During the mid afternoon through evening hours on Wednesday, July 18th, across several Middle Tennessse counties, some of the isolated to scatttered thunderstorms that developed across these counties reached severe thresholds, resulting in thunderstorm wind damage, two lightning strikes causing damage, large hail, and flash flooding.
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.
During the mid afternoon through evening hours on Wednesday, July 18th, across several Middle Tennessse counties, some of the isolated to scatttered thunderstorms that developed across these counties reached severe thresholds, resulting in thunderstorm wind damage, two lightning strikes causing damage, large hail, and flash flooding.
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 Jul 18, 2:25 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 325 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 .DISCUSSION... ...AMPLE CHANCES FOR RAINFALL THROUGH THE NEXT 48 HOURS... CURRENT SETUP ACROSS THE U.S. INCLUDES RIDGING OVER THE PLAINS AND MID-MS VALLEY REGION...WITH TROUGHING OFF THE PAC COAST AND OVER THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. MOST OF MIDDLE TN IS CAUGHT IN BETWEEN IN AN ACTIVE N-NW FLOW PATTERN. A COUPLE OF DISTURBANCES MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES/OHIO VALLEY WILL ROTATE AROUND THE RIDGE AND PRODUCE SCATTERED CONVECTION MAINLY OVER THE PLATEAU TODAY. GIVEN CURRENT RADAR TRENDS...BUMPED THIS UP TO NUMEROUS/LIKELY OVER THE PLATEAU AND EAST OF 65 NEAR THE AL BORDER...WITH SCATTERED CONVECTION ELSEWHERE THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. THE THREAT OF STRONG TO ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS UNTIL SUNSET AND CONDITIONS STABILIZE. WILL TAPER OFF POPS TO SLIGHT TO LOW CHC POPS FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH MIDNIGHT WITH ISOLATED CELLS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL DIVE SOUTHEAST AND APPROACH MIDDLE TN BY LATE FRIDAY. AHEAD OF THESE FEATURES...PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL INCREASE AND SHOWERS/STORMS WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD AND MORE ORGANIZED. STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE FOR THURSDAY...ESPECIALLY FURTHER NORTH NEAREST THE APPROACHING FRONT (NORTH OF I-40). WITH PWATS OVER TWO INCHES PROGGED...HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR AND LOCALIZED FLOODING ISSUES MAY ARISE. WET MICROBURSTS AND PERHAPS SOME HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE AS WELL. TRIMMED BACK HIGHS A BIT TOMORROW...AND ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAY WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE EXPECTED. MANY LOCATIONS WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH 90 DEGREES FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HAVE POPS INCREASING TO LIKELY TOMORROW AND FRIDAY...WITH CHANCES DECREASING NORTH TO SOUTH BEHIND THE FRONT LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. THE BEST CHANCES FOR HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE THURSDAY EVENING AND AGAIN FRIDAY...WHERE WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS COULD RANGE FROM 1-2 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF 3 OR MORE INCHES POSSIBLE. MUCH DRIER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION BEHIND THE MAIN UPPER TROUGH/SURFACE BOUNDARY THAT TRIES TO PUSH SOUTH BY SATURDAY MORNING. WILL HOLD ONTO SLIGHT-LOW CHC POPS OVER THE SOUTHEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE CWA THRU SATURDAY AFTERNOON...BUT CONDITIONS LOOK MOSTLY DRY SAT NIGHT - SUN NIGHT OTHER THAN A COUPLE ISOLATED CELLS OVER THE PLATEAU SUNDAY AFTERNOON. DIURNAL POPS SHOULD RETURN MONDAY AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER RIDGE FLATTENS OUT AND GULF MOISTURE RETURNS. WITH THE FLATTENING/WEAKENING RIDGE...AN ACTIVE NORTHWEST FLOW PATTERN WILL AGAIN RETURN TO THE LOWER OHIO RIVER VALLEY AND PERHAPS GIVE MIDDLE TN MORE ORGANIZED CONVECTION. FOR NOW WILL STICK WITH ISOLATED/LOW CHANCE DIURNALLY-DRIVEN CONVECTION MON-WED NEXT WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... NASHVILLE 74 94 75 90 / 30 60 60 60 CLARKSVILLE 73 91 74 90 / 20 50 50 60 CROSSVILLE 70 86 71 84 / 40 60 60 60 COLUMBIA 73 93 75 89 / 30 60 60 60 LAWRENCEBURG 73 93 73 88 / 30 50 60 60 WAVERLY 74 92 74 89 / 20 50 60 60 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && AL
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 513 AM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 TNZ005>011-022>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-191030- 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- 513 AM CDT WED JUL 18 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP TODAY AND TONIGHT. SOME STORMS WILL POSSIBLY BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY TO DAMAGING WINDS. SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIER DOWNPOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP BOTH DAYS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... EVEN THOUGH ANY SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE BRIEF AND ISOLATED, SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO CALL IN ANYTHING REACHING REPORTING CRITERIA. SPOTTER THUNDERSTORM REPORTING CRITERIA... TORNADO FUNNEL CLOUD FLOODING HAIL >= 1/2 INCH WINDS > 50 MPH (MEASURED) STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TREES OR POWER LINES DOWN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
202 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
TNZ077-079-182000-
COFFEE-GRUNDY-
202 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN COFFEE AND
SOUTHWESTERN GRUNDY COUNTIES...
