Dolly Parton 's iconic amusement park Dollywood experienced extreme flooding that shut down surrounding streets and the park could possibly stay closed for a couple of days .
On Sunday, July 28, a flash flood warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for Sevier County in Tennesee , which included Pigeon Forge where the park is located, from 5.39pm and was expected to last until 10.45pm. Parts of Veterans Boulevard were shut down due to the flooding.
The NWS posted safety tips as well to move immediately to higher ground and to avoid walking and driving through flood waters during the flash flood warning. Despite the flood warning alert being taken off, residents in the area are to expect thunderstorms for the entire week, according to the NWS.
READ MORE: Dollywood flooding: Heavy rain hits Tennessee attraction with some cars reported to be submerged
READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney draft in Dolly Parton for Wrexham boost
Videos of people at Dollywood surfaced on social media, showing those at the amusement park caught off guard by the rainfall without umbrellas, as they tried to get through the ankle-deep waters that later became waist-deep. Another video showed a gift shop flooded as the doors were open. Parkgoers struggled to exit as cars were reported by witnesses to be submerged.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts officials released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the flooding, offering an update for Sunday, July 28 and Monday, July 29. "This afternoon, Sunday, July 28, a strong thunderstorm caused flash flooding at Dollywood. With the assistance of Pigeon Forge Police and Fire Departments, park personnel directed guests to safety during the storm, At this time, one minor injury has been reported," the statement read.
"Dollywood is supporting guests whose vehicles were affected by this weather event and cleanup crew have been deployed. The park is scheduled to open at noon on Monday, July 29. Park officials will continue to assess conditions and updates will be posted to our social media pages as additional information becomes available," the statement concluded.
Based on the forecast for today, on the NWS website for the area, there will be a high of near 86. There will be showers and a possible thunderstorm before 3pm and then after 3pm showers and thunderstorms are more likely. The rainfall amounts are expected to be higher with the possibilities of thunderstorms and "calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon."
NWS Morristown also posted on their X page at 6:20 am that "an active pattern will continue today through Tuesday night with potential for a few strong to severe storms, in addition to localized flooding." The government agency had maps of Tennessee showing the rainfall amounts in each area and stating an average total of less than three inches of rainfall across the state.
More localized flash flooding remains, particularly in places with substantial rain. Dollywood is scheduled to reopen at midday today, but the park is yet to share any updates.
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.
Most Popular
Comments / 0