Weather alert for strong thunderstorms in Blount County Saturday morning

The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 6:17 a.m. on Saturday for strong thunderstorms until 7 a.m. for Blount County. Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph. "At 6:17 a.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Blountsville to Chalkville. Movement was east at 25 mph," according to the weather service. "Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects." Locations impacted by the alert include Oneonta, Blountsville, Cleveland, Locust Fork, Altoona, Snead, Susan Moore, Walnut Grove, Allgood,...