened or removed and they should be cooled with water or ice. You should seek medical help.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Flash flood and severe storm warnings hit Middle Tennessee, Nashville