Low Pressure moved west of Middle Tennessee during the late afternoon and evening of April 24th. A line of severe thunderstorms developed over West Tennessee ahead of a strong cold front.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 episode as NWS OHX wrote it up.
Low Pressure moved west of Middle Tennessee during the late afternoon and evening of April 24th. A line of severe thunderstorms developed over West Tennessee ahead of a strong cold front.
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 Apr 24, 5:28 AM CST, 3 hours 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 628 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010 .UPDATE...FOR 12Z TAFS && .AVIATION... VFR CONDTIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR THE MOST PART AHEAD OF A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM TO THE WEST. A SQUALL LINE WITH SIGNIFICANT TSTM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE NASHVILLE AREA 21-23Z AND CSV 23-01Z. AHEAD OF THE LINE THERE IS POTENIAL FOR DISCRETE SUPERCELLS WITH LARGE HAIL..DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. MAG && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 401 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010/ DISCUSSION... H5 CLOSED LOW OVR THE CNTL PLAINS SHIFTS EAST AND STRENGTHENS TDAY. MODELS DEVELOP A DOUBLE BARREL SFC LOW WITH THE NEW LOW QUICK TO STRENGTHEN AS IT RIDES NORTH INTO THE MID MS VLY THIS AFTERNOON. IR SAT SHOWS SYSTEM DEVELOPING IN E TX/S AR EARLY THIS MORNING W/NEW ROUND OF TORNADO WATCHES IN THE AREA. MODELS STRENGTHEN LLJ OVR THE LWR MS VLY TDAY. H8 WIND MAX IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OVR S MID TN AROUND NOON W/DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELLS POSSIBLE. A MORNING CAP WL PROBABLY HOLD OFF CONVECTIVE RAINFALL IN N MID TN THIS MORNING...WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING IN THE AFTERNOON AS STRONG DYNAMICS COMING INTO PLAY. AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS FOR SUPERCELLS WL BE A WIND SHIFT BDRY OR WARM FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. THE BDRY WL MOVE NORTH TO NEAR THE I-40 CORRIDOR LATE IN THE AFTERNOON...THEN EAST OF I-65 IN THE EVENING. THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER LOOKS TO DIMINISH DURING THE EVENING...AS A COLD FRONT PUSHES EAST W/DRIER AIR. LINGERING SHOWERS WITH COOLER AIR SUN-TUE. THE NEXT CHANCE OF RAIN CONTINUES FOR NEXT WEEKEND. THE NEW MODELS SLOW THE FRONT WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FRI NGT-SAT. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && 04
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 503 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010 TNZ056>058-060-061-075-077-079-093>095-251030- PERRY-HICKMAN-LEWIS-MAURY-MARSHALL-BEDFORD-COFFEE-GRUNDY-WAYNE- LAWRENCE-GILES- 503 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY. SOME STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME SEVERE...WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL END THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED. TNZ005>011-022>034-059-062>066-078-080-251030- STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-BENTON- HOUSTON-HUMPHREYS-DICKSON-CHEATHAM-DAVIDSON-WILSON-TROUSDALE- SMITH-JACKSON-PUTNAM-OVERTON-FENTRESS-WILLIAMSON-RUTHERFORD- CANNON-DE KALB-WHITE-CUMBERLAND-WARREN-VAN BUREN- 503 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY. ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT IS EXPECTED. SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED. SPOTTER THUNDERSTORM REPORTING CRITERIA... TORNADO FUNNEL CLOUD FLOODING HAIL >= 1/2 INCH WINDS > 50 MPH (MEASURED) STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TREES OR POWER LINES DOWN 04
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
729 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010
TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-242030-
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-DE KALB-WHITE-
CUMBERLAND-BEDFORD-COFFEE-WARREN-GRUNDY-VAN BUREN-WAYNE-LAWRENCE-
GILES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DOVER...CLARKSVILLE...SPRINGFIELD...
GALLATIN...LAFAYETTE...CELINA...BYRDSTOWN...CAMDEN...ERIN...
WAVERLY...DICKSON...ASHLAND CITY...NASHVILLE...LEBANON...
MOUNT JULIET...HARTSVILLE...CARTHAGE...GAINESBORO...COOKEVILLE...
LIVINGSTON...JAMESTOWN...LOBELVILLE...CENTERVILLE...HOHENWALD...
FRANKLIN...BRENTWOOD...COLUMBIA...LEWISBURG...MURFREESBORO...
WOODBURY...SMITHVILLE...SPARTA...CROSSVILLE...SHELBYVILLE...
TULLAHOMA...MANCHESTER...MCMINNVILLE...ALTAMONT...SPENCER...
WAYNESBORO...LAWRENCEBURG...PULASKI
729 AM CDT SAT APR 24 2010
...MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER FOR ALL OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE TODAY...
