A low level jet developed in advance of a cold front moving across the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the early morning hours. Isolated severe convection developed resulting in wind damage.
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 MRX wrote it up.
A low level jet developed in advance of a cold front moving across the Southern Appalachian Mountains during the early morning hours. Isolated severe convection developed resulting in wind damage. In addition, an EF-0 tornado developed in Blount county near Ellejoy.
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 Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 1, 12:30 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1230 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 .AVIATION...A COLD FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH EAST TENNESSEE LATE TONIGHT BRINGING MVFR CONDITIONS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO NORTHEAST TENNESSEE ALONG WITH GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAF PERIOD AT TRI. VISIBILITY COULD BECOME LOWER THAN MVFR BRIEFLY AT TRI WITH STRONGER STORMS IN NEXT HOUR. IMPROVING CONDITIONS BETWEEN 8 AND 12Z AS SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVE OUT. SKIES CLEARING AFTER 12Z THURSDAY. && .MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NC...NONE. TN...NONE. VA...NONE. && TD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 916 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-011430- CHEROKEE-CLAY-SCOTT TN-CAMPBELL-CLAIBORNE-HANCOCK-HAWKINS- SULLIVAN-JOHNSON-MORGAN-ANDERSON-UNION-GRAINGER-HAMBLEN- NORTHWEST COCKE-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST GREENE- SOUTHEAST GREENE-WASHINGTON TN-UNICOI-NORTHWEST CARTER- SOUTHEAST CARTER-ROANE-LOUDON-KNOX-JEFFERSON-NW BLOUNT- BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS-NORTH SEVIER-SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS- SEQUATCHIE-BLEDSOE-RHEA-MEIGS-MCMINN-NORTHWEST MONROE- SOUTHEAST MONROE-MARION-HAMILTON-BRADLEY-WEST POLK-EAST POLK-LEE- WISE-SCOTT-RUSSELL-WASHINGTON- 916 AM EST WED FEB 29 2012 /816 AM CST WED FEB 29 2012/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH CAROLINA...EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS EAST TENNESSEE...EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND A SMALL PART OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA. HAIL UP TO QUARTER SIZE OR LARGER...DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH... AND A FEW TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THIS MORNING ACROSS NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI AND WESTERN KENTUCKY...AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST INTO THE NORTHWEST SECTIONS OF THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON...THEN MOVE THROUGH THE REST OF THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE THREAT HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM SLIGHT TO MODERATE...SO A GREATER COVERAGE OF SEVERE STORMS IS EXPECTED...WITH A GREATER THREAT OF TORNADOES AS WELL. GET PREPARED NOW FOR THIS SEVERE WEATHER EVENT...AND PLAN WHERE YOU WILL GO IF WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. LATE TONIGHT...STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY WEAKEN AS THE AIR MASS BECOMES MORE STABLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE AREA SATURDAY MORNING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY ON FRIDAY. ANOTHER AREA OF ORGANIZED CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY MOVE THROUGH THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS SECOND ROUND OF ACTIVITY ALSO POSES A THREAT FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE MAIN THREATS BEING DAMAGING WINDS...PLUS HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. ALSO...ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS VERY LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND THEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT. TG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1229 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 TNZ014>016-037>039-010615- CLAIBORNE TN-GRAINGER TN-HAMBLEN TN-HANCOCK TN-HAWKINS TN-UNION TN- 1229 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HAWKINS...HANCOCK...HAMBLEN... GRAINGER...CLAIBORNE AND UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 115 AM EST... AT 1224 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF SURGOINSVILLE TO MAYNARDVILLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...RUTLEDGE... ROGERSVILLE...MORRISTOWN...BEAN STATION...SURGOINSVILLE... RUSSELLVILLE...KLONDIKE...JOPPA...OKOLONA...BUFFALO SPRINGS... MOORESBURG...CHURCH HILL...MOUNT CARMEL...ST. CLAIR...KEPLER... MCCLOUD...ALPHA...BULLS GAP AND LOWLAND. MJB
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1250 AM EST THU MAR 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1205 AM TSTM WND DMG GATE CITY 36.64N 82.58W
03/01/2012 SCOTT VA 911 CALL CENTER
POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE IN GATE CITY. A FEW TREES AND
POWER LINES DOWN. A SMALL STORAGE SHED WAS DESTROYED AND
A MOBILE HOME ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF.
&&
KGUILLETPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
1251 AM EST THU MAR 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0506 PM HAIL SUNBRIGHT 36.24N 84.67W
02/29/2012 E0.25 INCH MORGAN TN 911 CALL CENTER
PEA SIZED HAIL...REPORTED BY DISPATCH.
