Tennessee, 2002

Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, May 13, 2002

May 13, 2002 · NWS OHX · 26 events in 19 counties and zones

22 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
$10,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
26

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 forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at May 13, 2:10 AM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 13, 2:10 AM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
310 AM CDT MON MAY 13 2002

CURRENT SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACING LOW NEAR MO BOOT VICINITY...
WITH TRAILING COLD FRONT NEAR TXK-AUS LINE. LARGE BAND OF SHWRS
/TSTMS AHEAD...JUST IN EXTREME NORTHWEST MIDDLE TN...WITH ISOLATED
TSTMS DEVELOPING SOUTHWARD.

COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO PUSH ACROSS THE CWA TODAY...WITH BEST
INSTABILITY...LOW-LEVEL SPEED MAX...AND PEAK LOW-LEVEL CONVERGENCE
FROM AROUND 09-17Z. CONDITIONS LINING UP FOR POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS...WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ALSO PRETTY GOOD POSSIBILITY...
WILL MENTION IN ZONES. COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO BE NEAR CSV JUST AFTER
18Z...WITH PRECIP EXPECTED TO END IN THE AFTERNOON BNA-WEST.

BY 00Z...COLD FRONT WELL EAST OF THE AREA. LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE HANGING
BEHIND LOOKING TO DRY OUT TONIGHT...THUS SKIES SHOULD BECOME MOSTLY
CLEAR.

SECONDARY LOW-LEVEL BOUNDARY COMING DOWN TUESDAY MAY BRING SCATTERED-
BROKEN SKIES ACROSS THE NORTHERN COUNTIES...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE
PLATEAU. WILL GO WITH PARTLY CLOUDY AND LESS HUMID CONDITIONS.

MUCH COOLER TEMPS ON TAP.

BNA 67/48/69/46 +100
CSV 66/44/63/41 +100

07
.BNA...NONE.

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 26 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When
May 13, 3:25 AM CST
Where
Sumner County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
36.467, -86.467

Ham radio reports of numerous trees down around the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davidson

When
May 13, 3:30 AM CST to 3:45 AM CST
Where
Davidson County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.200, -86.817

Numerous trees and power lines down around the county including Hermitage, Joelton, East Nashville and Old Hickory. Some trees fell on cars and homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When
May 13, 3:35 AM CST
Where
Wilson County, Mt Juliet
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.200, -86.517

Sheriff reported a tree was down on Benders Ferry Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Trousdale

When
May 13, 3:45 AM CST
Where
Trousdale County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.367, -86.333

Sheriff reported numerous trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hickman

When
May 13, 3:55 AM CST
Where
Hickman County, Centerville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.783, -87.467

Sheriff reported a tree was down at intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 100 west.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickson

When
May 13, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Dickson County, North Portion
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
36.233, -87.350

Highway dept. reported trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When
May 13, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Smith County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.250, -85.967

Sheriff's office reported trees and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
May 13, 4:15 AM CST
Where
Jackson County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
36.367, -85.650

Highway dept. reported a few trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When
May 13, 4:20 AM CST
Where
Clay County, 3 mi SW of Celina
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.517, -85.533

Sheriff's office reported trees down.

Flash Flood, Davidson

When
May 13, 4:25 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Davidson County, Nashville
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.171, -86.777 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

EMA reported flooding at 703 Murfreesboro Rd., in front of the Alladin plant. A few cars stalled out.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When
May 13, 4:35 AM CST
Where
Putnam County, 3 mi N of Cookeville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.217, -85.500

EMA reported trees and power lines down. A tree fell on a house. Some homes had damage to siding.

Thunderstorm Wind, Overton

When
May 13, 4:35 AM CST
Where
Overton County, Rickman
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.267, -85.367

Sheriff reported several trees were down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickett

When
May 13, 4:45 AM CST
Where
Pickett County, Southwest Portion
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
36.483, -85.133

TDOT reported trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When
May 13, 5:05 AM CST
Where
Fentress County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
36.350, -84.900

Sheriff's office reported numerous trees down around the county. Trees fell on 3 vehicles in Pine Haven.2 cars were seriously damaged, and another car had minor damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cannon

When
May 13, 5:15 AM CST
Where
Cannon County, Woodbury
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
35.833, -86.083

TDOT reported a tree down.

Flash Flood, Dickson

When
May 13, 5:15 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Dickson County, Countywide
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
36.149, -87.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

TDOT reported flooding of low lying bridges in the southern and northern part of the county.

Flash Flood, Rutherford

When
May 13, 6:00 AM CST to 7:30 AM CST
Where
Rutherford County, Countywide
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
35.843, -86.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

TDOT reported a few roads were flooded near Christiana and Walter Hill.

Flash Flood, Cannon

When
May 13, 7:30 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where
Cannon County, Woodbury
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
35.809, -86.062 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

TDOT reported flooding on a road just south of Woodbury.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When
May 13, 8:20 AM CST
Where
Montgomery County, Countywide
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
Coordinates
36.483, -87.400

Highway dept. reported trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davidson

When
May 13, 9:22 AM CST
Where
Davidson County, Northwest Portion
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.267, -86.867

EMA reported trees and power lines down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Williamson

When
May 13, 9:28 AM CST
Where
Williamson County, 4 mi N of Leipers Fork
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.950, -87.000

Spotters reported trees blow down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davidson

When
May 13, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Davidson County, Hermitage
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
36.183, -86.617

NWS employee reported trees down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When
May 13, 9:40 AM CST
Where
Wilson County, Mt Juliet
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
36.200, -86.517

Public reported a large tree was down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When
May 13, 9:52 AM CST
Where
Wilson County, Lebanon
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
36.217, -86.300

EMA reported numerous trees and power lines down. There was some roof damage to businesses in Lebanon. A tree landed on a Lexus at Cumberland University. A walnut tree fell on a roof at Cumberland University. Also, a tree took out the back bedroom of a home trailer on Circle Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee

When
May 13, 10:40 AM CST
Where
Coffee County, Tullahoma
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.367, -86.233

Spotter reported trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Moore

When
May 13, 10:40 AM CST
Where
Moore County, Northeast Portion
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
35.317, -86.267

Spotter reported trees were blown down in the northeast part of the county.

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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Tennessee in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, May 2002

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: 5295666, 5295665, 5295661, 5295662, 5295663, 5295650, 5295653, 5295651, 5295654, 5295758, 5295652, 5295664, 5295656, 5295657, 5295658, 5295659, 5295759, 5295660, 5295655, 5295667, 5295668, 5295756, 5295757, 5295755, 5295760, 5295761.