Flooding, Winter Storm Kingston Bring Severe Weather to Tri-County Area

The tri-county area faced a week of extreme weather, beginning with heavy rainfall and flooding on February 15-16, followed by Winter Storm Kingston bringing snow, ice, power outages, and dangerous road conditions from February 18-21. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) issued a power conservation appeal, and multiple school closures and accidents were reported as the region endured rapidly shifting conditions.

Between February 15 and 16, the region received over six inches of rain, leading to flooding across Carroll, Henry, and Weakley counties. The Obion River levee failed, forcing evacuations in Rives and cutting power to some communities. Several roads were closed due to standing water, with emergency crews conducting water rescues in low-lying areas. The flooding was not directly part of Winter Storm Kingston but continued to impact the area as the winter storm approached.

As Winter Storm Kingston arrived on February 18, temperatures dropped rapidly, freezing standing water on roadways and causing hazardous driving conditions. Snowfall varied across the region, with some areas receiving up to five inches. Ice accumulation caused jackknifed semi-trucks, vehicle pileups, and road shutdowns, particularly on highways and rural roads.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) issued a public appeal for residents to conserve electricity on February 19, urging consumers to reduce power use from 6 to 10 a.m. on February 20 and 21 due to increased energy demand from extreme cold. The advisory was lifted by 11:00 a.m. on February 21 after grid conditions stabilized. At the peak of the storm, thousands of residents were without power, with Carroll County Electric and Weakley County Municipal Electric reporting outages caused by fallen trees and ice-covered power lines.

Schools across Carroll, Henry, and Weakley counties remained closed from Wednesday, February 19, through Friday, February 21, 2025, due to hazardous road conditions, snow, and ice. Officials cited treacherous travel conditions and lingering ice on bus routes as primary reasons for the extended closures. Crews worked throughout the week to clear roads and restore safe travel conditions.

Winter Storm Kingston was responsible for at least four fatalities nationwide, including one in Tennessee. Virginia saw the highest snowfall totals, with Norfolk recording 10.2 inches—a new daily record.

Residents are advised to stay prepared for extreme weather, including monitoring forecasts, assembling emergency supplies, insulating homes against freezing temperatures, and avoiding unnecessary travel.

The February 2025 North American storm complex, which included both the earlier flooding and Winter Storm Kingston, served as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the importance of preparedness and community resilience.