Alert archive / Tennessee / Tornado Warnings in 2025
Tornado Warning 80, NWS Nashville, TN
NWS Nashville, TN issued this tornado warning at May 20, 2025, 8:00 PM CDT for Cumberland County, Van Buren County, Tennessee. It was in force for 45 min. 6 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, 8:00 PM CDT (01:00 UTC)
- Expired
- May 20, 2025, 8:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 45 min
- Issued by
- NWS Nashville, TN
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.25 in
Counties Cumberland County, TN, Van Buren County, TN
The radar
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 127 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:59 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, 8:00 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 10 Ssw Crossville, TN | Golf ball size hail on Burgess Road. Time estimated. |
| May 20, 8:00 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 10 Ssw Crossville, TN | Golf ball size hail on Burgess Road. Time estimated. |
| May 20, 8:05 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 9 S Crossville, TN | Structure damage reported on Rhea Road. Time estimated. |
| May 20, 8:05 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 9 S Crossville, TN | Structure damage reported on Rhea Road. Time estimated. |
| May 20, 8:31 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 10 S Crossville, TN | Damage reported at Vandever Road and Highway 127. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 20, 8:31 PM CDT | TSTM WND DMG | 10 S Crossville, TN | Damage reported at Vandever Road and Highway 127. Time estimated from radar. |
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
Peachtre/Fal Fld, GA (KFFC), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 273 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
- 735 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1407 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 82 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 124 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.3
- Supercell composite
- 5.0
The text
As transmitted.
186
WFUS54 KOHX 210100
TOROHX
TNC035-175-210145-
/O.NEW.KOHX.TO.W.0080.250521T0100Z-250521T0145Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
800 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southern Cumberland County in Middle Tennessee...
Eastern Van Buren County in Middle Tennessee...
* Until 845 PM CDT.
* At 800 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Spencer, moving east at 40 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...
Crab Orchard, Lake Tansi, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Fall
Creek Falls State Park, Indian Rock Lake, Spencer, Fairfield Glade,
and Crossville.
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 3583 8477 3576 8492 3577 8493 3575 8502
3577 8504 3576 8507 3577 8516 3576 8526
3572 8527 3569 8529 3559 8540 3558 8544
3575 8551 3580 8537 3582 8527 3580 8528
3579 8526 3585 8523 3600 8480 3585 8474
TIME...MOT...LOC 0100Z 250DEG 37KT 3569 8540
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.25 IN
$$
Shamburger1 follow-up statement
778
WWUS54 KOHX 210115
SVSOHX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
815 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
TNC175-210125-
/O.CAN.KOHX.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-250521T0145Z/
Van Buren TN-
815 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EASTERN VAN BUREN COUNTY IS CANCELLED...
The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for Middle
Tennessee.
&&
LAT...LON 3583 8477 3582 8480 3576 8492 3577 8493
3575 8502 3577 8504 3576 8507 3577 8510
3577 8525 3580 8525 3594 8478 3585 8474
TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 250DEG 37KT 3574 8522
$$
TNC035-210145-
/O.CON.KOHX.TO.W.0080.000000T0000Z-250521T0145Z/
Cumberland TN-
815 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR SOUTHERN
CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
At 815 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 9 miles north of Pikeville, moving east at 40 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...
Crab Orchard, Indian Rock Lake, and Lake Tansi.
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 3583 8477 3582 8480 3576 8492 3577 8493
3575 8502 3577 8504 3576 8507 3577 8510
3577 8525 3580 8525 3594 8478 3585 8474
TIME...MOT...LOC 0115Z 250DEG 37KT 3574 8522
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, 6:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Updated at 620 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, 6:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN Issued by National Weather Service Morristown TN 620 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 620 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... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 620 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025 A line of TSRA is currently moving west to east across the area this evening. This will cause issues with ceilings and vsbys in the initial TAF period. Once this clears (before 06z), ceilings should lift and stay in VFR conditions for the remainder of the TAF period. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 64 81 60 77 / 60 0 20 20 Clarksville 60 78 58 74 / 40 0 10 10 Crossville 61 73 54 70 / 80 10 20 30 Columbia 61 80 59 77 / 50 0 50 20 Cookeville 62 75 56 71 / 80 0 20 30 Jamestown 60 74 53 70 / 90 0 20 40 Lawrenceburg 61 79 58 77 / 60 0 40 20 Murfreesboro 63 80 58 77 / 70 0 30 20 Waverly 57 78 57 74 / 40 0 30 10 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Cravens LONG TERM....Cravens AVIATION.....Holley
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 20, 6:49 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
649 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0643 PM Flash Flood 5 WSW Franklin 35.89N 86.93W
05/20/2025 Williamson TN Public
Flooding reported on Southhall Road in
Franklin.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 6:55 PM CDT, 1 hour 5 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
655 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 7 WSW Bon Aqua 35.91N 87.45W
05/20/2025 Hickman TN Public
Tree down on home on Keys Branch Road near
Bon Aqua.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 7:06 PM CDT, 54 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
706 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0517 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 5 S Smyrna 35.91N 86.50W
05/20/2025 Rutherford TN Public
Multiple structures with light damage and
dozens of large trees and powerlines down.
Time estimated.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 7:12 PM CDT, 48 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
712 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0555 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Cross Plains 36.54N 86.68W
05/20/2025 Robertson TN Emergency Mngr
Large tree down at Highway 25 east at Cedar
Grove in Cross Plains blocking the road.
Time estimated from radar.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 7:14 PM CDT, 46 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
714 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg 4 E Wartrace 35.53N 86.27W
05/20/2025 Bedford TN Emergency Mngr
Trees and powerlines down in the Knob Creek
and White Road areas east of Wartrace. Time
estimated from radar.
&&Local storm report, May 20, 7:23 PM CDT, 37 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Nashville TN
723 PM CDT Tue May 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 PM Hail 4 SW Doyle 35.81N 85.56W
05/20/2025 M1.00 Inch White TN Public
Quarter-size hail in Quebeck.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Nashville, TN issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 7:02 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OHX | Van Buren, Warren | 3 hr |
| May 20, 7:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Cannon, Coffee, Grundy, Van Buren, Warren | 54 min |
| May 20, 7:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Cumberland, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and 1 more | 62 min |
| May 20, 7:53 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | OHX | Cumberland, Van Buren, White | 3 hr |
| May 20, 7:53 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | OHX | Cumberland | 25 min |
| May 20, 8:10 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | OHX | Fentress, Pickett | 20 min |
| May 21, 5:12 AM CDT | River Flood Advisory | OHX | Davidson, Williamson | 19 hr |
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.