Tornadoes in Tennessee, February 20, 2014

Name: Tornadoes in Tennessee, February 20, 2014
Start: 2014-02-20T21:53
End: 2014-02-20T22:25
Location: Tennessee

February 20, 2014 · NWS HUN · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

A quasi-linear convective system rolled across the region during the evening and overnight hours of the 20th into the 21st producing eight tornadoes in north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee and numerous reports of wind damage.

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: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

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 20, 9:49 PM CST, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 20, 9:49 PM CST, 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
949 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

.UPDATE...
UPDATE TO CANCEL TORNADO WATCH 16 FOR NORTHWEST ALABAMA.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
HAVE CLEARED LAUDERDALE...COLBERT...AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES IN ALABAMA
FROM TORNADO WATCH. ADDITIONAL COUNTIES TO THE EAST WILL BE CLEARED
THROUGH THE EVENING. HOWEVER...AS STRONGER MID-LEVEL FORCING
CONTINUES TO LIFT NORTHEASTWARD AND AWAY FROM THE AREA...THE LINE IS
BECOMING INCREASINGLY ORIENTED IN A SW-NE FASHION AND WATCH CLEARANCE
MAY TAKE A BIT LONGER FOR REMAINDER OF COUNTIES. THIS CONFIGURATION
OF THE CONVECTIVE LINE WILL ALSO PROMOTE A HIGHER THREAT FOR CELL
TRAINING AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL/FLASH FLOODING.

70/DD

&&

.AVIATION...
/ISSUED 534 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014/
FOR 00Z TAFS...
CONDS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY AT BOTH TERMINALS AS A LINE OF
STRONG/SEVERE STORMS APPROACHES KMSL/KHSV. GRADIENT WINDS OUT OF THE
SOUTH WILL BE SUSTAINED 15-25KTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 35-40KTS POSSIBLE,
ESPECIALLY RIGHT AHEAD OF THE LINE OF STORMS. VSBYS WILL BE REDUCED
TO 2SM OR LESS AS THE LINE PUSHES ACROSS THE TERMINALS. CONDS WILL
QUICKLY IMPROVE BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAYBREAK WITH CLEARING SKIES
EXPECTED FROM WEST TO EAST. WINDS WILL RELAX DURING THIS TIME AS
WELL, WITH 5-10KT WNW WINDS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE TAF PERIOD.

12

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 707 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014/
A LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS FINALLY ON THE DOORSTEP
OF NW AL AS OF THIS WRITING, WITH SEVERAL REPORTS OF HAIL/WIND DAMAGE
ACROSS PORTIONS OF WRN TN/NRN MS. EXPECT THE LINE OF STORMS TO
STRENGTHEN AS THEY MARCH ACROSS THE AREA, WITH THE ASSC SFC LOW
DEEPENING TO 984MB OVER THE SRN GREAT LAKES. THE COLD FRONT IS JUST
NOW APPROACHING THE MS RIVER WITH A STARK CLEARING LINE NOTED BEHIND
THE LINE OF CONVECTION.

THANKS TO SURROUNDING OFFICES FOR SPECIAL RELEASE SOUNDINGS THIS
AFTN, AS WELL AS TO MS STATE AND UAH FOR THEIR SOUNDING INFORMATION
AHEAD OF THE LINE OF STORMS.

UPDATED PRODUCTS ALREADY SENT.

12

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR ALZ001>010-016.

TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT FOR TNZ076-096-097.

&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 20, 8:08 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
808 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-211130-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
808 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AS
SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 25 MPH...WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH...OCCUR
ACROSS THE AREA AS A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST.

A SQUALL LINE OF STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE COLD
FRONT WILL AFFECT NORTHWEST ALABAMA FROM 7 TO 10 PM...THE INTERSTATE
65 CORRIDOR BETWEEN 9 PM AND MIDNIGHT...AND NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA
BETWEEN 11 PM AND 3 AM FRIDAY MORNING. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE
PRIMARY THREAT...WITH WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH POSSIBLE.

ALTHOUGH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT FROM THIS SQUALL LINE WILL BE
DAMAGING WINDS...A FEW BRIEF TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH
CIRCULATIONS EMBEDDED IN THE SQUALL LINE. A TORNADO
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 3 AM CST. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL ALSO BE A CONCERN...WITH ONE TO TWO INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH
SUNRISE.

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

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
LIKELY FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

12

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 20, 8:45 PM CST, 1 hour 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
845 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0820 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ENE CHEROKEE          34.76N 87.93W
02/20/2014                   COLBERT            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREES REPORTED DOWN ACROSS THE ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION
            OF MOODY LANE AND 6TH STREET. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.

