Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 66, NWS Nashville, TN
NWS Nashville, TN issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2025, 3:39 PM CDT for Hickman County, Tennessee. It was in force for 36 min. 13 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 20, 2025, 3:39 PM CDT (20:39 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2025, 4:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 36 min
- Issued by
- NWS Nashville, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
County Hickman County, TN
The radar
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:41 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 20, 3:50 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Trees reported down at Hickman County High School. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:50 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Trees reported down at Hickman County High School. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:50 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Golf ball size hail reported at Hickman County High School. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:50 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Golf ball size hail reported at Hickman County High School. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:54 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Estimated 2 inch hail near Centerville Middle School. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:54 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Estimated 2 inch hail near Centerville Middle School. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:56 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Golf ball size hail at Hickman County High School. |
| May 20, 3:56 PM CDT | HAIL 1.75 | 2 Ne Centerville, TN | Golf ball size hail at Hickman County High School. |
| May 20, 3:56 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 7 Ssw Bon Aqua, TN | Two inch hail reported near TN 100 and TN 230 north of Centerville. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 3:56 PM CDT | HAIL 2 | 7 Ssw Bon Aqua, TN | Two inch hail reported near TN 100 and TN 230 north of Centerville. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 4:00 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 7 Ene Centerville, TN | A NWS storm survey team determined that damage in Hickman County south of Mill Creek and in the Dogwood Flat area was caused by straight-line winds with estimated winds up to 75 mph. Damage included downed trees and tree branches. |
| May 20, 4:00 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 3 Nw Centerville, TN | Public report of penny to quarter sized hail near Elkins Rd in Centerville. |
| May 20, 4:00 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 3 Nw Centerville, TN | Public report of penny to quarter sized hail near Elkins Rd in Centerville. |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
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 20, 2:36 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 8 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 91 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.
- 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
The text
As transmitted.
314
WFUS54 KOHX 202039
TOROHX
TNC081-202115-
/O.NEW.KOHX.TO.W.0066.250520T2039Z-250520T2115Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
339 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Central Hickman County in Middle Tennessee...
* Until 415 PM CDT.
* At 339 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles southwest of Centerville, moving east at 55
mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.
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...
Centerville around 345 PM CDT.
Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include Primm
Springs.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to 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 3577 8771 3594 8721 3573 8723 3565 8766
TIME...MOT...LOC 2039Z 247DEG 46KT 3573 8760
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Shamburger1 follow-up statement
427
WWUS54 KOHX 202043
SVSOHX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
343 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
TNC081-202115-
/O.CON.KOHX.TO.W.0066.000000T0000Z-250520T2115Z/
Hickman TN-
343 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL HICKMAN COUNTY...
At 343 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located just southwest of Centerville, moving northeast at 60
mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and half dollar size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Primm Springs and Centerville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a
vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter now! Get to an
interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid
windows.
&&
LAT...LON 3578 8761 3594 8721 3573 8723 3571 8758
TIME...MOT...LOC 2043Z 247DEG 54KT 3576 8750
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
ShamburgerWhat 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 20, 12:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 53 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, 2 hours 53 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, 10:41 AM CDT, 4 hours 58 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Morristown TN
1041 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
TNZ057-058-060-093-094-201630-
Hickman TN-Lawrence TN-Wayne TN-Lewis TN-Maury TN-
1041 AM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT LEWIS...NORTHEASTERN WAYNE...
NORTHERN LAWRENCE...WESTERN MAURY AND SOUTHEASTERN HICKMAN COUNTIES
THROUGH 1130 AM CDT...
At 1041 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northeast of Waynesboro, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Gordonsburg, Kimmins, Henryville, Hohenwald, Summertown, Mount
Pleasant, Hampshire, and Williamsport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3555 8768 3557 8765 3561 8766 3580 8721
3545 8708 3546 8713 3542 8721 3532 8772
TIME...MOT...LOC 1541Z 249DEG 43KT 3543 8766
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
DGSSpecial weather statement, May 20, 1:26 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 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
ShamburgerSpecial weather statement, May 20, 1:59 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 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
ShamburgerLocal storm report, May 20, 2:58 PM CDT, 41 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.
&&
RRHLocal storm report, May 20, 3:10 PM CDT, 29 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.
&&
RRHLocal storm report, May 20, 3:12 PM CDT, 27 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.
&&
RRHThe office that day
Everything else NWS Nashville, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 9:39 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Hickman, Perry | 36 min |
| May 20, 10:02 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Wayne | 43 min |
| May 20, 10:20 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OHX | Williamson | 40 min |
| May 20, 10:41 AM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OHX | Lewis | 49 min |
| May 20, 12:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Lawrence, Wayne | 50 min |
| May 20, 1:26 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OHX | Giles | 34 min |
| May 20, 1:59 PM CDT | Special Weather Statement | OHX | Giles | 31 min |
| May 20, 2:14 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Giles | 15 min |
| May 20, 2:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys, Perry | 64 min |
| May 20, 3:02 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Hickman, Lewis, Maury | 28 min |
| May 20, 3:56 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Maury, Williamson | 64 min |
| May 20, 3:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Coffee, Grundy | 62 min |
| May 20, 4:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Houston, Montgomery, Stewart | 67 min |
| May 20, 4:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Lawrence, Lewis, Maury | 33 min |
| May 20, 4:32 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Stewart | 28 min |
| May 20, 4:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Dickson, Houston, Humphreys | 54 min |
| May 20, 4:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Cannon, Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson | 56 min |
| May 20, 4:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Marshall, Maury, Williamson | 35 min |
| May 20, 5:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Montgomery, Robertson | 21 min |
| May 20, 5:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery and 2 more | 54 min |
| May 20, 5:23 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Bedford, Marshall, Rutherford | 37 min |
| May 20, 5:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Montgomery, Robertson | 34 min |
| May 20, 5:27 PM CDT | Areal Flood Advisory | OHX | Davidson, Maury, Rutherford, Williamson | 4 hr |
| May 20, 5:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner | 64 min |
| May 20, 5:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Cannon, DeKalb, Rutherford, Wilson | 66 min |
| May 20, 5:48 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Grundy, Warren | 42 min |
| May 20, 5:55 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Cannon, Coffee, Rutherford | 35 min |
| May 20, 6:06 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Cheatham, Davidson, Hickman, Maury, Rutherford, Sumner and 3 more | 54 min |
| May 20, 6:23 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OHX | Cheatham, Davidson, Maury, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson | 3 hr |
| May 20, 6:24 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Rutherford | 51 min |
| May 20, 6:26 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OHX | Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Sumner, Trousdale and 1 more | 3 hr |
| May 20, 6:27 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Van Buren, Warren | 33 min |
| May 20, 6:30 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Clay, Macon, Sumner, Trousdale | 25 min |
| May 20, 6:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Cumberland, Van Buren, White | 66 min |
| May 20, 6:58 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | DeKalb, Jackson, Putnam, Smith, White, Wilson | 47 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in Tennessee, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.