Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, April 26, 2012

Name: Tornado and Hail in Tennessee, April 26, 2012
Start: 2012-04-26T03:56
End: 2012-04-26T18:39
Location: Tennessee

April 26, 2012 · NWS OHX · 49 events in 14 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: 0
Injuries: 7
Property damage: $127,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 49

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 large MCS moved southeastward out of Kentucky across northeast portions of Middle Tennessee during the early morning hours on April 26. Numerous reports of large hail and wind damage with 1 injury were received. As a cold front moved southward during the afternoon, additional widely scattered multicell and supercell thunderstorms developed and moved southeastward, resulting in numerous additional large hail reports and one EF0 tornado that caused 6 minor injuries.

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 Apr 26, 2:57 AM CST, 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 26, 2:57 AM CST, 59 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
357 AM CDT THU APR 26 2012

.SHORT TERM (THU-SUN)...
AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WL MOVE EAST ACR OHVLY TDAY. MCS-TYPE PCPN
SYSTEM WL MOVE SOUTHEAST AND CLIP NORTHEAST MID TN THIS MORNING...
MAINLY AFTER 12Z. DESPITE WARM NOSE AT H8...SUFFICIENT ELEVATED
DESTAB COULD PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

AS SFC LOW PUSHES EAST ACROSS KENTUCKY...A COLD FRONT WL MOVE
INTO NORTHWEST MID TN AROUND MIDDAY. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...ATM WL
BECOME UNSTABLE ACROSS MIDDLE TENNESSEE WITH MODEL SHOWALTERS TO
-6. THE THREAT FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WL BE WITH ANY
STORMS SOUTH OF THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. THE COLD FRONT WL PUSH
INTO SOUTH MID TN THIS EVENING...WITH MORE STABLE AIR ACROSS THE
NORTH.

FNTL BDRY LOOKS TO STALL NEAR THE TN-AL BORDER TNGT...WITH THE
BEST CHANCE OF PCPN SOUTHWEST. BDRY SHIFTS NORTH FRI BUT VERY
SLOWLY. EXPECT A COOL DAY FRI WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDS AND SCATTERED
SHOWERS.

SFC LOW PRES IN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WL PUSH A WARM FRONT NORTH FRI
NIGHT...AND THE BEST CHANCE OF SHOWERS WL SHIFT BACK NORTH NEAR
THE KY-TN BORDER. MORE UNSTABLE AIR SAT WITH ISO-SCT STORMS POSSIBLE.
THE FNTL BDRY REMAINS NEAR THE AREA SUNDAY WITH SFC HIGH PRES
NORTH...AND THE CHANCE OF STORMS WL CONTINUE.

.LONG TERM (MON-WED)...
STORMTRACK LOOKS TO SHIFT NORTH OF THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK AS
SFC HIGH PRES ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES DEPARTS. WL FOLLOW THE GFS
WITH LOWER POPS NEXT WEEK...AND SIDED WITH THE WARMER TEMPS IN THE
EURO.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
NASHVILLE      82  57  73  63 /  50  20  50  20
CLARKSVILLE    83  52  71  63 /  20  20  50  30
CROSSVILLE     76  53  69  61 /  70  20  50  20
COLUMBIA       81  61  77  64 /  40  50  50  20
LAWRENCEBURG   81  61  82  63 /  30  50  40  10
WAVERLY        83  57  73  64 /  20  20  50  20

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

04

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 26, 2:48 AM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
348 AM CDT THU APR 26 2012

TNZ007>011-024>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-270900-
ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-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-
348 AM CDT THU APR 26 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR
MIDDLE TENNESSEE SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM PORTLAND TENNESSEE
TO CAMDEN TENNESSEE. THIS INCLUDES MOST MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNTIES.
SVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL ARE POSSIBLE TODAY
AND THIS EVENING. THE MOST LIKELY TIMES FOR THIS EVENT ARE... 5 AM
TO 9 AM IN THE NORTHERN PLATEAU COUNTIES THIS MORNING...AND AGAIN
THIS AFTERNOON FROM 3 PM TO 10 PM OVER MOST OF THE AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

REPORTS FROM TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS MAY BE NEEDED.

