Tennessee, 1997

Damaging Wind in Tennessee, August 17, 1997

August 17, 1997 · NWS MRX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Thunderstorm winds blew down a barn belonging to Bryan and Beth Stephenson on Liberty Hill Drive near Alcoa. Four large pine trees on their property were snapped off several feet above the ground.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$75,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS MRX wrote it up.

Thunderstorm winds blew down a barn belonging to Bryan and Beth Stephenson on Liberty Hill Drive near Alcoa. Four large pine trees on their property were snapped off several feet above the ground. Many other trees were blown down across the county. Around 1200 customers lost power due to the storm. Most power was restored by 830pm.

The radar

The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 71 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:01 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Blount

When
August 17, 4:00 PM EST to 4:45 PM EST
Where
Blount County, Countywide
Property damage
$75,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Coordinates
35.700, -83.930

What these are

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

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 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: 5607192.