Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, February 11, 2009

Name: Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, February 11, 2009
Start: 2009-02-11T10:07
End: 2009-02-11T14:25
Location: Tennessee

February 11, 2009 · NWS OHX · 40 events in 27 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved across Middle Tennessee producing several severe thunderstorms that caused wind damage to many locations, produced hail, a funnel cloud, and a tornado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $830,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 40

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 OHX wrote it up.

A strong cold front moved across Middle Tennessee producing several severe thunderstorms that caused wind damage to many locations, produced hail, a funnel cloud, and a tornado.

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 Feb 11, 3:33 AM CST, 6 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 11, 3:33 AM CST, 6 hours 34 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
333 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009

.DISCUSSION...

PRESENTLY...SQUALL LINE MOVING QUICKLY INTO LOWER MISSISSIPPI
VALLEY REGION...BUT HAS WEAKENED SINCE LAST NIGHT. 00Z GFS
INITIALIZED BEST WITH SQUALL LINE...FRONTAL POSITION ACROSS
EASTERN TX...AND...LOW PRESSURE CENTERS. THUS LEANED TOWARD
THIS MODEL SOLUTION.

THE SQUALL LINE WILL ENTER THE MID STATE AROUND 15Z...JUST AHEAD
OF MAIN COLD FRONT...WITH STRONG WINDS AHEAD AS WELL AS BEHIND
THE FRONT. IN FACT...IF CLOUDS BREAK DURING THE AFTERNOON...AS IT
LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL...EXPECT MIXING OF THE BOUNDARY LAYER TO
PRODUCE SOME SUSTAINED WINDS AS HIGH AS 30 TO 35 MPH...AND GUSTS
TO OVER 45 MPH. PRE-FRONTAL WINDS WILL BE SIMILARLY GUSTY.
THUS..A WIND ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN EFFECT THROUGH 00Z
THURSDAY.

STRONG GRADIENT WINDS COULD EASILY BLOW DOWN TREE LIMBS...ALONG
WITH SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE SQUALL LINE
DURING THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY. ENVIRONMENT
WILL BE LOW CAPE AND HIGH HELICITY...WHICH MEANS THAT SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS CERTAINLY REMAIN A POSSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THIS
SQUALL LINE HAS WEAKENED OVERNIGHT...AND CAN STILL NOT RULE OUT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ISOLATED TORNADO OR TWO AS WELL.

SECONDARY FRONT MOVES IN LATE IN THE DAY AND WILL PROBABLY BE
ACCOMPANIED BY SOME SCATTERED TO BROKEN STRATOCUMULUS.
HOWEVER...DO BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DRY FRONTAL PASSAGE.

EXPECT SOME DRY WEATHER TO TAKE OVER TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY..AS
HIGH PRESSURE INFLUENCES BUILD ACROSS THE MID STATE. WITH ANOTHER
LIKELIHOOD FOR RAIN FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...AS YET ANOTHER
LOW PRESSURE AREA MOVES INTO THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND OHIO
VALLEY.

TEMPERATURE-WISE...DO NOT EXPECT MUCH TEMPERATURE DROP WITH THE
PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT...WITH HIGHS MOST AREAS IN THE 60S
FOR BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

OVERALL...EXPECT UPPER FLOW TO REMAIN DISCONNECTED FROM COLD
CANADIAN AIR MASSES IN THE LONG TERM...WHICH MEANS RELATIVELY
MILD WEATHER SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH MOST...IF NOT ALL...THE
EXTENDED FORECAST PERIOD. THUS CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER THAN GFS
MOS ON BOTH DAYTIME HIGHS AND NIGHTTIME LOWS.
&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
NASHVILLE      65  40  62  36 / 100  10   0  10
CLARKSVILLE    69  38  59  35 / 100  10   0  10
CROSSVILLE     63  38  58  32 / 100  10   0  10
COLUMBIA       67  40  63  36 / 100   0   0  10
LAWRENCEBURG   68  40  64  36 / 100   0   0  10
WAVERLY        68  39  61  36 / 100  10   0  10

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR TNZ005>011-
022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095.

