A major severe thunderstorm and flash flood event affected Middle Tennessee from Wednesday, July 6 into Thursday, July 7. Three rounds of thunderstorms called Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) moved across the area over these two days, with the first MCS occurring on Wednesday afternoon July 6, the second MCS from Wednesday night into Thursday morning July 6-7, and the third MCS during the…
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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.
A major severe thunderstorm and flash flood event affected Middle Tennessee from Wednesday, July 6 into Thursday, July 7. Three rounds of thunderstorms called Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) moved across the area over these two days, with the first MCS occurring on Wednesday afternoon July 6, the second MCS from Wednesday night into Thursday morning July 6-7, and the third MCS during the afternoon of July 7. The first MCS produced several reports of wind damage across northern parts of Middle Tennessee, while the second MCS produced scattered wind damage and dropped 3 to 8 of rain, which caused major flash flooding over northern Middle Tennessee. The final MCS on Thursday afternoon July 7 brought another round of more widespread wind damage.
Based on reports from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and local media, the flash flooding damaged or destroyed over 65 homes, businesses, and other buildings across Stewart, Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner, and Cheatham Counties, as well as washed out numerous roads and bridges. Amazingly, no injuries or fatalities were reported despite the widespread damage.
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 6, 4:56 AM CST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 556 AM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 .UPDATE... FOR 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .SHORT TERM... A weak upper level shortwave extended from eastern Tennessee southwestward into southern Middle Tennessee and northern Alabama early this morning. Associated scattered showers and thunderstorms have popped up over the last several hours in vicinity of this feature, over northern Alabama and southern parts of the Mid-State. Temperatures across the area early this morning ranged from the upper 60s along the Cumberland Plateau to the lower and middle 70s elsewhere. Expect the weak shortwave over our southern counties to drop southeastward this morning, and out of our weather picture. However, the atmosphere over the Mid-State will remain moist and unstable and conducive to the development of scattered thunderstorms throughout the day, especially this afternoon and evening. Late today and tonight, models suggest we could be looking at an MCS developing to our northwest, up around Saint Louis in an 850mb max theta-e channel. The storms should then drop southeastward toward Middle Tennessee. It's hard to determine the exact timing of this feature, although it looks like it will probably affect us mainly during the overnight hours. Isolated strong to severe storms are possible, with damaging winds and torrential downpours being the main threats. Still expect things to heat back up Thursday and Friday, with high temperatures west of the Cumberland Plateau heading into the middle 90s, and maximum afternoon heat indices pushing to between 100 and 104 degrees. By late Friday, a cold front is forecast to drop into the Ohio River Valley, with some of the pre-frontal thunderstorms likely spilling into northern parts of Middle Tennessee by Friday evening. Models continue to show the cold front sag southward across the Mid-State Friday night and become quasi-stationary near the TN-AL border. This diffuse front then lifts slowly northward Sunday and Monday. As this boundary hangs out in our area all weekend, we'll keep at least scattered thunderstorms running each period over most of our forecast area. Thunderstorms even look likely over southern areas on Saturday, while surface front remains most defined. .LONG TERM... As we head into the first and middle part of next week, we'll see a return to more typical summertime weather, as extension of the Bermuda High strengthens over the Tennessee Valley. This means a continuation of seasonably hot temperatures and a chance of mainly afternoon and evening thunderstorms. && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF DISCUSSION. BNA/CKV/CSV...A surface ridge is situated just to the east of Middle Tennessee this morning as a storm system brews over the central Plains & upper Midwest. CSV starts off the day with MVFR cigs, which should increase to VFR by late morning. Expect SW surface winds to increase over the next few hours, with scattered cells developing by afternoon. This evening and overnight, an upper trough moves across the mid state to produce additional storms, with the best moisture setting up over the Cumberland Plateau. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && DISCUSSION......19 AVIATION........08
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN 500 AM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-071000- STEWART-MONTGOMERY-ROBERTSON-SUMNER-MACON-CLAY-PICKETT-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- 500 AM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL BECOME STRONG, AND AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM OR TWO IS EVEN POSSIBLE, WITH DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL THE PRIMARY THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY HEAT INDICIES ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE LOW 100'S THURSDAY AND FRIDAY IN AREAS WEST OF THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU. A COLD FRONT WILL ALSO ENTER THE MID STATE FRIDAY, AND MAY TRIGGER STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS LATE IN THE DAY AND EVENING, ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BECOME NECESSARY THIS EVENING AND AGAIN ON FRIDAY. ROSE
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:58 UTC.
