Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, May 1 to 4, 2010

A microburst occurred at Rushing Creek Campground in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Average path length was 250 yards wide with a path length of one quarter of a mile. Between 50 and 100 very large trees were uprooted or broken off. Roof ripped off an open shelter. Five guy wires were also downed. Minor damage to vehicles and campers were reported also.

Numerous large trees were broken and uprooted. Trees fell and brought down power lines and poles along Old Natchez Trace. Only minor property damage was noted, including damage to fences. Damage at the intersection of Sneed and Old Natchez Trace was due to flooding of the Harpeth River. Some areas were inaccessible for close survey due to flooded conditions, but it appeared most of the damage was focused along Old Natchez Trace. Sporadic tree damage was also observed on Sawyer Bend Rd. and Vaughn Rd.

At 11:50 AM, storm total rainfall over the last 24 hours was measured as 13.34 inches. This rainfall resulted in flash flooding causing Lomax Avenue in Waverly to become totally covered with water.

Boat rescues occurred as of 10 AM along Interstate 40 between mile marker 153 and 154 as more than five inches of rain had fallen over this particular area.

Mr. Ritenour and Mrs. Linda Ritenour became surrounded by high water while Mr. Ritenour was driving a Chevrolet Suburban across a low bridge on their property, which is approximately two miles west of State Route 49 between Tennessee Ridge and Dover, along Upper Alsup Road. A neighbor saw the couple's predicament and alerted another neighbor, Steve Zywicki, who rushed to the scene to help. Mr. Ritenour tried to throw a rope to his neighbor, who could not quite reach it and was swept away. Mr. and Mrs. Ritenour, along with the Suburban, were swept away also. The Suburban was carried at least one half mile downstream from the low bridge. Mr. Ritenour survived after he managed to reach safety on one of the banks of the roaring creek. Both Linda Ritenour and Steve Zywicki drowned as a result of the roaring creek waters. Linda Ritenour's body was recovered approximately a half-mile downstream and Steve Zywicki body was recovered about 250 yards from the low bridge.

At U.S. Highway 431 near the Robertson/Davidson County Line at Sycamore Creek, water was overflowing its banks, resulting in flooding of low lying areas. At least one home and farm was reported to be covered with flood waters. At the time of this report, U.S. Highway 431 was still open, although the water level near the base of the road and bridge was rising fast. No additional information was provided concerning any damage to the road or bridge. Also, flooding was reported along Charlotte Road just west of downtown Nashville by the public. Emergency Manager reported closing of Bluff Road due to water covering the road. Water was reported over Culbertson Road along Mill Creek near Nolensville. This made the road impassible to traffic. On Estes Road, approximately one mile west of Green Hills, a creek was flowing over the road. Depth was estimated at three to six inches. This caused the road to become impassible to traffic. Water was running over Old Harding Pike from the Harpeth River near Morton Mill Road. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood. This damage also included major damage to the Opryland Hotel, Grand Ole Opry House, and Opry Mills shopping mall.

Dozens of cars and trucks were trapped by flash flooding along Mill Creek near the Bell Rd. exit on I-24. A portable classroom trailer from a school half a mile away floated to the Interstate and was destroyed as it was sucked into a culvert. A 21 year old man was killed attempting to cross water in the Bell Rd. area.

A couple trees and power lines were blown down near Ashland City.

Spotter relayed reports of water rescues near the Humphreys and Hickman County line...near mile marker 148 along Interstate 40. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

A section of Old Leipers Creek Road, north of Columbia, had been washed out. Several other roads were closed across the county due to flooding. Several water rescues were made of people trapped in their homes and stores. Several trees were blocking roads across the county.

Buchanan Road was completely washed out with trunks of trees floating in it.

Yorktown Drive off of State Highway 96 had a water depth of about 3 inches on the roadway as a result of a small creek overflowing its banks.

Flash flooding was reported along Peytonsville Road. Portions of Peytonsville Road had fallen into a nearby creek. Also, a fatality occurred when a man drove his vehicle into Garrison Creek at 12:30 PM CST.

A few trees were uprooted near the Skyline Hospital off of Dickerson Pike.

Spotter reported water at the depth of two feet deep and a car stranded on Galleria Boulevard near Interstate 65 in the Cool Springs Area.

Flooding on Division Street and South Green Hill Road just west of Mt. Juliet Road was reported.

Cumberland River was cresting at several locations across the county. Some of those locations included the Highway 109 area and North Cairo Bend area. Numerous boat ramps and homes along the Wilson County Water Front of the Cumberland River were being thretened at the time of this report. No additional information concerning final damage on boat ramps and homes was provided. Six inches of water was reported in some places along Central Pike, just east of Mt. Juliet Road. Suggs Creek was reported out of its banks near Underwood Road west of Gladeville.

Five or six trees had to be cleared off Highway 135 north of the Dodson Branch Community.

Power polls and power lines downed around Loretto. Tree damage extending from St. Joseph to Leoma. Explanation of extent of tree damage was not given.

Road flooding was reported in the city of Lawrenceburg and just southwest of Lawrenceburg due to heavy rainfall associated with thunderstorms in this area.

EF-0 tornado with maximum winds around 80 mph touched down near Loretto. The most significant damage extended from Brenda Avenue east-northeast to a residence off of Glendale Road. A couple dozen trees were uprooted and a few softwood trees were snapped. One home suffered some minor roof damage.

Flooding was reported along Salem Road. Flooding was also reported along Yellow Creek and East Fork Creek located southwest of Clarksville. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood. A fatality occurred when a woman drove into the Cumberland River at 8 PM CST on May 3rd.

