Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 101, NWS Nashville, TN

May 3, 20205 counties in Tennessee

NWS Nashville, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 3, 2020, 5:18 PM CDT for 5 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 42 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: May 3, 2020, 5:18 PM CDT (22:18 UTC)
Expired: May 3, 2020, 6:00 PM CDT
In force: 42 min
Issued by: NWS Nashville, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 0.75 in
Wind: 70.0 mph

Counties Cannon County, TN, DeKalb County, TN, Van Buren County, TN, Warren County, TN, White County, TN

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:17 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
May 3, 5:35 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 60	4 Wnw Mcminnville, TN	MCMINNVILLE AWOS MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 52 KNOTS / 60 MPH

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 17 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
May 3, 3:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	4 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 83 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 1582 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 201 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 208 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

480 
WUUS54 KOHX 032218
SVROHX
TNC015-041-175-177-185-032300-
/O.NEW.KOHX.SV.W.0101.200503T2218Z-200503T2300Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Nashville TN
518 PM CDT Sun May 3 2020

The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  De Kalb County in Middle Tennessee...
  Van Buren County in Middle Tennessee...
  Warren County in Middle Tennessee...
  White County in Middle Tennessee...
  Cannon County in Middle Tennessee...

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 517 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from 7 miles east of Watertown to 8 miles south of
  Woodbury, moving east at 60 mph.

  HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to 
           mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include...
  McMinnville, Sparta, Smithville, Woodbury, Spencer, Morrison,
  Doyle, Dowelltown, Liberty, Centertown, Bakers Crossroads, Rock
  Island State Park and Fall Creek Falls State Park.

Warren County COVID-19 Mobile Testing Site will also be impacted.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

This is a DANGEROUS SITUATION. These storms are producing widespread 
wind damage. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy structure and stay 
away from windows! 
&&

LAT...LON 3558 8541 3555 8546 3553 8559 3563 8597
      3566 8599 3565 8603 3568 8615 3596 8606
      3596 8602 3601 8604 3603 8604 3601 8533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2217Z 268DEG 53KT 3606 8602 3570 8610 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...70MPH
 
$$

Whitehead

1 follow-up statement

218 
WWUS54 KOHX 032237
SVSOHX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
537 PM CDT Sun May 3 2020

TNC015-041-175-177-185-032300-
/O.CON.KOHX.SV.W.0101.000000T0000Z-200503T2300Z/
De Kalb TN-Van Buren TN-Warren TN-White TN-Cannon TN-
537 PM CDT Sun May 3 2020

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 600 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN DE KALB...VAN BUREN...WARREN...WHITE AND EAST
CENTRAL CANNON COUNTIES...

At 536 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 7 miles southwest of Baxter to McMinnville, moving
east at 60 mph.

HAZARD...70 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile 
         homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

Locations impacted include...
McMinnville, Sparta, Smithville, Spencer, Morrison, Doyle,
Dowelltown, Centertown, Bakers Crossroads, Rock Island State Park and
Fall Creek Falls State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 3558 8541 3555 8546 3553 8559 3563 8597
      3568 8599 3603 8593 3601 8533
TIME...MOT...LOC 2236Z 268DEG 53KT 3607 8571 3571 8579 

HAIL...<.75IN
WIND...70MPH
 
$$

Whitehead

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Nashville, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at May 3, 2:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 3, 2:17 PM CDT, 3 hours 1 minute before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Nashville TN
217 PM CDT Sun May 3 2020

.DISCUSSION...

Bowing line of thunderstorms currently pushing across the MO
bootheel. This activity will be reaching the northwestern extremes
of middle TN between 3 pm and 4 pm. The atmosphere across the mid
state is quite unstable with dewpoints now well into the 60s and sfc
capes around 2000 j/kg in our northwest. There is a warm layer
around 700 mb but caps are diminishing with time, especially north
of I-40. Additional partial development will be possible ahead of
the main line of advancing storms. It will however take a little
longer for that activity to commence. The threat of severe weather
is due primarily to the advancing line of storms and a severe tstm
watch is in effect until 6 PM for our northwest. This line may need
to be extended eastward later. Large hail and damaging winds are the
threats for this afternoon. Otw, average qpf amounts tonight will
average around one half inch. However, some cell training will
produce some locally heavier amounts of an inch or so.

Moving on, boundary will push south overnight. The better
instability zone will switch to south of us on Monday. And with
little forcing, I am not seeing much during the day.

Monday night, a warm front will be lifting northward. Instabilities
will begin to increase and we could see a few strong storms west of
I-65 at that time. During the day Tuesday, the sfc low will move
eastward across KY with instability increasing to the east of I-65
as the day progresses. It looks as though strong storms will again
be possible, mainly east of I-65 on Tuesday afternoon. This will be
in advance of the main cold frontal passage.

Near term temps, looking rather warm, particularly our overnight
lows which will be in the lower 60s. Cooler Tuesday night behind the
aforementioned fropa.

In the ext fcst, showers are possible in our east on Wednesday.
Models are rather peculiar at that time as they try to strum up sfc
instability with a northerly sfc fetch. Not buying it so will
exclude thunder. Following this, models are leaning toward a Gulf
system by late week with rain showers returning.

For the ext temps, its looking below normal with highs, for Thursday
on, mostly in the 60s. And just to serve notice, the 6-10 day
outlook reflects well below normal temperatures. Could be some frost
advisory perhaps in our future? We shall see.

