A weak and nearly stationary frontal boundary across middle Tennessee assisted in the development of isolated thunderstorms in southern middle Tennessee. One of the storms became severe and produced wind damage in Franklin County, Tennessee.
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 HUN wrote it up.
A weak and nearly stationary frontal boundary across middle Tennessee assisted in the development of isolated thunderstorms in southern middle Tennessee. One of the storms became severe and produced wind damage in Franklin County, Tennessee.
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 Jul 3, 9:11 AM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 1011 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015 .UPDATE...TO RAISE POP AND LOWER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND FOR FLASH FLOOD WATCH. && .DISCUSSION... SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT EXTENDS FROM CENTRAL KENTUCKY SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHERN ARKANSAS. SOME OF THIS CONVECTION WAS ENHANCED EARLIER THIS MORNING BY A 30-40 KT 850 MB JET STREAK OVER NORTHERN AL/GA. THIS ACTIVITY BROUGHT A QUICK 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL TO SOUTHERN MADISON...SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE...AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES IN TENNESSEE. THIS ACTIVITY HAS SINCE PUSHED EAST OF THOSE LOCATIONS. HOWEVER...MORE MODERATE RAIN WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THROUGHOUT THE DAY...AS THE FRONT TO OUR NORTH WILL MOVE LITTLE BASED ON CURRENT AND PROGGED UPPER LEVEL WINDS. MODELS DO KEEP SOME WIND ENERGY AROUND ALOFT (~ 30 KTS). HOWEVER...IF NO INSOLATION IS REALIZED...WHICH LOOKS DOUBTFUL...STRONGER STORMS MAY ONLY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS UP TO 40 MPH. THE BIGGER THREAT WILL BE A FLASH FLOODING THREAT...AS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL FALLS OVER SATURATED GROUND. THIS PATTERN IS NOT FORECAST TO CHANGE MUCH THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING...THEREFORE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. LOWERED TEMPERATURES SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER AND RAINFALL EXPECTED TODAY. KTW && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 657 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015/ FOR 12Z TAFS...RESTRICTED FLYING CONDS ARE PRETTY MUCH XPCTED FOR MOST OF THE PERIOD...AS CLUSTERS OF SHRA/TSRA CONTINUE TO TRACK EWD ACROSS THE REGION. REDUCED CIGS/VIS...OR PREDOM MVFR CONDS...ARE POSSIBLE IN SOME OF THE HEAVIER SHRA/TSRA. SFC WINDS OUT OF THE SW ARE ALSO XPCTED TO BE FAIRLY BREEZY AGAIN TODAY...AS WINDS INCREASE TO NEAR 15KT WITH HIGHER GUSTS. 09 && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR ALZ001>010-016. TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR TNZ076-096-097. && FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 418 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015 ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-041000- LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN- 418 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS THE CENTRAL TENNESSEE VALLEY TODAY AND TONIGHT. SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE IN NATURE...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY ALSO RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND MINOR FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... AN UNSETTLED WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...AS A PERSISTENT NORTHWESTERLY UPPER FLOW PATTERN BRINGS MULTIPLE DISTURBANCES ACROSS THE REGION. THIS WILL TRANSLATE INTO RELATIVELY HIGH CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF THE OUTLOOK PERIOD. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF GUSTY WINDS AROUND 50 MPH...SMALL HAIL AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. ADDITIONALLY...MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED...WITH FORECAST ACCUMULATIONS NEAR 3 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS THROUGH SATURDAY. HEAVY RAIN MOVING OVER THE SAME GENERAL AREAS MAY RESULT IN INSTANCES OF LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS POSSIBLE LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
724 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
ALZ016-031300-
CULLMAN AL-
724 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CULLMAN COUNTY UNTIL 800 AM
CDT...
AT 723 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM NESMITH TO NEAR SMITH LAKE
TO NEAR CAMP MCDOWELL...AND MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
CULLMAN...HANCEVILLE...GOOD HOPE...HOLLY POND...DODGE CITY...