84 thunderstorm wind, 14 heavy rain, 10 flash flood, 4 hail, 4 lightning, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
CoCoRaHS station Greenbrier 1.4 N measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 3.90 inches.
The Fort Campbell RAWS station measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.29 inches.
CoCoRaHS Station Gallatin 6.3 E measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.59 inches.
CoCoRaHS Station Bethpage 4.5 NW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 3.72 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Cedar Hill 4.4 NNE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.24 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Dover 7.8 NNE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.67 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Madison 1.2 WSW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.59 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Nashville 5.0 NE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.80 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Mount Juliet 2.9 WSW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.23 inches.
CoCoRaHS Station Hendersonville 2.9 NE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.02 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Springfield 2.9 NNW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.44 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Green Hill 3.1 NNE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 3.52 inches.
Six power poles were snapped on Westhill Drive Extension at Somerset Drive, and a few trees were blown down on nearby roads including Windmere Drive.
A large tree was blown down and blocked the parking lot at Don Fox Park.
A tree was blown down on Cedar Grove Road one mile north of Coles Ferry Pike.
Tree down on power line across from Dollar General on Highway 79.
Multiple trees were reported blown down across Dover.
A tree was blown down onto the roadway at 6131 Troudale Ferry Pike resulting in a vehicle accident.
A tree was blown down that blocked Highway 231.
Numerous trees uprooted on Smith/Wilson County Line near Highway 70.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated numerous trees were blown down along a 2 to 3 mile stretch of Hiwasee Road near Cedar Bluff Road.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated multiple trees and limbs were blown down in the Riddleton area.
A tree fell on a house on Paddy Run Road and another tree fell near a home on Dale Terrace in northwest Clarksville. Several other trees and tree limbs were blown down on Fort Campbell and across the rest of Clarksville. Over 3900 customers were without power across Montgomery County.
Macon County 911 and social media reports indicated several trees were blown down in Lafayette and across Macon County.
A few trees and power lines were blown down across Dickson County. Power was knocked out to 1000 DES Power customers in the Cumberland Furnace Area and another 1300 customers in the Dickson area.
Tree limbs and power lines were blown down with power outages on Highway 48 South in Dickson.
Sheet metal roofing was blown off a shop on Dixon Road and a tree was blown down onto a house in Cross Plains.
Numerous trees were reportedly blown down in Cross Plains.
Dozens of trees and power lines were blown down across Robertson County. A tree fell onto a house in Greenbrier. Another tree was blown down across Youngville Road and yet another across Church Street in Greenbrier. Over 4700 customers were without power across the county.
Cheatham County 911 reported two trees blown down in Ashland City.
Several trees and tree limbs were blown down in the Portland area with some roadways blocked.
Several 4 to 6 inch diameter trees were blown down on Sam's Creek Road near River Road.
Several trees were reportedly blown down in Cottontown.
Several reports of dime size hail were received near Portland. Location is estimated based on radar.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated a tree was uprooted in Hendersonville.
Several trees were blown down in Cookeville.
A tree was blown down onto a house on Cobbler Circle in Hendersonville.
A large mature tree was blown down in Lakewood.
Several trees were blown down in Lafayette.
A tree was blown down and blocked the roadway at Woods Ferry Road and Creighton Lane.
Trees were blown down in Castalian Springs.
A tree was blown down on Walker Road near Fairview.
