Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 19, 1997

Name: Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 19, 1997
Start: 1997-05-19T14:37
End: 1997-05-19T18:45
Location: Tennessee

May 19, 1997 · NWS OHX · 7 events in 5 counties and zones

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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: $110,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Williamson

When: May 19, 2:37 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, Fairview
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 35.894, -86.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several stores suffered high water invasion.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hickman

When: May 19, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hickman County, Countywide
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.820, -87.470

Highway department reported 4 trees blown down around the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Williamson

When: May 19, 4:19 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, Fairview
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 35.980, -87.120

Trees and wires were down.

Flash Flood, Williamson

When: May 19, 5:00 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, Fairview
Coordinates: 35.894, -86.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many roads flooded in the Fairview area such as Chester Road, Old Cox Pike, and Pinewood Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stewart

When: May 19, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Stewart County, Big Rock
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 36.580, -87.750

Highway department reported a tree blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: May 19, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Rutherford County, Murfreesboro
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 35.850, -86.420

Strong thundertstorm winds blew off part of a roof at the Elk's Lodge in Murfreesboro.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: May 19, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Taft
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 35.020, -86.730

EMA director reported a few trees down.

What these are

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, May 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: 5598131, 5598130, 5598134, 5598132, 5598133, 5598135, 5598242.