&&

KWEBER

Local storm report, Feb 20, 8:57 PM CST, 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
857 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0838 PM     TSTM WND GST     10 SW LEIGHTON          34.60N 87.65W
02/20/2014  M67.00 MPH       COLBERT            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CWOP EQUIPMENT IN LEIGHTON MEASURED A 67 MPH GUST.

&&

KWEBER

Local storm report, Feb 20, 9:07 PM CST, 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
907 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0850 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 SSW MUSCLE SHOALS     34.67N 87.71W
02/20/2014                   COLBERT            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TREE DEBRIS ON MILK SPRINGS ROAD. POWER OUTAGES REPORTED
            IN THE AREA AS WELL.

&&

KWEBER

Local storm report, Feb 20, 9:23 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
923 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0855 PM     TSTM WND DMG     4 NNE ROGERSVILLE       34.88N 87.26W
02/20/2014                   LAUDERDALE         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROOF BLOWN OFF A HOUSE. ONE INJURY REPORTED.

&&

KWEBER

Local storm report, Feb 20, 9:27 PM CST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
927 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0845 PM     HAIL             4 SSE LITTLEVILLE       34.54N 87.64W
02/20/2014  E0.50 INCH       FRANKLIN           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND AROUND 40 MPH WAS REPORTED.

&&

KWEBER

Local storm report, Feb 20, 9:47 PM CST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
947 PM CST THU FEB 20 2014

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

0859 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 W CAIRO               34.87N 87.17W
02/20/2014                   LIMESTONE          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            REPORT OF AT LEAST 3 TO 4 TREES DOWN AND POWER OUT. TWO
            OF THE TREES WERE AT LEAST 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER. ONE OF
            THE TREES WAS SNAPPED OFF 10 FEET FROM ITS TRUNK.

&&

KWEBER

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:53 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Moore

When: February 20, 9:53 PM CST to 9:55 PM CST
Where: Moore County, 0.48 mi SSW of Marble Hill to 1 mi SW of Beech Hill
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.64 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.194, -86.333

An EF-1 tornado with wind speeds up to 95 mph touched down in the Marble Hill community along Marble Hill Road during the late evening hours on February 20th. The tornado damaged several barn and farm structures along Marble Hill Road, tearing the side completely off one. A well-built home sustained very minor siding damage. Large hardwood trees were uprooted along Marble Hill Road and a few were snapped and twisted near the base. The tornado apparently lifted as it moved northeast across Highway 50 and into the higher terrain of Bean Hollow.

Tornado, Franklin

When: February 20, 10:08 PM CST to 10:09 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 1.99 mi NNE of Taylortown to 1.75 mi SSW of Owl Hollow
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.05 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.176, -86.205

An EF-1 tornado with wind speeds up to 95 mph tornado touched down in the Tim's Ford State Park area just west of Wiley Road. Several trees were snapped or uprooted in this area. In addition, a large outbuilding was destroyed and a home sustained roof damage. The tornado tracked generally east, pretty much paralleling Cole Lane. Numerous trees were uprooted and another farm building was damaged.

Along Owl Hollow Lane, a home sustained significant damaged when a farm building was completely destroyed and a portion of the roof was blown through the side of the house. About 1/3 of the south facing wall of the home was destroyed and a large chunk of the farm building ended up inside one of the second story bedrooms. Fortunately, the occupants stated they received the warning of the storm coming and took shelter minutes before the storm arrived. The tornado then continued its eastward trek before lifting somewhere west of Haddon Lane.

Tornado, Franklin

When: February 20, 10:23 PM CST to 10:25 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 1.01 mi SSE of Gum Creek to 0.45 mi ENE of Wilder Chapel
Rating: EF1
Path length: 1.98 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.287, -85.992

An EF-1 tornado with wind speeds up to 100 mph tornado touched down in the Estill Springs and Wilder Chapel communities of far northeast Franklin County late on the evening of February 20th. The tornado first snapped trees along and west of Oak Grove Road, north of the intersection with Dabbs Road. The tornado lifted northeast and crossed Wilder Chapel Road. Here, a large swath of hardwood trees were snapped and twisted near the base. A large outbuilding was also destroyed and a home had minor roof damage. Further down Oak Grove Road, additional hardwood trees were uprooted. The tornado weakened as it lifted northeast toward the county line with only minor damage noted along Baker Cemetery Road.

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 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 2014 Warnings in Tennessee, February 2014

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: 490191, 490188, 490189.