Tornadoes in Tennessee, February 28, 2011

Name: Tornadoes in Tennessee, February 28, 2011
Start: 2011-02-28T12:18
End: 2011-02-28T12:25
Location: Tennessee

February 28, 2011 · NWS HUN · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

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: 1
Injuries: 4
Property damage: $40,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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 HUN wrote it up.

A powerful cold front and upper level system combined with a marginally unstable, moist and highly sheared environment to produce severe thunderstorms and a tornado. A quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) developed during the morning hours across the mid South and raced eastward at 50 to 60 mph. The storms arrived in southern middle Tennessee around midday, with one storm intensifying into a tornadic supercell. A strong tornado of EF-2 strength tracked from just east of Lynchburg (Moore County) to just northeast of Estill Springs (Franklin County), killing a 79 year old male (near Estill Springs) in his mobile home and injuring four others.

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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 28, 11:41 AM CST, 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 28, 11:41 AM CST, 37 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1141 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

.UPDATE...18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.AVIATION...AS A RAGGED LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CONTINUES TO
PUSH EASTWARD THROUGH THE AREA...BOTH KMSL AND KHSV WILL BE AFFECTED
THROUGH 28/21Z WITH MVFR CONDITIONS /WITH IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN
HEAVIER THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY/. SUSTAINED SRLY/SWRLY GRADIENT WINDS
OF 20-25KTS WITH GUSTS TO 40KTS ARE EXPECTED /ASIDE FROM ANY
CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY/ THROUGH SUNSET THIS EVENING...SLOWLY
DIMINISHING OVERNIGHT. TSTORM GUSTS OF 50-60KTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE
THIS AFTERNOON. AFTER THIS TIMEFRAME...ADDITIONAL SHOWER /AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM/ DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE THROUGH
28/04-05Z...BUT HAVE ONLY INCLUDED VCSH/VCTS AT THIS TIME. AS THE
COLD FRONT SWINGS THROUGH THE AREA AROUND MIDNIGHT...SKIES WILL
BEGIN TO CLEAR FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY...BY
TUESDAY MORNING...WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE TAF PERIOD.

&&

.DISCUSSION.../ISSUED 1015 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011/...AN ACTIVE
MORNING WEATHER-WISE IS UNDERWAY ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AS A
QLCS WITH STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS IS CURRENTLY MARCHING ACROSS
NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI TOWARDS THE CWA. AN INITIAL ROUND OF SCATTERED
SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS IS RAPIDLY PUSHING OFF TO THE NORTHEAST AHEAD
OF THIS MAIN LINE...BUT HAS MAINLY AFFECTED AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE
65 THIS MORNING.

THE UPPER LEVEL LOW IS LOCATED OVER SOUTHERN MO AND IS TRACKING
NORTHEASTWARD TOWARDS NEW ENGLAND. THE SFC LOW IS LOCATED OVER
NORTHWEST TENNESSEE WITH THE MAIN COLD FRONT DRAPED SOUTHWESTWARD
THROUGH SE TX. A WEAK SFC FRONT/DRYLINE FEATURE IS EXTENDING
SOUTHWARD THROUGH WRN MS INTO CENTRAL LA. THIS FEATURE IS PRIMARILY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT QLCS RACING TOWARDS THE AREA. CURRENT
TEMPERATURES RANGE FROM 68 IN FORT PAYNE AND INTO THE LOWER/MIDDLE
70S ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE AREA. DEWPOINTS ARE IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE
60S /FAR WARMER AND MORE MOIST THAN AVERAGE FOR THIS LAST DAY IN
FEBRUARY/.