Several trees were downed along Bright Hill Road just southeast of Smithville.

Ten to twelve trees were uprooted by straight line winds across this area.

Total rainfall recorded at WLX Radio on North Locust Avenue in Lawrenceburg was 4.28 inches. This rainfall caused street flooding at various locations in Lawrenceburg as well as all over Lawrence County. Several swift water rescues were performed by Lawrence County Fire and Rescue. Lawrence County Highway Department workers were also out to blockade roads that were impassible due to the high water. Reports were received of water encroaching into a few structures, but no large scale flooding.

Several trees were blown down.

Bridge on One Mile Lane that crosses Stewart Creek was reported to be underwater. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

A couple trees were blown down near Highway 101 and I-40.

State Highway 296 was closed due to high water.

On State Highway 53 near Chesnut Mound, hillside gave way due to the heavy rain and blocked off one half of the highway. Details on amount of damage to this highway were unkown. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Hail ranging from half inch to quarter sized fell for less than a minute.

Hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted. A couple of outbuildings were destroyed and a home suffered some minor roof damage. Maximum wind speeds in the tornado were estimated to be around 90 mph.

Thousands of hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted along the tornado's 9.15 mile track. Some trees were reduced down to stubs. The tornado was strongest as it crossed highway 50. A brick home suffered considerable structural damage and a woman was injured. Several barns were completely destroyed. The tornado was nearly 1/3 of a mile wide at this point.

The last evidence of damage was near the intersection of Dodd Hollow and Piney Roads where a few trees were snapped.

Maximum wind speeds in the tornado were estimated to be around 125 mph.

Hundreds of hardwood trees were snapped, several barns were destroyed, and a brick home suffered significant roof damage along the tornado's 3.9 mile track. The last evidence of damage was along Keys Branch Road.

Maximum wind speeds in the tornado were estimated to be around 110 mph.

Trees were downed on U.S. Highway 412 just west of Linden.

Several large trees were blown down near Wildfire Trail.

The initial touchdown was near the intersection of South Dickerson Pike and Old Dickerson Pike in northeast Davidson county. Trees were snapped, trailers suffered roof and underpinning damage, and an old building had its roof removed.

Damage, which continued to the northeast for over 3.5 miles, consisted of minor roof uplifting along with hundreds of snapped trees. The tornado crossed Rivergate Parkway at the Rivergate Mall. It blew over power poles and business signs. Several large projectiles impacted the Mall’s facade, leaving craters as high as 30 feet off the ground. The last evidence of damage was to business signs just east of Rivergate Mall on Gallatin Pike.

Maximum wind speeds in the tornado were estimated to be around 105 mph.

The tornado lifted for several miles into Sumner County and then touched down again near the intersection of Forest Retreat Road and Hunts Lane, just north of Highway 386. Damage consisted of hundreds of snapped hardwood trees and minor roof damage was then continuous to the northeast for 5 miles.

The most significant damage, high end EF1, occurred on Kimber Lane just off highway 258. An older home was picked up partially off its foundation and suffered significant roof damage. The last evidence of damage was near the intersection of Latimer Circle and Long Hollow Pike.

Maximum wind speeds in the tornado were estimated to be around 105 mph.

Several trees were downed and a few homes were damaged. Extent of damage to homes unknown.

A short lived EF1 Tornado, with maximum winds of 100 MPH, touchdown in Hickman County three tenths of a mile north of the intersection of Ben Fly Road and Beech Valley Road. Path length was 2.73 miles, with a width of 50 yards. Numerous hard wood trees were uprooted and snapped.

Thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 65 mph was reported at the Tennessee Emergency Operations Center in Nashville.

Flooding of roads was reported east of Orlinda in the State Highway 52 area.

Trees were down across the county...especially around the Red Boiling Springs area.

Flooding was reported along Bledsoe Creek just northeast of Bethpage. This included the locations near U.S. Higway 31 East and Old Wolf Hill Road. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

A father and his special needs daughter were killed when trying to evacuate their mobile home. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Trees were blown down just off Highway 52 near Celina.

Trees and lines were blown down on Centerville Highway.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

A women was killed when she stepped off the front porch into water and was swept away. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

State Highway 20, from Hohenwald down to the Lawrence County Border, had water across the road in numerous locations, making the road impassible. Also, county's swift water rescue team reported that State Highway 20 was flooded at multiple locations between the Natchez Trace Parkway and Hohenwald. Numerous homes and businesses|across the county also received flood damage. Also, additonal roads across the county|were impassible.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

A trained spotter reported that at State Highway 203, at the intersection of where Weatherford Creek Road enters the city of Lutts, that the city's fire department was under water. No additional details were provided concerning final damage amounts or any injuries and the extent of those injuries associated with the flooding of the fire department.

U.S. Highway 64, just west of Waynesboro, had 8 inches of water across the road. Ten homes were reported with water in them. A nursing home was evacuated on the south side of Waynesboro. Details concerning water damage amounts and any water damage to the nursing home were unknown.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Nolensville road, south of Nashville, was flooded. Some cars were left abandoned. Details concerning amount of damage to cars abandoned were unknown. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Several streets were flooded in Lawrenceburg and the surrounding areas. Details concerning any flood damage amounts associated with this flooding were unknown.|Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Numerous streets were reported flooded in Columbia. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.

Several trees were blown down.

Power lines downed on Railroad Bed Pike in Northern Lawrence County. Three poles were also downed.

Several trees were blown down.

Buffalo River was reported to be out of its banks and still rising. Reported as the highest height seen in 20 years. Also, numerous homes, numerous businesses, numerous non comercial buildings, along with several county, state, and federal roads across the county received damage due to the flood.