Alert archive / Tennessee / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 187, NWS Nashville, TN

May 20, 20255 counties in Tennessee

NWS Nashville, TN issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 20, 2025, 3:56 PM CDT for 5 counties in Tennessee. It was in force for 64 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 20, 2025, 3:56 PM CDT (20:56 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2025, 5:00 PM CDT
In force
64 min
Issued by
NWS Nashville, TN
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Possible
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
1.75 in
Wind
70.0 mph

Counties Davidson County, TN, Dickson County, TN, Hickman County, TN, Maury County, TN, Williamson County, TN

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 61 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:58 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.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 20, 2:36 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 52 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2025-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1162 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2025-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 114 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1162 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-41 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
904 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
58 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.9
Supercell composite
3.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 20, 12:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 1237 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
  • There is an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe storms today. All modes of severe weather are possible, including damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes.
  • Cooler temperatures move over the area Wednesday and through early next week along with some chances for showers and thunderstorms through the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 20, 12:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Morristown TN
1246 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1237 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

- There is an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe storms
  today. All modes of severe weather are possible, including
  damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes.

- Cooler temperatures move over the area Wednesday and through
  early next week along with some chances for showers and
  thunderstorms through the weekend.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Rest of today through Wednesday)
Issued at 1055 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025

Our previously forecasted morning/early afternoon showers and
thunderstorms are moving through Middle TN. As expected, the
environment is not quite primed enough for any widespread severe
storms. At this time, biggest impacts with any of these storms
look to be gusty winds and heavy downpours as the line of storms
arrive.

We continue to monitor the severe threat with another round of
storms is forecasted to impact our area later this afternoon through
the evening. The question is, how much is the atmosphere going to
recover from this mornings convection before the next round.
Satellite imagery shows a sharp gradient of clear skies over W TN,
just behind this mornings convection. This dry slot is expected to
push east ahead of our advancing mid-level trough. As it does so,
surface instability should increase. Additionally, strong deep-
layer shear and surface to mid-level lapse rates will increase through
the late afternoon. With these factors in place, this afternoon
and evening's convection will have a better potential for severe
storms.

Storms move out of the area by 10 pm tonight, ushering in cooler
and dryer air. Wednesday looks reasonably dry with highs in the
upper 70s. Late Wednesday night, a shortwave lifts to the NE and
brings increasing showers and thunderstorm chances across the SW.
Not seeing any severe storm concerns with these at this time.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday Night through next Tuesday)
Issued at 1055 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025

Thursday and Friday remain mostly dry as a ridge builds to the
SW. Cooler temperatures also stick around with highs in the 70s.
Middle TN will remain on the backside of the ridge by the weekend
with a short wave rolling over the ridge Sunday. This will
introduce better rain chances back into the forecast, sticking
around through early next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1237 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

Mixed bag this afternoon with SRB/CSV seeing showers and
thunderstorms with some marginal CIGs, while CKV/BNA/MQY are
seeing clearing skies behind a line of storms. Widespread VFR
conditions will prevail until after 21z when another round of
showers and thunderstorms move through the area. Storms have the
potential to be severe with damaging winds, large hail, and
tornadoes. Clearing conditions return after 00z. Strong NW winds
develops after 12z tonight.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Nashville      64  81  60  77 /  60   0  20  20
Clarksville    60  78  58  74 /  40   0  20  10
Crossville     61  73  54  70 /  80  10  10  30
Columbia       61  80  59  77 /  50   0  20  20
Cookeville     62  75  56  71 /  80   0  10  30
Jamestown      60  74  53  70 /  90   0  10  40
Lawrenceburg   61  79  58  77 /  60   0  20  20
Murfreesboro   63  80  58  77 /  70   0  20  20
Waverly        57  78  57  74 /  40   0  20  10

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Cravens
LONG TERM....Cravens
AVIATION.....Cravens

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 20, 1:26 PM CDT, 2 hours 30 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
126 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

TNZ094-095-201900-
Lawrence TN-Giles TN-
126 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern
Lawrence and southwestern Giles Counties through 200 PM CDT...