&&

55

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 11, 4:08 AM CST, 5 hours 59 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
408 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009

TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-121130-
STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-BENTON-
HOUSTON-HUMPHREYS-DICKSON-CHEATHAM-DAVIDSON-WILSON-TROUSDALE-
SMITH-JACKSON-PUTNAM-OVERTON-FENTRESS-PERRY-HICKMAN-LEWIS-
WILLIAMSON-MAURY-MARSHALL-RUTHERFORD-CANNON-DEKALB-WHITE-
CUMBERLAND-BEDFORD-COFFEE-WARREN-GRUNDY-VAN BUREN-WAYNE-LAWRENCE-
GILES-
408 AM CST WED FEB 11 2009

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM AND COLD FRONT WILL BRING THE
POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES TO MIDDLE
TENNESSEE TODAY.

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE TENNESSEE
RIVER AROUND 9 AM. IT SHOULD REACH THE I 65 CORRIDOR BETWEEN 10
AM AND NOON...AND THE PLATEAU BY 2 PM. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN HAZARD. HOWEVER...FAVORABLE ATMOSPHERIC
WIND SPEEDS AND DIRECTIONS WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED
TORNADOES.

WINDS WILL ALSO BE STRONG BEFORE AND AFTER THE THUNDERSTORMS.
WIND GUSTS OF 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DAY. A WIND
ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WEATHER.GOV OR
BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TODAY.

13

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: February 11, 10:07 AM CST
Where: Benton County, 0.69 mi N of Camden
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 36.060, -88.100

At the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Duck River Unit, a 50 kt wind gust was measured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hickman

When: February 11, 10:53 AM CST
Where: Hickman County, 3.63 mi NNW of Pinewood
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.970, -87.500

Several trees were blown down with a couple snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hickman

When: February 11, 10:53 AM CST
Where: Hickman County, 2.17 mi NE of Pinewood
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.940, -87.450

A trained spotter reported a tree blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: February 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne County, 0.8 mi SE of Waynesboro
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.313, -87.759

The vinyl siding on the law office of Robert Freeman was striped off of the front of his office, and large strips left twisted and hanging in other areas.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: February 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne County, 0.86 mi SSE of Collinwood
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.169, -87.742

Hughes Hardwood had its massive sliding doors of three dry kilns driven in by the wind, forcing operations in those facilities to shut down until repairs could be made. Large metal sections of the dry kilns'roof were also ripped up and deposited yards away.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wayne

When: February 11, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Wayne County, Waynesboro
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.320, -87.770

Numerous trees and power lines had fallen down across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickson

When: February 11, 11:03 AM CST
Where: Dickson County, 2.07 mi S of Dickson
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.050, -87.380

A 56 KT Gust was measured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: February 11, 11:10 AM CST
Where: Lawrence County, 0.56 mi W of Lawrenceburg
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 35.250, -87.340

A roof was blown of a home with numerous trees down in the vicinity.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: February 11, 11:10 AM CST
Where: Lawrence County, 1.13 mi W of Gaitherville
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.250, -87.390

Trees were down blocking Highway 64.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maury

When: February 11, 11:22 AM CST
Where: Maury County, 0.89 mi SE of Spring Hill
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.740, -86.920

Emergency management officials reported trees down across the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Maury

When: February 11, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Maury County, 0.89 mi SE of Spring Hill
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.740, -86.920

Trees were blown down in Spring Hill.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickson

When: February 11, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Dickson County, Dickson
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 36.080, -87.380

Numerous trees were downed across the county causing over more than 2,000 power outages.

Thunderstorm Wind, Giles

When: February 11, 11:45 AM CST
Where: Giles County, 0.56 mi W of Pulaski
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.200, -87.030

Trees were blown down across the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davidson

When: February 11, 11:46 AM CST
Where: Davidson County, 1.78 mi NE of Belle Meade
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.120, -86.850

Several trees were blown down on a golf course.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: February 11, 11:50 AM CST
Where: Marshall County, 0.56 mi E of Lewisburg
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.450, -86.790

Trees snapped at I-65 Exit.

Thunderstorm Wind, Williamson

When: February 11, 11:52 AM CST
Where: Williamson County, 1.82 mi ESE of Douglas
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 35.860, -86.840

A 52 KT gust was measured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: February 11, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Gallatin
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 36.400, -86.450

Several power lines down and several homes were damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilson

When: February 11, 12:02 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, 1.49 mi SSW of Green Hill
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS Employee
Coordinates: 36.210, -86.560

Trees down on Green Hills Road and across other portions of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rutherford

When: February 11, 12:05 PM CST
Where: Rutherford County, 1.49 mi SSE of La Vergne
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.000, -86.570

Several commercial buildings had major roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Trousdale

When: February 11, 12:35 PM CST
Where: Trousdale County, 0.89 mi SE of Hartsville
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 36.390, -86.160

