Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 28, NWS Nashville, TN

May 4, 2021DeKalb County, Putnam County, White County, Tennessee

NWS Nashville, TN issued this tornado warning at May 4, 2021, 7:48 AM CDT for DeKalb County, Putnam County, White County, Tennessee. It was in force for 27 min. 2 reports 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 4, 2021, 7:48 AM CDT (12:48 UTC)
Expired: May 4, 2021, 8:15 AM CDT
In force: 27 min
Issued by: NWS Nashville, TN
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 0.75 in

Counties DeKalb County, TN, Putnam County, TN, White County, TN

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 86 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 12:47 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 4, 8:03 AM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Wnw Sparta, TN	SEVERE STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON THE WEST SIDE OF SPARTA ALONG OLD SMITHVILLE HIGHWAY AND HIGHWAY 70. NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN, OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, AND SOME HOMES SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE.
May 4, 8:07 AM CDT	TORNADO	3 Nnw Sparta, TN	THIS SMALL EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SPARTA NEAR FRANKLIN AVENUE AND SPRING STREET. MOVING SOUTHEAST, THE TORNADO HEAVILY DAMAGED A BARN ON ROBERTS MATTHEWS HIGHWAY AND BLEW DOWN SEVERAL TREES AT THE SPARTA DRIVE-IN THEATRE. MORE TREES WER

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 tornado warning; the first came 19 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 4, 5:13 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	5 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 12:00Z, 0.8 hours before the alert went out and 308 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: 590 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -114 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 753 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 207 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 213 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 2.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

255 
WFUS54 KOHX 041248
TOROHX
TNC041-141-185-041315-
/O.NEW.KOHX.TO.W.0028.210504T1248Z-210504T1315Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Nashville TN
748 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  East central De Kalb County in Middle Tennessee...
  Northwestern White County in Middle Tennessee...
  Southwestern Putnam County in Middle Tennessee...

* Until 815 AM CDT.
    
* At 747 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Smithville, moving east at 35 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Sparta around 815 AM CDT.

Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include
Burgess Falls State Park, Hamptons Crossroads, Bakers Crossroads and
Doyle.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

&&

LAT...LON 3592 8583 3606 8581 3607 8545 3585 8543
TIME...MOT...LOC 1247Z 278DEG 31KT 3599 8575 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
HAIL...<.75IN

$$

13

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at May 4, 6:37 AM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 4, 6:37 AM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Nashville TN
637 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

.UPDATE...
FOR 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Ongoing scattered t'storms across Middle TN with already a few
severe t'storms in progress. Per our 06Z sounding, still have a
pretty ripe environment for storms to develop and wouldn't be
surprised if some storms are able to stay discrete out ahead of
the main line currently crossing the Mississippi River. Lapse
rates have decreased ever so slightly compared to our 00Z
sounding, but low-level shear has ramped up a bit. Forecast
remains unchanged for this morning though with damaging winds
continuing to be the primary concern with any severe storm that
develops. Have had a few reports of hail with some of the stronger
storms and still cannot rule out an isolated tornado or two. PWATs
from the 06Z sounding were around 1.5" so will need to watch any
training storms as flash flooding could become an issue if
rainfall persists over a particular area. Expecting storms to
remain mainly discrete through the next few hours, becoming more
linear as the QLCS to our west moves towards us. Latest CAMs
guidance has the line crossing the TN river between 5 AM and 7 AM.
Do have a severe t'storm watch for our western counties as this
line will reach that area first.

This first round will move to the east by mid-morning to
lunchtime for most and we should get a few hours of a break this
afternoon. Second round of showers and t'storms will begin to move
into our southern counties by the afternoon with an additional
line moving into our northwestern counties by the early evening.
Will have some time to destabilize even further this afternoon.
Best chance of severe weather does appear to be across our
southern counties, with damaging winds and small hail as the
primary concerns. Still can't rule out an isolated tornado as
there will still be some low-level turning. PWAT values remain in
the 1.25-1.75" range into the afternoon, so any training storms
could lead to some localized flash flooding issues once again.