Two trees were blown down on Andrew Jackson Parkway in Hermitage, one at Highland View Drive and another at Old Lebanon Dirt Road.
Twelve trees were reported blown down across Davidson County.
A large tree was blown down in the yard of a home in Hartsville.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated a large tree was snapped onto playground equipment in Reservoir Park.
Report of several tree limbs blown down northwest of Lebanon.
Power lines were blown down on Spring Street at Dawson Lane.
Public reports indicated several tree limbs blown down in Lebanon.
TSpotter Twitter reports indicated numerous trees were blown down at Gregory Farms at 323 Rome Road in Riddleton.
A tree was blown down and blocked Big Springs Road between Highway 70 and Tuckers Crossroads.
A Facebook picture showed a tree blown down onto a truck in Crossville.
Several tree limbs were blown down in the Center Grove community.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated power lines were blown down near Florence Station.
Several tree limbs were blown down in the Philadelphia community.
Dime size hail was reported near Franklin.
A tree was blown down on Parker Branch Road.
A tree was blown down on Bethesda Road.
Dime size hail was reported near Leipers Fork.
Numerous reports from Spring Hill indicated hail fell ranging from pea to quarter size.
A NWS employee measured 4.45 inches of rain since midnight.
CoCoRaHS station Clarksville 3.3 SE measured 4.71 inches of rain in 4.5 hours.
Lightning struck a home on Annette Drive and the resulting fire destroyed the home.
A tree was blown down onto a home on 38th Avenue North at John L. Driver Avenue.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down across Davidson County. Over 8000 power outages were reported.
Major flash flooding affected much of Sumner County, especially in and near Cottontown, Bethpage, Hendersonville, Gallatin, and Castalian Springs, with numerous homes, businesses, vehicles and roads damaged by flooding. TEMA reported 30 homes were damaged and 4 bridges severely damaged by the flash flooding. Homes were flooded in locations such as Tyree Springs Road in Hendersonville, where residents were trapped by flood waters; Stoneridge Farms Apartments at 2325 Nashville Pike in Gallatin; and on Old Douglas Road in Gallatin, where one home was inundated by three feet of water. Businesses that were flooded included Long Hollow Nursery around 6 miles west of Gallatin. Roads that were flooded and closed in Hendersonville included Lower Station Camp Creek Road between Saundersville Road and Jenkins Lane, Indian Lake Road and Drakes Creek Road at Stop Thirty Road. In Cottontown, roads that were impassable due to flood waters included Bugg Hollow Road where Briggance Branch and Station Camp Creek flooded the roadway, and Pee Dee Branch Road at Upper Station Camp Creek Road. Other flooded roadways were Old Douglas Road in Gallatin, Old Hopewell Road near Lauderdale Lane in Bethpage which was washed out, Deshea Creek Road northeast of Gallatin which was washed out, and Saddle Club Road in Westmoreland which was also washed out. One man had to be rescued from clinging to a tree after his vehicle was washed away in flood waters on Liberty Lane about 5 miles northwest of Gallatin. Another man was rescued after driving into flood waters in Castalian Springs. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Major flash flooding affected much of Robertson County, with several homes, businesses, and roads damaged by flooding. Homes that were flooded included several on Owens Chapel Road along Sulfer Fork Creek around 4 miles northeast of Springfield, where several people were rescued from flooded homes. Businesses that were flooded in Springfield included a trucking depot on Highway 41 North and a Little Caesars Pizza, where the roof caved in due to the amount of heavy rain on the roof. American Legion Baseball Park at 4660 Highway 41 North and the Springfield Greenway were also submerged by flood waters. Roads that were flooded and impassable included several streets in Springfield such as 11th Avenue East, where some residents trapped in homes, and Armstrong Road around 6 miles east of Springfield. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Major flash flooding affected much of Montgomery County, with several homes, businesses, vehicles and roads damaged by flooding. Several water rescues were also conducted for people trapped in flooded homes and vehicles in Clarksville. Homes that were flooded included at least one on Central Avenue in Clarksville, where 2 people were rescued from a flooded home, and others on Golf Club Lane. Businesses damaged by flooding in Clarksville included Swan Lake Golf Course on Dunbar Cave Road and the Tabernacle Church on Golf Club Lane. Roads that were flooded and closed in Clarksville included Liberty Parkway, Crossland Avenue, Central Avenue, Golf Club Lane, Madison Street, University Avenue, Riverside Drive, Highway 41A near Eva Lane, and Saratoga Drive, where one person was rescued from a flooded car. The flooding also caused large sinkholes to open on Spencer Lane at Jackson Road, and Mossrose Road between West Happy Hollow Drive and Woody Hills Drive, forcing the closure of both roads. Flooded and closed roads elsewhere in Montgomery County, mainly western portions of the county, included Cooper Creek Road, Lylewood Road, Lake Road, Moore Hollow Road, and Dotsonville Road, which had a bridge damaged by flooding. Numerous parks were flooded and closed in Clarksville as well, which encompassed Billy Dunlop Park, Clarksville Greenway, Heritage Park, Kleeman Recreation Center, McGregor Park, and the New Providence Pool. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
A home on Rafiki Drive in Clarksville was struck by lightning. The resulting fire destroyed much of the second floor causing $95,000 in damage.
Numerous trees, power lines, power poles were blown down all across Putnam County. One tree fell onto a home on Freeze Street in Cookeville and knocked down the chimney and front porch. Up to 6000 customers were without power.
TEMA reported several trees and power lines down across Overton County. A photo shared on social media also showed a large tree limb broken in Rickman.
Historic flash flooding affected much of Stewart County, especially areas northeast of Dover. Dozens of homes, businesses, vehicles and roads were damaged or destroyed by flooding across Stewart County, mainly in the Big Rock and Bumpus Mills communities which were devastated by the flooding. Several water rescues were also conducted for people trapped in flooded homes and vehicles. TEMA reported 10 homes were destroyed, 7 homes had major damage, 10 mobile homes were destroyed, Big Rock Baptist Church was destroyed, Big Rock Church of Christ and Dyers Creek Church of God had major damage, 1 park had major damage, The Homestead Child Day Care Center on Robertson Hill Road was destroyed, and a Subway restaurant on Highway 79 at Joiner Hollow Road had major damage. Some of the roads that were flooded and closed included Highway 120 in Bumpus Mills, and Joiner Hollow Road, Earl Coppage Road, Mildred George Road, and Big Rock Road in Big Rock which were all washed out. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Significant flash flooding affected much of Davidson County, with several homes and roads damaged by flooding. Homes that were flooded included several on Brick Church Pike at Ewingdale Drive in north Nashville, where many residents were evacuated due to the flooding. Roads that were flooded and closed included I-24 East at Shelby Avenue, I-40 West near Spence Lane, Church Street at I-40 in downtown Nashville which was blocked by 2 to 3 feet of water, Murfreesboro Pike at Menzler Road, Neelys Bend Road near Gallatin Pike, Old Hickory Blvd near Carney Road, Brick Church Pike at Ewingdale Drive, Charlotte Pike at American Road in west Nashville, and Shute Lane at Saundersville Road in Old Hickory. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Significant flash flooding affected much of Wilson County, with several vehicles and roads damaged by flooding and some water rescues conducted. Roads that were flooded and closed in Mount Juliet included John Wright Road, Phillis Road between Chandler Road and Lebanon Road, Old Lebanon Dirt Road north of Weston Drive, Old Lebanon Dirt Road near Page Road, and Belinda Parkway at Southeast Springdale Street where a car stalled in the flood waters. In Lebanon, roadways that were flooded and closed included Callis Lane at Wooddall Road and Bluebird Road near Peyton Road where a man drove into the floodwaters and had to be rescued. Other flooded roads were the 3600 block of Sparta Pike in Watertown, the 12000 block of Stewarts Ferry Pike in Gladeville, and Central Pike at Stewarts Ferry Pike in Gladeville. The Timberline Campground on Murfreesboro Road at Hartmann Drive in Lebanon was also flooded. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
A tree was blown down on North 6th Street.