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

VFR conditions expected for most of this TAF cycle, but a cluster
of +TSRA headed towards Middle TN will bring IFR to LIFR
conditions with very gusty west winds this afternoon/early
evening. While each terminal is expected to get a couple hour
break where VFR could return this evening, additional TS are
expected throughout the evening, with degraded conditions for the
rest of the night.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Nashville      60  77  62  78  49 /  70  20  70  40  30
Clarksville    55  76  59  75  48 /  70  30 100  30  10
Crossville     57  72  58  76  48 /  70  20  90  90  30
Columbia       62  79  64  79  49 /  60  30  30  30  20
Lawrenceburg   63  78  64  81  50 /  50  30  30  40  30
Waverly        57  77  61  76  48 /  70  30  80  30  10

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

DISCUSSION......21
AVIATION........Unger

Hazardous weather outlook, May 3, 5:12 AM CDT, 12 hours 6 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Nashville TN
512 AM CDT Sun May 3 2020

TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-041015-
Stewart-Montgomery-Robertson-Sumner-Macon-Clay-Pickett-Houston-
Humphreys-Dickson-Cheatham-Davidson-Wilson-Trousdale-Smith-Jackson-
Putnam-Overton-Fentress-Perry-Hickman-Lewis-Williamson-Maury-
Marshall-Rutherford-Cannon-De Kalb-White-Cumberland-Bedford-Coffee-
Warren-Grundy-Van Buren-Wayne-Lawrence-Giles-
512 AM CDT Sun May 3 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible in the afternoon and
evening today. Main threat if any strong storms develop will be
damaging winds and hail, along with isolated flash flooding possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible again during the
afternoon and evening on Monday across the mid state, with main
threats being hail and damaging winds.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about
observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state,
and CDC guidelines.

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 3, 4:55 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
455 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0447 PM     TSTM WND GST     NASHVILLE               36.17N  86.78W
05/03/2020  M62 MPH          DAVIDSON           TN   ASOS

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2000342

21

Local storm report, May 3, 4:58 PM CDT, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
458 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0441 PM     TSTM WND DMG     COLUMBIA                35.62N  87.05W
05/03/2020                   MAURY              TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LARGE TREE FELL ON A HOUSE ON MOCKINGBIRD LANE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2000343

21

Local storm report, May 3, 5:01 PM CDT, 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
501 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0444 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NW NASHBORO VILLAGE   36.12N  86.68W
05/03/2020  M71 MPH          DAVIDSON           TN   ASOS

            NASHVILLE AIRPORT ASOS MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 62 KNOTS
            / 71 MPH

0451 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NNE SMYRNA            36.01N  86.50W
05/03/2020  M61 MPH          RUTHERFORD         TN   ASOS

            SMYRNA AIRPORT ASOS MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 53 KNOTS /
            61 MPH

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2000344
EVENT NUMBER OHX2000345

SHAMBURGER

Local storm report, May 3, 5:04 PM CDT, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
504 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAWRENCEBURG            35.25N  87.34W
05/03/2020                   LAWRENCE           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE....TREES DOWN AND S BARN
            DAMAGED.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2000346

21

Local storm report, May 3, 5:07 PM CDT, 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
507 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LAWRENCEBURG            35.25N  87.34W
05/03/2020                   LAWRENCE           TN   EMERGENCY MNGR

            WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE....TREES DOWN AND A BARN
            DAMAGED.

&&

CORRECTED FATALITIES...INJURIES...REMARKS

EVENT NUMBER OHX2000346

21

Local storm report, May 3, 5:15 PM CDT, 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
515 PM CDT SUN MAY 03 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0504 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 N LEBANON             36.22N  86.32W
05/03/2020  M70 MPH          WILSON             TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREES DOWN.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2000347

21

The office that day

Everything else NWS Nashville, TN issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 2:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Stewart	34 min
May 3, 3:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Houston, Montgomery, Stewart	47 min
May 3, 3:22 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys	38 min
May 3, 3:37 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Hickman, Humphreys, Lewis, Perry, Wayne	38 min
May 3, 3:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Montgomery, Stewart	46 min
May 3, 3:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Maury, Williamson	36 min
May 3, 4:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Davidson, Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner	34 min
May 3, 4:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury, Wayne	48 min
May 3, 4:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman, Marshall, Maury, Rutherford and 1 more	43 min
May 3, 4:26 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Lawrence, Wayne	19 min
May 3, 4:35 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Giles, Lawrence, Wayne	40 min
May 3, 4:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Bedford, Giles, Marshall, Maury, Rutherford, Williamson	49 min
May 3, 4:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Davidson, Macon, Robertson, Sumner, Trousdale, Wilson	47 min
May 3, 4:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cannon, Davidson, DeKalb, Rutherford, Smith, Wilson	41 min
May 3, 5:06 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Giles, Grundy, Marshall and 2 more	39 min
May 3, 5:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Putnam, Smith and 4 more	49 min
May 3, 5:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Clay, Jackson, Macon, Smith, Trousdale	16 min
May 3, 5:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam	62 min
May 3, 5:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Grundy	16 min
May 3, 5:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cumberland, Fentress, Putnam, Van Buren, White	37 min
May 3, 6:21 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Wayne	24 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 2020 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.