3 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 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 4, 8:15 PM CST, 4 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 915 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003 SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK EXPECTED IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE OVERNIGHT AND INTO MONDAY MORNING, AS ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES AND 0-3 KM STORM RELATIVE HELICITIES APPROACH OBSCENE VALUES OF 600 M2/S2 TO 700 M2/S2. SPC HAS ALREADY EXTENDED THE MODERATE RISK AREA FOR TONIGHT INTO WESTERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE, REACHING RIGHT UP TO THE DAVIDSON OCUNTY LINE. A SLIGHT RISK COVERS THE REMAINDER OF OUR FORECAST AREA OVERNIGHT. TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 239, FOR NORTHWESTERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE, IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM. A NUMBER OF THUNDERSTORMS TO OUR WEST HAVE SHOWN SIGNIFICANT SIGNS OF ROTATION, AND FORECASTERS AT MEMPHIS WFO HAVE BEEN SLINGING TORNADO WARNINGS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. NIGHTTIME TORNADOES ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN TENNESSEE, PARTLY DUE TO THE DARKNESS AND PARTLY DUE TO THE LIMITED VIEWING DISTANCE ALONG THE HORIZON. YOU ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN TUNED TO A RELIABLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO MONDAY MORNING, AS THE SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPS IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. IF POSSIBLE, LEAVE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO IN ALERT MODE ON THE BEDSTAND WHILE YOU SLEEP SO YOU WILL HEAR ANY WARNINGS AS SOON AS THEY ARE ISSUED. .BNA...NONE. 19
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075>080-093>097-051030- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 725 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WARM FRONT WILL PUSH NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS MIDDLE TENNESSEE THIS EVENING, ALLOWING MORE HUMID AIR TO SEEP INTO THE MID STATE. THIS WILL FURTHER DESTABILIZE THE ENVIRONMENT, PROVIDING RIPE CONDITIONS FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP. AMPLE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR SHIFTS THE PRIMARY DANGER TOWARD DAMAGING WINDS AND EVEN ISOLATED TORNADOES. IN ADDITION, THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED ALL OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER TONIGHT, WITH A MODERATE RISK COVERING THE WEST TENNESSEE UP TO THE TENNESSEE RIVER. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY A SERIES OF DISTURBANCE MOVING OUT OF THE PLAINS WILL BRING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER EACH OF THESE DAYS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL MAY BECOME NECESSARY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. ROSE
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075>080-093>097-050830- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 925 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003 A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK IS EXPECTED IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE LATE TONIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED...ALONG WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND HAIL. THE BIGGEST THREAT AREA THROUGH 400 AM CDT WILL BE IN AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 65...INCLUDING CLARKSVILLE...DICKSON... WAVERLY...LINDEN...CENTERVILLE...LAWRENCEBURG...AND WAYNESBORO. NIGHTTIME TORNADOES ARE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN TENNESSEE...PARTLY DUE TO THE DARKNESS AND PARTLY DUE TO THE LIMITED VIEWING DISTANCE ALONG THE HORIZON. IN ADDITION...TENNESSEE TORNADOES ARE OFTEN WRAPPED IN RAIN...MAKING THEM VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. YOU ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN TUNED TO A RELIABLE SOURCE OF WEATHER INFORMATION THROUGH THE NIGHT AND INTO MONDAY MORNING, AS THE SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPS IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. IF POSSIBLE, LEAVE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO...IN ALERT MODE...ON THE BED STAND WHILE YOU SLEEP SO YOU WILL HEAR ANY WARNINGS AS SOON AS THEY ARE ISSUED. 19
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE,TN
1119 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1110 PM 10W DOVER TN TORNADO
05/04/03 STEWART TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
TORNADO REPORTED ON THE
GROUND NEAR PARIS LANDING
10 W DOVER
JLMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE,TN
1146 PM CDT SUN MAY 4 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1135 PM 8E DOVER TN TORNADO
05/04/03 STEWART LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED
TORNADO REPORTED ON THE
GROUND 8 MILES EAST OF
DOVER NEAR INDIAN MOUND.
JLMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
1214 AM CDT MON MAY 05 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1155 AM 6 N CLARKSVILLE TN 1.00 IN HAIL
05/04/03 MONTGOMERY SPOTTER REPORTED QUARTER
SIZE HAIL NEAR THE KENTUCKY
BORDER.
JAOPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE,TN
1248 AM CDT MON MAY 5 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1244 AM CLARKSVILLE TN 80 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
05/05/03 MONTGOMERY TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
70-80 MPH WIND IN DOWNTOWN
CLARKSVILLE WITH DEBRIS
1245 AM CLARKSVILLE TN 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/05/03 MONTGOMERY TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
IN DOWNTOWN CLARKSVILLE
1253 AM 5S CLARKSVILLE TN WIND DAMAGE
05/05/03 MONTGOMERY TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
LARGE TREES BLOWN DOWN JUST
S OF CLARKSVILLE
1249 AM 5W CENTERVILLE TN WIND DAMAGE
05/05/03 HICKMAN TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
TREES BLOWN DOWN ON HWY 100
JUST WEST OF CENTERVILLE
1252 AM 3E CENTERVILLE TN 1.00 INCH HAIL
05/05/03 HICKMAN TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED
JUST EAST OF CENTERVILLE
JLMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE,TN
124 AM CDT MON MAY 5 2003
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0115 AM 3N CENTERVILLE TN WIND DAMAGE
05/05/03 HICKMAN TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
TREES DOWN JUST N OF
CENTERVILLE IN HICKMAN
COUNTY
0115 AM 10S CLARKSVILLE TN WIND DAMAGE
05/05/03 MONTGOMERY TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
POWER LINES DOWN ON HOUSE
SOUTH OF CLARKSVILLE
0118 AM 10SE CENTERVILLE TN 60 mph MPH TSTM WIND GUST
05/05/03 HICKMAN TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
50-60 MPH WIND GUSTS IN
SHADY GROVE
0120 AM 2SE CROSS PLAINS TN TORNADO
05/05/03 ROBERTSON TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
TORNADO OBSERVED ON GROUND
BETWEEN CROSS PLAINS AND
WHITEHOUSE
0122 AM FAIRVIEW TN 70 MPH TSTM WIND GUST
05/05/03 WILLIAMSON TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
70 MPH WINDS IN FAIRVIEW
0130 AM 15NE CENTERVILLE TN TORNADO
05/05/03 HICKMAN TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED
TORNADO ON GROUND NEAR
LYLES-BON AQUA
JLMThe Nashville radar (KOHX), 57 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:38 UTC.
3 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
85 homes were damaged, 2 barns were destroyed and 5 businesses were damaged.
A well built home was 75 percent destroyed by strong winds.
Lightning struck and burned down a home. The house was completely destroyed on Shady Glen Ct., near Franklin.
Tornado was observed at the La Vergne Industrial Park, but no significant damage was reported.
EMA reported hundreds of trees were down from Highway 53 North and Big Hill Road and Pea Ridge. Many trees were twisted. Many utility poles were blown down around the county. Homes were damaged at Wilson Hollow and Pleasant Ridge. EMA estimated 60 homes had sustained wind damage. Schools were closed Monday and Tuesday because of many downed trees and flooding problems.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2003Warnings in Tennessee, May 2003
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: 5357335, 5357338, 5357339, 5357336, 5357337.