A home on Mansker Drive in Millersville was struck by lightning and completely destroyed by the resulting fire.
A dead tree and a power pole were blown down on Saturn Drive.
Lightning struck a home at 121 Cairo Bend Road. The resulting fire completely destroyed the home.
A Facebook post and photos indicated two large white oak trees were uprooted in the yard of a home on Lakeview Drive.
Flash flooding affected western portions of Macon County. TEMA reported 2 roads were washed out by flooding with several other roads flooded and closed. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Flash flooding affected several portions of Cheatham County. TEMA reported one home was flooded and one road was flooded and closed. A tSpotter Twitter report and photo also showed Lockertsville Road at Harristown Road was flooded and impassable. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Flash flooding affected portions of Trousdale County. TEMA reported several roads were flooded and closed across the county. No damage, injuries or fatalities were reported.
A large tree fell onto a house on 11th Avenue North at Boyd Mill Avenue near downtown Franklin. The house suffered significant damage to the roof and siding, and a fence was knocked down.
TSpotter Twitter reports indicated McEwen Drive at Carothers Parkway in Franklin was flooded and impassable.
Two trees down were blown down in Fairview on Horn Tavern Road at Cleveland Drive and Highway 96 at Dice Lampley Road.
A tree was blown down into the road at Veterans Parkway and Parkwood Road.
Robertson County 911 reported minor flooding on roadways in Cross Plains, including at Cross Plains Road and Kilgore Trace and at Cross Plains Road and Owens Chapel Road.
Multiple trees were blown down in Cedar Hill.
A tree was blown down onto a car just off Main Street in Portland.
Numerous trees and power lines were blown down all across Sumner County.
A tree fell onto a house in Hendersonville.
Several trees were blown down in Lafayette, including on White Road, New Harmony Road, and Chaffin Road.
Several trees were reportedly blown down across Trousdale County, including on Hall Town Road, Canoe Branch Road, and Thompson Lane.
A power line was blown down at 702 Deer Ridge Lane northwest of Lebanon.
Trees were reportedly blown down on Hiawasee Road.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated a garage under construction collapsed in Riddleton.
A tree was blown down at 120 Oak Hill Drive in Lebanon.
Trees were blown down near the railroad tracks in Lebanon.
A tree was reportedly blown down and blocked a roadway in Lebanon.
Trees were blown down near Kempville.
Trees were reportedly blown down in Carthage.
Trees were blown down on Dale Hollow Dam Road.
Trees were blown down all across Gainesboro and numerous trees were also blown down across the rest of Jackson County.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated a tree was blown down in Brush Creek.
A tree was reported blown down on Raymond Road north of Monroe.
Overton County EMA director reported numerous trees down across Overton County and personally watched 2 trees get blown down from the 911 center. Power pole fires also reported due to downed power lines.
Trees and power lines were blown down across Putnam County.
There were several reports of trees down in the Belk community.
Several trees reported down on Highway 154 and on Highway 10 South.
Trees were blown down on Betterton Road north of Walling.
Several trees were blown down along Old Kentucky Highway South near Walling.
Several trees were reportedly blown down near Allardt per police scanner.
A tree was blown down on Quebeck Road near Quebeck.
Two trees were blown down near a home between Clarkrange and Allardt.
A few trees were blown down in the Rinnie area.
Several trees were reportedly blown down around Sparta.
A power pole was snapped in the Tabor area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 2016
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: 634972, 634973, 651408, 634986, 635002, 635016, 635018, 651412, 651413, 651418, 634998, 651417, 634833, 634832, 634834, 634836, 634835, 634837, 634839, 634838, 634840, 634841, 634842, 634844, 634846, 634851, 634853, 634857, 634850, 634854, 634859, 634855, 634862, 634908, 634860, 634863, 634912, 634861, 634886, 634865, and more.