A MODERATE RISK MEANS THAT THERE IS A 45 PERCENT CHANCE OF A SEVERE
WEATHER EVENT (DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL OR TORNADOES) OCCURRING
WITHIN 25 MILES OF ANY GIVEN LOCATION IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS MIDDLE TENNESSEE. SOME STORMS
WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION FROM THE SOUTHWEST LATER THIS
MORNING...AND THESE DISCRETE CELLS COULD PRODUCE SEVERE
WEATHER...AND EVEN ISOLATED TORNADOES.
ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS...THAT WILL LIKELY CONTAIN DAMAGING WINDS...
LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES...WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHWEST
MIDDLE TENNESSEE BY EARLY AFTERNOON. DURING THE AFTERNOON
HOURS...INTO THE EARLY EVENING OVER EASTERN PORTIONS...SUPERCELL
THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THROUGHOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE...WITH
TORNADOES POSSIBLE.
THIS IS THE STRONGEST STORM SYSTEM TO AFFECT MIDDLE TENNESSEE SO
FAR THIS SPRING...AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER LOOKS TO BE
INCREASINGLY LIKELY...INCLUDING TORNADIC SUPERCELLS.
NOW IS THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL GO
SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER APPROACH YOUR AREA TONIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY.
HERE ARE A FEW TORNADO SAFETY RULES FOR YOUR REVIEW.
TORNADO SAFETY RULES
1. IN HOMES OR SMALL BUILDINGS, GO TO THE BASEMENT OR TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM, SUCH AS A CLOSET OR BATHROOM, ON THE LOWEST
LEVEL. GET UNDER SOMETHING STURDY SUCH AS A HEAVY TABLE OR A
BED.
2. IN MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES, ABANDON THEM AND GO TO A
STURDY STRUCTURE. IF THERE IS NO SUCH STRUCTURE NEARBY, LIE
FLAT IN A DITCH, RAVINE, GULLY, CULVERT OR LOW SPOT WITH
YOUR ARMS AND HANDS SHIELDING YOUR HEAD.
3. IN LARGE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, HOSPITALS,
NURSING HOMES AND SHOPPING CENTERS, GO TO THE PREDESIGNATED
SHELTER AREA. INTERIOR HALLWAYS ON THE LOWEST FLOOR ARE
USUALLY BEST. STAY AWAY FROM ROOMS THAT ARE LARGE IN AREA
BECAUSE THEY HAVE WEAKLY SUPPORTED ROOFS.
4. IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, GO TO AN INTERIOR SMALL ROOM OR
HALLWAY.
5. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. DON'T BOTHER OPENING OR CLOSING
THEM. IT WON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURE AND
YOU'LL JUST WASTE TIME OR PUT YOURSELF AT RISK SHOULD
GLASS BREAK AS YOU ARE NEAR.
GIRODOThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:47 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 lightning, 2 funnel cloud, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Tin roof was peeled off barn...large tree limbs were blown down.
Marshall county sheriff’s office reports a few trees down across county back roads across the county.
A 6 inch hole was blown in the roof of a home.
Stewart county sheriff’s office reported multiple power lines down along state highway 232.
Amateur radio reported that multiple trees were downed across the county.
Houston county sheriff’s office and central dispatch reported multiple trees and power lines down across northern and southwestern portions of the county.
A tornado with maximum winds of 100 mph entered Perry county near Simms|Road along the eastern side of the Tennessee river. Damage|continued northeastward...for a length of 13.8 miles and a maximum|width of 300 yards. Hundreds of soft and hard wood trees were|snapped or uprooted. There was some roof damage noted.
The tornado entered Humphreys County just north of the intersection of Blue Creek and Crooked Creek Roads. Damage consisting of snapped and uprooted trees continued almost nine miles northeast crossing Interstate 40 just east of the Highway 13 exit. The last evidence of damage was along Barren Hollow Road just north of I-40.
Tree fell on a car on Trenton road near exit one on I-24. Two people were taken to the hospital with injuries. Extent of injuries was unknown. Shutters were blown off of a house in the same area.
Trained spotter reported an estimated gust of 70 mph.
Trained spotter estimated 60 to 65 mph wind gust along i-40 and hwy 46.
A tornado with max winds of 90 mph touched down southwest of the|Aetna community along state highway 48. Damaged continued to the|northeast along state highway 48 for a length of 2 miles and a|maximum width of 100 yards. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and|snapped with a couple of small sheds and trailer destroyed. Some|minor roof damage was noted on a dozen homes.
A funnel cloud was reported on highway 31 north of Gallatin.
A tornado with max winds of 85 mph touched down at the intersection|of state highway 52 and rocky mound road. Damaged continued to the|north northeast for an approximately length of 1.5 miles and a|maximum width of 50 yards. Multiple shallow rooted trees were uprooted|with one small barn destroyed.
Summer county EMA reported telephone poles downed with wires across the road at the 1100 block of liberty lane in Gallatin.
Wilson county emergency management agency reported that lightning started a house and field fire on Terrance Hill road.
A funnel cloud was reported in Byrdstown.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2010Warnings in Tennessee, April 2010
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: 228620, 228622, 228623, 228625, 228626, 228628, 217172, 231545, 228629, 228631, 228632, 228633, 228643, 228634, 228645, 228635, 228636, 228637.