TNZ005-006-022-023-270900-
STEWART-MONTGOMERY-BENTON-HOUSTON-
348 AM CDT THU APR 26 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED OVER THIS AREA
TODAY AND THIS EVENING. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE STRONG WITH
GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SPOTTER THUNDERSTORM REPORTING CRITERIA...
TORNADO
FUNNEL CLOUD
FLOODING
HAIL >= 1/2 INCH
WINDS > 50 MPH (MEASURED)
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
TREES OR POWER LINES DOWN

JLM

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:55 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

39 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Clay

When: April 26, 3:56 AM CST
Where: Clay County, 2.57 mi NNW of Hermitage Spgs
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.615, -85.787

Hail, Clay

When: April 26, 4:07 AM CST
Where: Clay County, Celina
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.550, -85.500

Trained spotter reported penny size hail in Celina via E-Spotter.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:20 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, Jamestown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.430, -84.920

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down throughout Fentress County with all schools closed for the day due to power outages.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:20 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 1.92 mi W of Jamestown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.427, -84.954

A tree was uprooted at Hamilton Field Road and Gouldstown Road breaking a main water line.

Hail, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:24 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, Jamestown
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.430, -84.920

A trained spotter reported golf ball size hail in Jamestown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:25 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 1.56 mi NE of Jamestown Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.364, -84.928

A tree fell onto Tinchtown Road causing a vehicle accident with 1 injury.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:25 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 1.55 mi WNW of Allardt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.388, -84.906

A barn was blown onto 4 vehicles and a house on Ray Brown Road causing minor damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:30 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, Allardt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.380, -84.880

A tree fell onto Highway 52 East causing a one vehicle accident.

Hail, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:30 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 2 mi S of Jamestown
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.401, -84.920

A trained spotter reported half dollar size hail and power outages 2 miles south of Jamestown.

Hail, Macon

When: April 26, 4:30 AM CST
Where: Macon County, 2.1 mi NNE of Williams
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.579, -86.040

A trained spotter reported ping pong ball size hail 4 miles north of Lafayette near Spring Creek Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:35 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 4.38 mi S of Allardt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.317, -84.878

Half of the roof of a chicken house was blown off on Gatewood Ford Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: April 26, 4:35 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 0.84 mi NNW of Armathwaite
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.391, -84.776

A tree was blown down onto a shed and house on Mount Helen Road, causing major damage to the shed and minor damage to the house.

Hail, Jackson

When: April 26, 4:53 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Gainesboro
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.350, -85.650

Jackson County EMA reported a large amount of nickel size hail at the Jackson County 911 Center.

Hail, Jackson

When: April 26, 4:58 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Flynns Lick
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.330, -85.700

Dime size hail reported in the Flynns Lick community.

Hail, Cumberland

When: April 26, 5:04 AM CST
Where: Cumberland County, Fairfield Glade
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.000, -84.880

Public reported quarter size hail in Fairfield Glade.

Hail, Putnam

When: April 26, 5:05 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, Cookeville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.170, -85.500

Hail, Jackson

When: April 26, 5:08 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, 2.23 mi SW of Mt Union
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.244, -85.544

Hail, Jackson

When: April 26, 5:08 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, 1.34 mi NE of Union Hill
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.241, -85.610

Hail, Smith

When: April 26, 5:08 AM CST
Where: Smith County, Carthage
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.250, -85.930

Hail, Cumberland

When: April 26, 5:10 AM CST
Where: Cumberland County, 0.62 mi SSE of Pomona Rd
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.011, -85.117

Hail, Putnam

When: April 26, 5:10 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, 3 mi NW of Cookeville
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.201, -85.538

Hail, Putnam

When: April 26, 5:23 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, Baxter
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.150, -85.630

Hail, Putnam

When: April 26, 5:23 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, Cookeville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.170, -85.500

Hail, Cumberland

When: April 26, 5:25 AM CST
Where: Cumberland County, 0.63 mi SSE of Pomona Rd
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.011, -85.117

Hail, Putnam

When: April 26, 5:25 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, Cookeville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.170, -85.500

Emergency Manager reported hail up to golf ball size in Cookeville.

Hail, Cumberland

When: April 26, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Cumberland County, 1.59 mi NNE of Camp Nakawana
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.092, -85.193

Hail, White

When: April 26, 5:38 AM CST
Where: White County, 3 mi NW of Sparta
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.961, -85.508

Hail, Cumberland

When: April 26, 6:05 AM CST
Where: Cumberland County, 0.47 mi W of Old Winesap
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.781, -85.158

Quarter size hail reported along Highway 101.