Several trees were blown down in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bedford

When: February 11, 12:40 PM CST
Where: Bedford County, 1.12 mi E of Wartrace
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.530, -86.330

Minor roof damage to a home was reported. Trees were blown down county wide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Macon

When: February 11, 12:40 PM CST
Where: Macon County, Lafayette
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 36.520, -86.030

Trees were blown down county wide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When: February 11, 12:50 PM CST
Where: Smith County, 1.81 mi ESE of Monoville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.290, -85.940

Former National Weather Service Employee reported a barn roof was completely blown off and landed in a field. Newspaper articles also reported numerous trees down, roof damage to buildings including houses and businesses.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cannon

When: February 11, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Cannon County, 1.32 mi WNW of Ivy Bluff
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.680, -86.070

A carport was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: February 11, 12:55 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 1.31 mi ENE of Hendersonville
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 36.290, -86.600

Several trees were blown down along with power lines. Several homes in the area sustained minor damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: February 11, 1:10 PM CST
Where: Clay County, Celina
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.550, -85.500

Minor roof damage reported to a couple of homes. Trees and power lines were blown down county wide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: February 11, 1:10 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.69 mi N of Gainesboro
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.360, -85.650

Trees and power lines down county wide with power out in town.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: February 11, 1:25 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, 1.81 mi WNW of Holladay
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.160, -85.560

Trees were blown down and they blocked part of I-40.

Thunderstorm Wind, White

When: February 11, 1:30 PM CST
Where: White County, Sparta
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 35.930, -85.470

At least 15 trees reported down to E-911 Service. One downed electric line and several phone lines downed were also reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: February 11, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Putnam County, Cookeville
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 36.170, -85.500

Numerous trees were downed along with several power line poles across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grundy

When: February 11, 1:40 PM CST
Where: Grundy County, 3.24 mi SSE of Beersheba Spgs
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.430, -85.640

Emergency Management reported numerous trees blown down county wide.

Thunderstorm Wind, Overton

When: February 11, 1:40 PM CST
Where: Overton County, Livingston
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 36.380, -85.320

Numerous trees and power lines were downed. In the Allons area, a storage building was picked up and blown into a neighboring field.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickett

When: February 11, 1:50 PM CST
Where: Pickett County, Byrdstown
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 36.570, -85.130

Numerous trees were blown down in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cumberland

When: February 11, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Cumberland County, Crossville
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $12,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.950, -85.030

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county.

Hail, Cumberland

When: February 11, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Cumberland County, Fairfield Glade
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 36.000, -84.880

Penny size hail was reported.

Tornado, Fentress

When: February 11, 2:03 PM CST to 2:04 PM CST
Where: Fentress County, 2.6 mi SW of Camp Ground to 2.2 mi WSW of Camp Ground
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.52 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.153, -85.083

The initial touchdown was near the intersection of Little Hurricane Trail and Highway 62. The damage path from the tornado continued for approximately 1/2 of a mile to the northeast.| |Dozen of pine trees, and a few hardwood trees, were snapped or uprooted. One residence had a small portion of roof peeled back. Two trees fell on automobiles and another fell on and heavily damaged an outbuilding.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: February 11, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Fentress County, 2.15 mi SSE of Jamestown Arpt
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.320, -84.940

Tree was down along Bunker Hill Road near Gatewood Ford Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: February 11, 2:15 PM CST
Where: Fentress County, 1.81 mi WNW of Camp Ground
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $6,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.190, -85.080

Emergency Management reported several trees down across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: February 11, 2:15 PM CST
Where: Fentress County, 1.81 mi WNW of Camp Ground
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.190, -85.080

Thirty to fifty trees were downed off Highway 62 Little Hurricane Trail. Man was pinned in car by tree and transported to hospital. Condition of man unkown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: February 11, 2:25 PM CST
Where: Fentress County, 2.17 mi SE of Highland Jct
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.230, -85.040

Significant damage to an abandoned car wash in Clarkrange. Roof was detached. Power lines were also downed along Highway 62.

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 2009 Warnings in Tennessee, February 2009

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: 154958, 154850, 154962, 155003, 155009, 155013, 154965, 154851, 154852, 154854, 154855, 155113, 154856, 154857, 154858, 154966, 155103, 154860, 154861, 154862, 154863, 154864, 154865, 154867, 154868, 154869, 154870, 154871, 155017, 155109, 154955, 155119, 154968, 154970, 155122, 155133, 154976, 154977, 154979, 154981.