Any lingering showers/t'storms will be pushed out of the area as
the surface frontal system passes through Wednesday AM. Upper-
level trough will swing through and push eastward the second half
of the week with a weak disturbance possible Thursday. Any
showers we do see would be widely scattered. Things will dry out
on Friday with dry conditions through the first half of Saturday.
Expect for temps on the cooler side on Thursday and Friday with
highs in the mid to upper 60s across the area. The weekend through
at least the first half of next week looks fairly unsettled as
several rounds of showers and t'storms appear possible. Expect
highs to reach back into the upper 70s to near 80 as well.

&&

.AVIATION...
12Z TAF DISCUSSION.

A band of strong to severe thunderstorms will impact BNA/MQY until
14Z and CSV through 16Z. Conditions will improve after the band of
storms passes with mainly VFR 17Z-21Z. Additional scattered showers
and storms will form after 21Z. Prevailing winds will be SSW near
10KT, but strong gusty winds expected around TSRA.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION......Adcock
AVIATION........13

Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 5:00 AM CDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Nashville TN
500 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-051000-
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-
500 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Middle Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Two rounds of severe weather will be possible today. The first will
occur early this morning through mid-morning as a line of strong to
severe t'storms moves through the area. The second round of strong
to severe t'storms is expect late this afternoon into this evening.
Damaging winds and localized flooding due to heavy rainfall will be
the main concerns with both rounds. Small hail and an isolated
tornado or two cannot be ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

No hazardous weather is expected at this time.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

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

09

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 4, 6:32 AM CDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
632 AM CDT TUE MAY 04 2021

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

0632 AM     TSTM WND DMG     GOODLETTSVILLE          36.32N  86.71W
05/04/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF A TREE THROUGH A FENCE IN
            GOODLETTSVILLE OFF OF LICKTON PIKE.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2100448

CMA

Local storm report, May 4, 6:34 AM CDT, 1 hour 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
634 AM CDT TUE MAY 04 2021

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

0633 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W MILLERSVILLE        36.38N  86.73W
05/04/2021                   SUMNER             TN   SOCIAL MEDIA

            4" TREE SNAPPED MID TRUCK ON WILLIASMON RD. NEAR
            MANSKER CREEK

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2100449

CMA

Special weather statement, May 4, 6:59 AM CDT, 49 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
659 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

TNZ028-059-061>063-075-077-041230-
Cannon TN-Rutherford TN-Williamson TN-Wilson TN-Bedford TN-Coffee TN-
Marshall TN-
659 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN MARSHALL...
RUTHERFORD...SOUTHEASTERN WILLIAMSON...NORTHWESTERN COFFEE...
SOUTHEASTERN WILSON...NORTHERN BEDFORD AND WESTERN CANNON COUNTIES
UNTIL 730 AM CDT...

At 658 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Smyrna to 10 miles north of Lewisburg.
Movement was east at 45 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Murfreesboro, Woodbury, Smyrna, La Vergne, Nolensville, Walterhill,
Chapel Hill, Eagleville, Bell Buckle, Auburntown, Lascassas,
Christiana, Beechgrove, Fosterville, Triune, Rover, Deason, Rockvale,
Bradyville and Milton.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 24 between mile markers 65 and 100.
 Interstate 840 between mile markers 40 and 64.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 AM CDT for
Middle Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3559 8684 3560 8682 3566 8682 3604 8656
      3600 8603 3596 8602 3594 8598 3557 8618
TIME...MOT...LOC 1158Z 273DEG 41KT 3599 8648 3560 8676

Schaper

Special weather statement, May 4, 7:01 AM CDT, 47 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
701 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

TNZ061-075-095-041230-
Bedford TN-Giles TN-Marshall TN-
701 AM CDT Tue May 4 2021

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARSHALL...NORTHEASTERN GILES AND
SOUTHERN BEDFORD COUNTIES UNTIL 730 AM CDT...

At 701 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 10 miles north of Lewisburg to near Pulaski.
Movement was east at 40 mph.

Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Shelbyville, Lewisburg, Pulaski, Cornersville, Wartrace, Belfast,
Goodspring, Frankewing and Farmington.

This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 9 and 35.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 AM CDT for
Middle Tennessee.

LAT...LON 3512 8713 3552 8687 3550 8687 3553 8685
      3560 8682 3558 8630 3535 8648 3536 8651
      3537 8659 3533 8660 3531 8668 3525 8675
      3526 8683 3511 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 1201Z 265DEG 36KT 3559 8674 3522 8701

Schaper

Local storm report, May 4, 7:08 AM CDT, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
708 AM CDT TUE MAY 04 2021

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

0639 AM     TSTM WND DMG     3 ENE CASTALIAN SPRINGS 36.42N  86.27W
05/04/2021                   TROUSDALE          TN   SOCIAL MEDIA

            REPORT OF SEVERAL TREES DOWN. FRONT PORCH OVERHANG
            COLLAPSED ALONG WITH COLUMNS

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2100450

CMA

Local storm report, May 4, 7:11 AM CDT, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
711 AM CDT TUE MAY 04 2021

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

0710 AM     TSTM WND DMG     MILLERSVILLE            36.38N  86.70W
05/04/2021                   SUMNER             TN   SOCIAL MEDIA

            POWER POLES SNAPPED IN HALF ALONG WITH 12 TO 18 INCH
            TREES SNAPPED ALONG 41 BETWEEN 31W SPLIT AND WILLAMSON.
            LINES DOWN AND TREES DOWN.

&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2100451

CMA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 3, 9:22 PM CDT	River Flood Advisory	OHX	Hickman	11 hr
May 3, 11:50 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Sumner	40 min
May 3, 11:56 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Jackson, Macon, Trousdale	34 min
May 4, 12:25 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, Jackson, Macon, Trousdale	35 min
May 4, 12:58 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, Jackson, Macon	47 min
May 4, 1:32 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Cumberland	43 min
May 4, 1:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, Overton	26 min
May 4, 1:54 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Macon	51 min
May 4, 2:00 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Pickett	45 min
May 4, 2:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cumberland	23 min
May 4, 3:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Clay	29 min
May 4, 3:07 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, Overton, Pickett	38 min
May 4, 4:12 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Houston, Humphreys, Stewart	48 min
May 4, 4:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart	55 min
May 4, 5:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Perry	58 min
May 4, 5:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Sumner	51 min
May 4, 5:43 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Lewis, Perry	47 min
May 4, 5:56 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Davidson, Robertson, Sumner	34 min
May 4, 6:00 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Hickman	30 min
May 4, 6:10 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Robertson, Sumner	22 min
May 4, 6:16 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Davidson, Macon, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Wilson	44 min
May 4, 6:21 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Sumner, Trousdale, Wilson	24 min
May 4, 6:23 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Maury, Williamson	37 min
May 4, 6:28 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Giles, Lawrence	47 min
May 4, 6:42 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Macon, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale	33 min
May 4, 6:52 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Putnam, Smith and 2 more	38 min
May 4, 6:59 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Cannon, Rutherford	31 min
May 4, 7:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	OHX	Bedford, Giles, Marshall	29 min
May 4, 7:11 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Jackson, Smith	34 min
May 4, 7:27 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	DeKalb, Putnam, Smith	33 min
May 4, 7:29 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett and 2 more	46 min
May 4, 7:35 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Rutherford, Warren	40 min
May 4, 7:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Grundy, Van Buren, Warren and 1 more	37 min
May 4, 8:05 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	OHX	Cumberland, Fentress, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, White	40 min
May 4, 8:07 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Cumberland, White	23 min
May 4, 8:24 AM CDT	Tornado Warning	OHX	Cumberland, White	11 min
May 4, 8:29 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	OHX	Clay, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett	2 hr
May 4, 9:32 AM CDT	River Flood Warning	OHX	Perry	21 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2021 Every tornado warning in 2021 Tornadoes in 2021

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.