Hail, Robertson

When: April 26, 3:10 PM CST
Where: Robertson County, Adams
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.580, -87.070

Hail, Sumner

When: April 26, 3:11 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Westmoreland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.570, -86.250

Hail, Robertson

When: April 26, 3:21 PM CST
Where: Robertson County, Adams
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.580, -87.070

Hail, Sumner

When: April 26, 3:22 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Westmoreland
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.570, -86.250

Hail, Macon

When: April 26, 3:51 PM CST
Where: Macon County, 1.65 mi SW of Rocky Mound
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.586, -86.204

Thunderstorm Wind, Macon

When: April 26, 3:51 PM CST
Where: Macon County, 1.64 mi SW of Rocky Mound
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.586, -86.204

Five inch diameter tree branches blown down.

Hail, Robertson

When: April 26, 3:58 PM CST
Where: Robertson County, Springfield
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.500, -86.880

Hail, Smith

When: April 26, 4:28 PM CST
Where: Smith County, Graveltown
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.350, -85.950

Penny size hail was reported in Graveltown.

Hail, Sumner

When: April 26, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, 1.76 mi ENE of Hendersonville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 36.287, -86.590

Hail, Sumner

When: April 26, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Sumner County, Hendersonville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.280, -86.620

Hail, Wilson

When: April 26, 5:12 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, Mt Juliet
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.200, -86.520

Hail, Wilson

When: April 26, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, 2.96 mi NE of Suggs Creek
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.150, -86.462

Quarter size hail reported between Mount Juliet and Gladeville.

Hail, Wilson

When: April 26, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Wilson County, Gladeville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.120, -86.420

Hail, Dickson

When: April 26, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Dickson County, White Bluff
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.120, -87.220

Hail, Williamson

When: April 26, 5:59 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, 2.15 mi NNW of Mallorys
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 35.980, -86.810

Tornado, Williamson

When: April 26, 6:00 PM CST to 6:08 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, 0.8 mi NNE of Franklin to 1.19 mi NNE of Douglas
Rating: EF0
Path length: 3.77 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Injuries: 6 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.931, -86.895

An NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down in Franklin. Damage began near the intersection of Highway 96 and Founders Point Boulevard where several trees were snapped and minor roof damage occurred. Continuous damage was noted heading to the south-southeast through Jim Warren Park where several vehicles were flipped over causing 6 minor injuries. The tornado continued across a mobile home park along Highway 246 where trees fell onto three mobile homes causing major damage. Numerous other homes in the area suffered shingle, siding, and gutter damage and dozens of other trees were snapped and uprooted. The damage path then turned more to the southeast, moving over a quarry and crossing Highway 31 just north of Highway 397. Damage in this part of the path was confined to snapped trees and tree limbs along with some minor roof damage. The last evidence of damage was between Bluebell Way and Wynbrook Court where several softwood trees were snapped, a fence was blown down, and a patio covering was flipped.

Hail, Williamson

When: April 26, 6:11 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, Franklin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.920, -86.900

Hail, Williamson

When: April 26, 6:11 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, Franklin
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 35.920, -86.900

Lightning, Williamson

When: April 26, 6:13 PM CST
Where: Williamson County, 1.18 mi W of Arrington
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.871, -86.741

A lightning strike caused a house fire at 6231 Ladd Road in Arrington with smoke damage to the home.

Hail, Davidson

When: April 26, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Davidson County, 2.13 mi WNW of Nashville Cornelia F
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 36.187, -86.737

The public reported dime to nickel size hail in East Nashville.

Hail, Davidson

When: April 26, 6:39 PM CST
Where: Davidson County, 1.06 mi ENE of Berry Hill
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 36.125, -86.752

Hail up to quarter size was reported at Nolensville Road and Rosedale Road.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 2012 Warnings in Tennessee, April 2012

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: 367988, 367989, 367990, 367996, 367997, 367991, 367993, 367992, 367998, 367999, 367994, 367995, 368000, 368001, 368002, 368003, 368004, 368005, 368006, 368007, 368008, 368009, 368010, 368011, 368012, 368013, 368014, 368015, 368016, 368017, 368018, 368019, 368020, 368021, 368022, 368023, 368024, 368025, 368026, 368027, and more.