Cloudburst hits Jellico Tuesday Morning 7-12

Just before leaving for work Tuesday morning, the sky blackened like night and torrential rain began to fall.  Soon, the electricity went off.  I turned off of Highcliff Bridge onto a 25W that was swimming in water like I don't ever recall seeing it before.  The closer I came to Jellico, the slower I was forced to drive.  Visibility was nearly nil and water sprayed over the hood and front fenders of my Ford F-150.  The sight was so stunning I pulled over at a few locations to take some photos of swift-moving water covering streets and parking lots that I'd never seen inundated before.  Parked cars looked likes boats cutting a wake, the water rushed against them so hurriedly.  The cloudburst lasted for almost an hour and the dark skies lingered right along with it.  Several downtown Jellico businesses had water find its way in.  Up and down the streets, push brooms and wet vacs were the new normal after the sky cleared.  Several long-time Jellicoans scratched their heads in a collective effort to ever recall a more furious sky leak in such a short tick of time.  I was caught totally off guard by the event.  I had prepared mentally for another projected day of astounding heat, with a heat index forecasted between 108 and 110 degrees.  Those thoughts were quickly drowned by the Great Gem City July Gullywasher of 2011!