0611 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 WSW COEBURN 36.93N 82.50W
02/29/2012 WISE VA PUBLIC
PUBLIC REPORTED A WALL CLOUD ALONG WITH A SMALL FUNNEL
NEAR LONESOME PINE RACEWAY.
0710 PM HAIL RUTLEDGE 36.27N 83.52W
02/29/2012 E0.25 INCH GRAINGER TN TRAINED SPOTTER
SPOTTER REPORTED PEA-SIZED HAIL NEAR RUTLEDGE.
0725 PM TSTM WND GST 2 S LENOIR CITY 35.77N 84.27W
02/29/2012 E50.00 MPH LOUDON TN TRAINED SPOTTER
0725 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 4 W GREENBACK 35.65N 84.25W
02/29/2012 LOUDON TN 911 CALL CENTER
FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED NEAR CHILHOWEE LAKE.
0730 PM HAIL GREENBACK 35.65N 84.18W
02/29/2012 E0.25 INCH LOUDON TN 911 CALL CENTER
PEA SIZED HAIL IN DOWNTOWN GREENBACK.
0740 PM HAIL 4 S MARYVILLE 35.69N 83.97W
02/29/2012 E1.75 INCH BLOUNT TN AMATEUR RADIO
0750 PM HAIL TOWNSEND 35.68N 83.75W
02/29/2012 E1.00 INCH BLOUNT TN TRAINED SPOTTER
0755 PM HAIL WEARS VALLEY 35.71N 83.66W
02/29/2012 E1.50 INCH SEVIER TN PUBLIC
0802 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 SW PIGEON FORGE 35.72N 83.65W
02/29/2012 SEVIER TN 911 CALL CENTER
DISPATCH REPORTED A FEW TREES DOWN ON WALDENS CREEK ROAD.
1055 PM HAIL 15 SW JELLICO 36.42N 84.32W
02/29/2012 E0.50 INCH CAMPBELL TN PUBLIC
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL.
1205 AM TSTM WND DMG GATE CITY 36.64N 82.58W
03/01/2012 SCOTT VA 911 CALL CENTER
POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE IN GATE CITY. A FEW TREES AND
POWER LINES DOWN. A SMALL STORAGE SHED WAS DESTROYED AND
A MOBILE HOME ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF.
&&
KGUILLETSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 1251 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 TNZ017-018-046-010630- JOHNSON TN-NORTHWEST CARTER TN-SULLIVAN TN- 1251 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME NORTHERN CARTER...JOHNSON AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM EST... AT 1250 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BRISTOL TN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...BRISTOL TN...MOUNTAIN CITY...SOUTH HOLSTON DAM...SADIE...HARR...SHADY VALLEY...NEVA AND LAUREL BLOOMERY. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DGS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
142 AM EST THU MAR 01 2012
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1205 AM TSTM WND DMG 1 W GATE CITY 36.64N 82.60W
03/01/2012 SCOTT VA 911 CALL CENTER
POSSIBLE TORNADO DAMAGE IN GATE CITY. A FEW TREES AND
POWER LINES DOWN. A SMALL STORAGE SHED WAS BLOWN INTO THE
ROAD AT BENTON DR AND STARNES ST. A PORCH COLLAPSED THAT
WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF A MOBILE HOME ON DANIEL BOONE
RD.
&&
KGUILLETSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN 201 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 TNZ040-041-068-070>074-084-086-087-010745- BLOUNT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN-COCKE SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN-JEFFERSON TN-LOUDON TN-MEIGS TN-NORTH SEVIER TN-NORTHWEST COCKE TN-NORTHWEST MONROE TN-NW BLOUNT TN-SEVIER SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN-SOUTHEAST MONROE TN- 201 AM EST THU MAR 1 2012 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOUNT...SEVIER...COCKE... MONROE...MEIGS...JEFFERSON AND LOUDON COUNTIES UNTIL 245 AM EST... AT 154 AM EST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM DANDRIDGE TO 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF SWEETWATER...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...SWEETWATER... ALCOA...MADISONVILLE...SEVIERVILLE...MARYVILLE...NEWPORT... GATLINBURG...EAGLETON VILLAGE...PIGEON FORGE...SEYMOUR... FRIENDSVILLE...MOUNT VERNON...WILDWOOD...TELLICO PLAINS...COKER CREEK...VONORE...TARIFFVILLE...CLOVER HILL...CHESTNUT HILL AND GREENBACK. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR...MAY OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...AND POSSIBLE MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. TURN AROUND! DON'T DROWN! 17
The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:06 UTC.
1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
An EF-0 tornado touched down three miles south of Seymour on Keener Road. The path length was 1.5 miles long with a width of 70 yards. The tornado generated winds around 75 miles an hour.
A few trees were reported down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2012Warnings in Tennessee, March 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: 374041, 374042.