Massive flooding hits Nashville

Thousands of Middle Tennessee homeowners and business owners will spend this week working to recover from a weekend of widespread flooding that came as the result of two days of record-setting rainfall in Nashville.

The National Weather Service reported that Saturday and Sunday's rainfall totals were 13.57 inches at the Nashville International Airport — more than doubling the previous two-day record rainfall of 6.68 inches set in September 1979. As of May 3, the month already was the fifth-wettest month on record for Nashville.

The Cumberland River, already above flood level, is expected to crest at 51.5 feet today, according to officials with the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

The National Weather Service advises major flooding is expected to continue along the river on Monday, followed by a gradual decrease in water levels with the river falling below flood stage late Tuesday night.

Several area communities, including Franklin and Bellevue, were among the hardest hit. 11 deaths were blamed on the weekend's storms.

Other areas were being evacuated because of rising floodwaters. The Riverfront and First Avenue, Metro Center in North Nashville, and Opryland areas have been evacuated. First Avenue and Metro Center will remain closed until Cumberland River levels stabilize and begin to recede.

Travel was disrupted heavily over the weekend as the water engulfed several interstates around Nashville, and many flights were canceled flying out of BNA Sunday.

Please visit nashvillebusinessjournal.com throughout the day for more updates.