Flash Flooding and Flood in Tennessee, April 21 to 30, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding and Flood in Tennessee, April 21 to 30, 1997
Start: 1997-04-21T03:30
End: 1997-04-30T20:33
Location: Tennessee

April 21 to 30, 1997 · NWS OHX · 35 events in 16 counties and zones

26 hail, 4 flash flood, 3 lightning, 1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $325,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 35

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:39 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

26 hail, 4 flash flood, 3 lightning, 1 flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Hickman

When: April 21, 3:30 AM CST
Where: Hickman County, 8 mi S of Centerville
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 35.803, -87.473 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning caused a fire that destroyed 2 sawmill buildings at Freeman's Wood Products, Inc.

Lightning, Davidson

When: April 21, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Davidson County, Forest Hills
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 36.171, -86.777 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A lightning strike started a fire and severely damaged a Forest Hill home.

Hail, Rutherford

When: April 21, 12:40 PM CST
Where: Rutherford County, Fosterville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.650, -86.420

Local law enforcement reported 2 inches of penny size hail on the ground.

Hail, Bedford

When: April 21, 12:40 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Northern Sections
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.570, -86.450

Local law enforcement reported penny size hail.

Hail, Bedford

When: April 21, 1:10 PM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Fairfield
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 35.570, -86.300

Half dollar size hail reported just west of Fairfield on Fairfield Pike. It lasted for about 20 minutes and caused substantial damage to vehicles and homes. One person received $3200 worth of damage to a new car.

Hail, Wayne

When: April 21, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, Waynesboro
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.320, -87.770

Sheriff's office reported dime size hail.

Hail, Bedford

When: April 21, 1:58 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Fairfield
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.570, -86.300

Local law enforecement reported dime to nickel size hail.

Hail, Bedford

When: April 21, 1:58 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Deason
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.600, -86.430

Local law enforcement reported dime to nickel size hail.

Hail, Bedford

When: April 21, 1:58 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Bell Buckle
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.580, -86.370

Local law enforcement reported dime to nickel size hail.

Hail, Bedford

When: April 21, 1:58 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Wartrace
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.530, -86.350

Local law enforcement reported dime to nickel size hail.

Hail, Marshall

When: April 21, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, Chapel Hill
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.630, -86.700

SKYWARN Spotter reported nickel size hail.

Hail, Warren

When: April 21, 2:15 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Mc Minnville
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.680, -85.780

Local law enforcement reported quarter size hail.

Hail, Wayne

When: April 21, 2:15 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, Waynesboro
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.320, -87.770

Local law enforcement reported dime size hail.

Hail, Lewis

When: April 21, 2:15 PM CST to 2:50 PM CST
Where: Lewis County, Hohenwald
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.550, -87.570

Marble to dime size hail reported near Howenwald from 1415 to 1450 CST. It hailed on and off during that time period.

Hail, Coffee

When: April 21, 2:30 PM CST
Where: Coffee County, 2 mi E of Summitville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.570, -85.970

EMA director reported nickel size hail along HWY 55.

Hail, Wayne

When: April 21, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Wayne County, Waynesboro
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.320, -87.770

Local law enforcement reported dime size hail.

Flood, Lewis

When: April 21, 2:50 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Lewis County, Hohenwald
Coordinates: 35.527, -87.493 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Emergency management official reported urban street flooding all over town.

Flash Flood, Lawrence

When: April 21, 2:50 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Summertown
Coordinates: 35.217, -87.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway department reported high water on roads, especially Route 20.

Hail, Putnam

When: April 21, 2:55 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, Monterey
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 36.150, -85.270

Cooperative Weather Oberver reported nickel size hail.

Flash Flood, Bedford

When: April 21, 3:30 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Wartrace
Coordinates: 35.514, -86.459 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bedford

When: April 21, 3:30 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, Bell Buckle
Coordinates: 35.514, -86.459 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The highway department reported mud from high waters on roads.

Flash Flood, Warren

When: April 21, 3:30 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Warren County, Mc Minnville
Coordinates: 35.679, -85.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 56 southbound from McMinnville had one lane closed due to high water. The water was up to vehicle bumpers. The report was relayed by sheriff''s office.

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 21, 4:20 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Lawrenceburg
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 35.250, -87.330

Dime size hail just west of Lawrenceburg.

Hail, Giles

When: April 21, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Giles County, Pulaski
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.200, -87.020

Lincoln county sheriff's office reported quarter size hail at Pulaski.

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 21, 4:36 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Lawrenceburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.250, -87.330

Dime to quarter size hail reported just southeast of Lawrenceburg.

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 21, 4:37 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, 1 mi SE of Lawrenceburg Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 35.220, -87.230

Lawrence county spotter coordinator reported quarter size hail at New Prospect.

Hail, Giles

When: April 21, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Giles County, 3 mi N of Minor Hill
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 35.100, -87.150

The Citizen-Pulaski newspaper reported golf ball size hail struck the area and caused damage to cars and roofs. One home had a hole in the roof due to the hail storm. The hardest hit area was on Pleasant Ridge Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: April 21, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Prospect
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.080, -86.580

The Elk Valley Times newspaper reported trees were blown down just north of Prospect.

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 21, 5:27 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Loretto
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.080, -87.450

Nickel size hail reported.

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 21, 5:27 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, St Joseph
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.050, -87.500

Nickel size hail reported.

Hail, Lawrence

When: April 21, 5:30 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, St Joseph
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 35.050, -87.500

Nickel to quarter size hail covering the ground just east of St. Joseph.

Lightning, Moore

When: April 22, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Moore County, 7 mi NNE of Lynchburg
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 35.285, -86.359 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a 130-year-old red oak tree. Chunks of wood weighing as much as 175 pounds flew about 50 yards. One large piece of wood was embedded in a tail light of a car. The lightning followed the trees roots digging a trench almost 3 feet deep into and under the house. Flying wood damaged the house and a total of 3 cars.

Hail, Stewart

When: April 30, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Stewart County, Bumpus Mills
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.600, -87.820

Weather spotter reported dime size hail.

Hail, Montgomery

When: April 30, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Woodlawn
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 36.550, -87.500

Weather spotter reported nickel size hail.

Hail, Montgomery

When: April 30, 8:33 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 2 mi S of Ft Campbell
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 36.600, -87.470

Dime size hail reported by weather spotter.

What these are

Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Tennessee, April 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5592907, 5592908, 5592465, 5592466, 5592463, 5592464, 5592467, 5592468, 5592469, 5592470, 5592471, 5592472, 5592473, 5593153, 5593150, 5592474, 5593147, 5593148, 5592475, 5593145, 5593146, 5593149, 5592478, 5592482, 5592477, 5592476, 5593151, 5593152, 5592479, 5592480, 5592481, 5592483, 5593141, 5593142, 5593143.