PARAMETERS /GENERALLY FROM THE SPC MESOANALYSIS PAGE AND LATEST BUFR
SOUNDINGS/ SHOW SB CAPE VALUES BETWEEN 1000 AND UPWARDS OF 2000 J/KG
RIGHT AHEAD OF THE LINE. HELICITIES OF 400-500 M2/S2 EXIST THROUGH
ABOUT MIDDAY BUT THEN DECREASE AS SFC FLOW BECOMES MORE
SOUTHWESTERLY. OF THE 0-3KM SHEAR PRESENT...A MAJORITY OF IT LIES
WITHIN THE LOWEST KM. THOUGH THE RISK FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS
WILL STILL EXIST THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS...THE BETTER
DYNAMICS AND PARAMETERS FOR TORNADIC ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN TO THE
NORTH OF THE AREA CLOSER TO THE TRACK OF THE SFC LOW. WIDESPREAD
DAMAGING WINDS ARE STILL ANTICIPATED AS 850 WINDS OF 60-70KTS MIX
DOWN TO THE SFC. WINDY SFC CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON HOURS WITH SUSTAINED WINDS ~20KTS WITH GUSTS TO 40KTS
POSSIBLE. FOR THIS REASON...THE WIND ADVISORY WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT.
THE CURRENT TORNADO WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 1PM THIS
AFTERNOON...AND MAY BE UPDATED TO EXTEND THE TIME LATER THIS
AFTERNOON /DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF THE SQUALL LINE/.

REDEVELOPMENT ALONG THE MAIN COLD FRONT IS POSSIBLE LATE THIS
AFTERNOON/EVENING...BUT CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THE ATMOSPHERE WILL
BE WORKED OVER THAT LITTLE IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE EXPECTED. WILL UPDATE THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST AS
NECESSARY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON.

UPDATES TO THE FORECAST INCLUDED MINOR TWEAKS TO AFTERNOON HIGH
TEMPERATURES...AS WELL AS THE HOURLY TEMP GRIDS TO FOLLOW CURRENT
TRENDS. MINOR TWEAKS WERE MADE TO SKY GRIDS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
AS WELL. OTHERWISE...THE REST OF THE FORECAST WAS LEFT AS-IS FOR NOW.

UPDATED ZONES OUT SHORTLY.

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     DEKALB...JACKSON...MARSHALL.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COLBERT...CULLMAN...FRANKLIN AL...LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...
     LIMESTONE...MADISON...MORGAN.

TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     FRANKLIN TN.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: LINCOLN...MOORE.
&&

12

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 28, 10:01 AM CST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1001 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-010000-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
1001 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

A SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER EVENT IS EXPECTED TO UNFOLD ACROSS THE
REGION TODAY. A SQUALL LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
SURGE EASTWARD ACROSS THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY STARTING AROUND
MIDDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THE EARLY AND MID AFTERNOON HOURS.

WITHIN THIS LINE OF STORMS...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...LARGE HAIL...AND
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE. ISOLATED TORNADOES
ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL...ESPECIALLY FOR LOCATIONS WHERE BREAKS IN THE
SQUALL LINE DEVELOP.

IN ADDITION...AN ISOLATED SUPERCELL OR TWO DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE
MAIN LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL POSE A FURTHER THREAT FOR DAMAGING
WINDS AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

SPECIFIC TIMING RELATED TO THE ONSET OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL HAVE THE
SQUALL LINE AFFECTING NORTHWEST ALABAMA FROM 10 AM THROUGH NOON...THE
I-65 CORRIDOR BETWEEN NOON PM AND 2 PM...AND THE REMAINDER OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA FROM 2 PM UNTIL 4 PM.

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL DIMINISH BY SUNSET AS A STRONG COLD
FRONT BEGINS TO SWEEP THROUGH THE AREA.

IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT...SOUTHERLY WINDS AROUND 20
TO 30 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED TODAY. A WIND ADVISORY
IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON PERIOD.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AROUND THE START OF
THE WEEKEND PERIOD...AS ANOTHER COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
REQUESTED FOR THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA TODAY. IN ADDITION...FIRST
RESPONSE AGENCIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO FORWARD ANY DAMAGE OR STORM
REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WHEN TIME PERMITS.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 10:30 AM CST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1030 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALZ001-281715-
LAUDERDALE-
1030 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY UNTIL
1115 AM CST...

AT 1028 AM CST...RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF ACTON...OR 7 MILES EAST OF CORINTH...MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  WATERLOO.
  PICKWICK LAKE.

IF ON OR NEAR PICKWICK LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS
OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

&&

LAT...LON 3502 8769 3501 8769 3491 8813 3494 8816
      3497 8817 3500 8820 3502 8819 3502 8789
TIME...MOT...LOC 1628Z 252DEG 57KT 3495 8833

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 10:41 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1041 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALZ002-281730-
COLBERT-
1041 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COLBERT COUNTY UNTIL 1130 AM
CST...

