National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall and Dangerous Heat

Severe thunderstorms are expected today and Friday from the upper Midwest, central Great Lakes into the Ohio and mid-Mississippi Valley's. In addition, heavy rainfall threat increases on Friday across the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, early summer-like heat wave across portions of southern Texas with new daily records are forecast today and through the weekend; The heat spreads across the Gulf States. Read More >

Pictures of the French Broad River near Newport, Tennessee



A view of the gage surrounded by kudzu
A view of the gage (the concrete tower in the right middleground) surrounded by kudzu. Kudzu is a vine imported into the southeast United States originally to control erosion. It is very aggressive and has taken over some areas.


View downstream from highway bridge
View downstream from highway bridge, looking toward Douglas Lake (a TVA lake).


View upstream
View upstream with the Appalachian Mountains just visible in the background. The river gage is in the right middleground.