At 125 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Loretto, or 10 miles south of Lawrenceburg, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Goodspring, Leoma, Pulaski, Minor Hill, Loretto, and Lawrenceburg.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8739 3516 8745 3532 8702 3506 8692
      3500 8733
TIME...MOT...LOC 1825Z 252DEG 26KT 3510 8734

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

Shamburger
Special weather statement, May 20, 1:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
159 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

TNZ095-201930-
Giles TN-
159 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southern Giles
County through 230 PM CDT...

At 158 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pulaski, moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 30 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Goodspring, Frankewing, Pulaski, and Elkton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3507 8716 3521 8719 3527 8683 3506 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 1858Z 261DEG 26KT 3515 8705

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...30 MPH

Shamburger
Local storm report, May 20, 2:58 PM CDT, 58 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
258 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

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

1030 AM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 WSW Collinwood        35.14N 87.82W
05/20/2025                   Wayne              TN   Emergency Mngr

            Emergency manager reports several large
            trees down, as well as damage to a few
            sheds. From EM and pictures, everything
            blown east.

&&

RRH
Local storm report, May 20, 3:10 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
310 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

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

0117 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     5 N Lewisburg           35.52N 86.78W
05/20/2025                   Marshall           TN   Emergency Mngr

            Delayed report. Emergency manager reports of
            damage in Chapel Hill. Possible tornado.
            Time estimated from radar.

&&

RRH
Local storm report, May 20, 3:12 PM CDT, 44 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
312 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025

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

0259 PM     Tornado          4 N Hohenwald           35.61N 87.56W
05/20/2025                   Lewis              TN   Broadcast Media

            Tornado viewed on webcam, also reported by
            media.

&&

RRH
Local storm report, May 20, 3:53 PM CDT, 3 minutes before
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 9:39 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXHickman, Perry36 min
May 20, 10:02 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXWayne43 min
May 20, 10:20 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXWilliamson40 min
May 20, 10:41 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXLewis49 min
May 20, 12:40 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXLawrence, Wayne50 min
May 20, 1:26 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXGiles34 min
May 20, 1:59 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementOHXGiles31 min
May 20, 2:14 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXGiles15 min
May 20, 2:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXDickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Perry64 min
May 20, 3:02 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedOHXHickman, Lewis, Maury28 min
May 20, 3:39 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXHickman36 min
May 20, 3:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXCoffee, Grundy62 min
May 20, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXHouston, Montgomery, Stewart67 min
May 20, 4:27 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXLawrence, Lewis, Maury33 min
May 20, 4:32 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXStewart28 min
May 20, 4:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXDickson, Houston, Humphreys54 min
May 20, 4:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatOHXCannon, Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson56 min
May 20, 4:55 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXMarshall, Maury, Williamson35 min
May 20, 5:11 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXMontgomery, Robertson21 min
May 20, 5:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXCheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery and 2 more54 min
May 20, 5:23 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXBedford, Marshall, Rutherford37 min
May 20, 5:26 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXMontgomery, Robertson34 min
May 20, 5:27 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryOHXDavidson, Maury, Rutherford, Williamson4 hr
May 20, 5:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXCheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner64 min
May 20, 5:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatOHXCannon, DeKalb, Rutherford, Wilson66 min
May 20, 5:48 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXBedford, Cannon, Coffee, Grundy, Warren42 min
May 20, 5:55 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXCannon, Coffee, Rutherford35 min
May 20, 6:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXCheatham, Davidson, Hickman, Maury, Rutherford, Sumner and 3 more54 min
May 20, 6:23 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOHXCheatham, Davidson, Maury, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson3 hr
May 20, 6:24 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXBedford, Cannon, Coffee, Rutherford51 min
May 20, 6:26 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningOHXCheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Sumner, Trousdale and 1 more3 hr
May 20, 6:27 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXVan Buren, Warren33 min
May 20, 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXClay, Macon, Sumner, Trousdale25 min
May 20, 6:54 PM CDTTornado WarningOHXCumberland, Van Buren, White66 min
May 20, 6:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHXDeKalb, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, White, Wilson47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Tennessee, 2025Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025

Sources

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