AT 1041 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR PADEN...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF IUKA...
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

WINDS UP TO 50 MPH AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES
ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  MARGERUM...MALONE.
  CHEROKEE...BARTON.
  PRIDE LANDING...NEW BETHEL.
  SHEFFIELD...MUSCLE SHOALS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3484 8811 3487 8803 3489 8797 3485 8793
      3482 8792 3475 8784 3474 8776 3481 8762
      3482 8755 3482 8751 3466 8766 3458 8814
TIME...MOT...LOC 1639Z 246DEG 63KT 3471 8818

70/DD

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 11:38 AM CST, 40 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1138 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

ALZ001-004-005-007-281845-
LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MORGAN-
1138 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE
AND MORGAN COUNTIES UNTIL 1245 PM CST...

AT 1138 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GOOD SPRINGS TO
OLIVER TO TOWN CREEK...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES
NORTHWEST OF ATHENS TO 17 MILES WEST OF ATHENS TO 14 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF MUSCLE SHOALS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 65 MPH.

WINDS FROM 50 TO 55 MPH AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
STRIKES ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  ELKMONT...HOLLAND GIN.
  BETHEL...TANNER.
  FRENCH MILL...BELLE MINA.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3499 8679 3455 8681 3454 8684 3463 8749
      3466 8748 3466 8744 3470 8745 3471 8743
      3477 8742 3481 8737 3482 8731 3484 8732
      3501 8726
TIME...MOT...LOC 1738Z 314DEG 63KT 3493 8712 3477 8720
          3462 8738

70/DD

Special weather statement, Feb 28, 11:48 AM CST, 30 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1148 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

TNZ076-096-281830-
LINCOLN-MOORE-
1148 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LINCOLN AND MOORE COUNTIES UNTIL
1230 PM CST...

AT 1148 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF PULASKI...MOVING EAST AT
65 MPH.

WINDS FROM 50 TO 55 MPH AND OCCASIONAL CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  HARMS...CARMARGO.
  PETERSBURG...BELLEVILLE.
  CHESTNUT RIDGE...BOONEVILLE.
  LYNCHBURG...LOIS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 PM CST MONDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3501 8634 3502 8684 3527 8681 3527 8674
      3531 8671 3535 8660 3538 8659 3537 8648
      3534 8644 3534 8642 3536 8640 3536 8637
      3538 8635 3539 8631
TIME...MOT...LOC 1748Z 249DEG 61KT 3527 8685

70/DD

Local storm report, Feb 28, 11:52 AM CST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1152 AM CST MON FEB 28 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1122 AM     TSTM WND GST     5 SE FLORENCE           34.74N 87.61W
02/28/2011  M53 MPH          COLBERT            AL   ASOS

            REPORTED 53 MPH WIND GUST AT KMSL.

&&

SLACORTE

Local storm report, Feb 28, 12:16 PM CST, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1216 PM CST MON FEB 28 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1202 PM     TSTM WND DMG     9 W ATHENS              34.77N 87.12W
02/28/2011                   LIMESTONE          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROOF DAMAGE...AND TREES DOWNED ON POPLAR CREEK RD WEST OF
            ATHENS

&&

BCC

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:16 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Moore

When: February 28, 12:18 PM CST to 12:23 PM CST
Where: Moore County, 11.08 mi E of Cumberland Spgs to 1.49 mi ENE of Ridgeville
Rating: EF2
Path length: 13 mi
Path width: 600 yd
Continued into: Franklin, Tn (HUN)
Injuries: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.309, -86.105

An EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 600 yards initially touched down southeast of downtown Lynchburg. The most significant damage occurred from eastern Moore county. In these locations mobile homes were destroyed, multiple power poles and trees were snapped, and homes sustained significant roof damage.

Tornado, Franklin

When: February 28, 12:23 PM CST to 12:25 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 2.51 mi NW of Awalt to 3.85 mi NNW of Beech Hill
Rating: EF0
Path length: 3.1 mi
Path width: 600 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.279, -86.276

The worst damage occurred in western portions of Franklin county. In these locations mobile homes were destroyed, multiple power poles and trees were snapped, and homes sustained significant roof damage. A 79 year old man was killed near Estill Springs, along UT Farm road, when the mobile home he occupied was picked up and thrown 70 yards.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Franklin	2011-02-28	79	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 2011 Warnings in Tennessee, February 2011

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: 291036, 317486.