AT 201 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MANCHESTER...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
HALF INCH SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
LAT...LON 3523 8581 3522 8588 3529 8594 3531 8600
3534 8604 3535 8613 3542 8618 3553 8600
3530 8563 3528 8570 3524 8569 3521 8574
3521 8577
SHAMBURGERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
225 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
TNZ028-182015-
WILSON-
225 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WILSON COUNTY...
AT 220 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEBANON...MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 5 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
WATERTOWN BY 315 PM CDT.
PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
LAT...LON 3612 8607 3604 8605 3596 8620 3597 8622
3596 8625 3597 8625 3597 8630 3598 8631
3618 8642 3627 8623
SHAMBURGERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
229 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
TNZ033-182030-
OVERTON-
229 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OVERTON COUNTY...
AT 225 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF LIVINGSTON...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
LIVINGSTON BY 310 PM CDT.
PEA SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LAT...LON 3646 8515 3643 8514 3641 8512 3631 8512
3622 8535 3645 8548 3650 8544 3650 8540
3649 8540 3649 8539 3651 8538 3653 8533
3652 8531 3654 8527
SHAMBURGERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
327 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
TNZ032-065-182115-
PUTNAM-WHITE-
327 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PUTNAM AND NORTHERN WHITE
COUNTIES...
AT 324 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR COOKEVILLE...MOVING SOUTH AT 5 MPH.
HALF INCH SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS
STORM.
LAT...LON 3618 8534 3592 8536 3601 8566 3605 8568
3624 8555 3624 8553
SHAMBURGERSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
337 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
TNZ007-008-182115-
ROBERTSON-SUMNER-
337 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ROBERTSON AND SUMNER COUNTIES...
AT 334 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 10 MILES NORTHEAST
OF PORTLAND TO 8 MILES NORTH OF SPRINGFIELD...OR ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM 21 MILES NORTH OF GALLATIN TO 8 MILES NORTH OF
SPRINGFIELD...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL BE NEAR...
SPRINGFIELD BY 405 PM CDT.
PORTLAND BY 410 PM CDT.
CROSS PLAINS BY 415 PM CDT.
HALF INCH SIZE HAIL...AND WINDS 40 TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.
LAT...LON 3665 8622 3663 8620 3645 8623 3641 8689
3665 8703 3666 8659 3664 8656 3666 8651
3666 8635
SHAMBURGERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
343 PM CDT WED JUL 18 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0335 PM HAIL 1 S COOKEVILLE 36.14N 85.51W
07/18/2012 M0.50 INCH PUTNAM TN PUBLIC
&&
11The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 thunderstorm wind, 2 lightning, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a house on Oak Glen Lane, with the resulting fire completely destroying the home.
A few trees were downed on Oak Glen Lane in east Clarksville.
House was struck by lightning on Lewis Atkins Road in the Indian Mound Community. Specific details concerning the extent of damage to the home were unknown. Several trees were also downed in this area.
A few trees were downed along Mount Herman Road and State Highway 48. A tree fell onto a house on Vernon Creek Road in Southside. Details concerning any extent of damage that was sustained to the home were unknown.
Dickson Sheriff’s Office reported that a large tree was blown down onto Rock Springs Road in northern Dickson County.
Humphreys Sheriff’s Office reported trees were blown down in several locations in an around Waverly and McEwen.
A power pole was downed on Tyne Boulevard.
A tree was downed in the Bellevue/Riverwalk area.
Humphreys Sheriff’s Office reported a tree was downed on a trailer with one injury on Cuba Landing Road. Details concerning any damage that occurred to the trailer and the extent of the injury were unknown.
Cypress Creek briefly flooded onto U.S. Highway 412 west of Linden.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 2012
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: 392854, 400746, 392859, 400755, 400571, 400761, 403033, 400991, 400994, 400775, 392326.