SARDIS...SMITH DAM...BALDWIN...VINEMONT AND BAILEYTON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE
YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3390 8710 3399 8715 3399 8711 3426 8711
3425 8655 3417 8656 3412 8660 3408 8670
3405 8668 3406 8671 3403 8670 3395 8679
3396 8682 3393 8686 3394 8688 3392 8689
3391 8692 3386 8694
TIME...MOT...LOC 1223Z 271DEG 51KT 3420 8711 3404 8714 3394 8733
KTWSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 733 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015 ALZ006>009-031300- MARSHALL AL-MORGAN AL-MADISON AL-JACKSON AL- 733 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL...EAST CENTRAL MORGAN...SOUTHERN MADISON AND WEST CENTRAL JACKSON COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM CDT... AT 732 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS NEAR MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER...OR NEAR HUNTSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HUNTSVILLE...MADISON...REDSTONE ARSENAL...OWENS CROSS ROADS... GRANT...GURLEY...WOODVILLE...UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE... MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER AND PAINT ROCK. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3442 8626 3451 8674 3479 8670 3473 8624 TIME...MOT...LOC 1232Z 276DEG 34KT 3460 8662 15
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
803 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
ALZ005>008-031345-
MARSHALL AL-MORGAN AL-MADISON AL-LIMESTONE AL-
803 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL...EAST
CENTRAL MORGAN...SOUTHERN MADISON AND SOUTHEASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTIES
UNTIL 845 AM CDT...
AT 801 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS FROM EAST LIMESTONE TO NEAR HUNTSVILLE...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HUNTSVILLE...MADISON...ARAB...REDSTONE ARSENAL...OWENS CROSS ROADS...
GURLEY...TRIANA...MORGAN CITY...HUNTSVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS...AND MAY
LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING ON ROADS AND IN LOW LYING AREAS. DO NOT DRIVE
YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THESE STORMS.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT
THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
&&
LAT...LON 3431 8654 3459 8692 3478 8687 3482 8683
3470 8636 3463 8636 3461 8633 3460 8632
3460 8619
TIME...MOT...LOC 1301Z 299DEG 27KT 3468 8674
15SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1057 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
TNZ097-031630-
FRANKLIN TN-
1057 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY UNTIL
1130 AM CDT...
AT 1055 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
ESTILL SPRINGS...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF WINCHESTER...MOVING EAST AT 30
MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WINCHESTER...DECHERD...ESTILL SPRINGS...COWAN...MONTEAGLE...
SEWANEE...TIMS FORD LAKE...ST. ANDREWS...ALTO AND ARNOLD AFB.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
IF ON OR NEAR WOODS RESERVOIR OR TIMS FORD LAKE GET OUT OF THE WATER
AND MOVE INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN
STRIKE OUT TO 15 MILES FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM. IF YOU CAN HEAR
THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE TO
SAFE SHELTER NOW. DO NOT BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM.
&&
LAT...LON 3535 8608 3534 8603 3531 8600 3529 8592
3522 8586 3512 8587 3522 8627 3534 8624
3535 8622 3535 8616 3536 8616
TIME...MOT...LOC 1555Z 281DEG 24KT 3531 8616
15SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1104 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
ALZ016-031645-
CULLMAN AL-
1104 AM CDT FRI JUL 3 2015
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN CULLMAN COUNTY UNTIL
1145 AM CDT...
AT 1103 AM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
SMITH DAM...OR 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ARLEY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE
WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
HANCEVILLE...GOOD HOPE...DODGE CITY...SMITH DAM...GARDEN CITY...
COLONY...LOGAN...CRANE HILL...POWELLVILLE AND BREMEN.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE SEVERAL MILES AWAY FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
IF ON OR NEAR SMOTH LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR
INSIDE A VEHICLE. REMEMBER...LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE OUT TO 15 MILES
FROM THE PARENT THUNDERSTORM.
&&
LAT...LON 3389 8701 3390 8710 3399 8715 3399 8711
3416 8711 3409 8666 3408 8670 3405 8668
3406 8671 3403 8670 3395 8679 3396 8682
3393 8686 3394 8688 3392 8689 3391 8692
3387 8692 3386 8696
TIME...MOT...LOC 1603Z 281DEG 24KT 3400 8707
15The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:17 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A few trees were downed by thunderstorm winds along Sherwood road, just south of Highway 41.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 2015
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: 594129.