A line of strong to severe thunderstorms, known as a Quasi-Linear Convective System (or QLCS), moved rapidly across Middle Tennessee at 60 mph from west to east between 3 PM and 7 PM CST on Saturday, November 18, 2017. This line of storms produced widespread damaging winds in many counties generally along and north of the I-40 corridor.
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.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms, known as a Quasi-Linear Convective System (or QLCS), moved rapidly across Middle Tennessee at 60 mph from west to east between 3 PM and 7 PM CST on Saturday, November 18, 2017. This line of storms produced widespread damaging winds in many counties generally along and north of the I-40 corridor. In addition to the damaging winds, the QLCS produced 4 confirmed tornadoes which damaged numerous homes and other buildings.
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 Nov 18, 1:48 PM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 148 PM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 .DISCUSSION... All of the action will be in the first few hours of this forecast period, then a quiet wx pattern will take over with a couple of dry cold fronts for Thanksgiving week. At mid afternoon, warm and windy conditions prevailed with temperatures in the 60s and wind gusts around 30 mph. The strong winds may become even stronger over the next few hours as an accelerating cold front sweeps across the area. As of 1 PM CST, a band of thunderstorms, some severe, was focused along the front as it approached the Mississippi River. Based on HRRR and extrapolation, the thunderstorms should reach our western counties around 4 PM and BNA around 5 PM. The band of storms should exit our eastern counties around 7 PM. Damaging winds will be the main concern as these storms tap into wind energy just off the surface. Even away from storms, this dynamic front is likely to cause some wind damage including downing of limbs and small trees and scattered power outages. Given the impressive wind shear, a couple of brief tornadoes may spin up along the line of storms. AFter 7 PM CST, the showers and storms will taper off quickly, but very windy conditions will last through the evening. A Wind Advisory will remain in place until midnight. Later tonight, temps will fall into the 30s, but northwest breezes will make it feel colder. Sunday will bring mainly sunny skies, although clouds may linger early for the Upper Cumberland. Highs will be chilly, only in the 40s with a northwest breeze 10-20 mph. Sunday night will be quite cold as high pressure settles over the area. Lows will be in the 20s. Monday will be sunny with temps recovering to the 50s. High pressure will stay in control Monday night through Tuesday with near normal temps. A dry cold front will come in Tuesday night into Wednesday with another shot of chilly air. Temps will be on the cool side through Thanksgiving Day. Then, temps will recover a bit going into the weekend. It looks like yet another cold front will dive into the area next weekend with a shot of even colder air to wrap up November. && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. MVFR cigs and gusty south to southwest winds up to 35 knots will affect airports this afternoon ahead of a strong cold front. Fropa expected from 20Z-02Z with TSRA and MVFR/IFR conditions. Winds will switch to northwest after fropa with continued MVFR cigs until late tonight. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 36 47 27 56 35 / 50 0 0 0 0 Clarksville 34 45 26 54 33 / 30 0 0 0 0 Crossville 33 40 24 52 31 / 90 10 0 0 0 Columbia 35 48 25 56 33 / 40 0 0 0 0 Lawrenceburg 35 48 26 56 34 / 50 0 0 0 0 Waverly 34 45 26 54 32 / 20 0 0 0 0 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until midnight CST tonight for Bedford-Cannon- Cheatham-Clay-Coffee-Cumberland-Davidson-De Kalb-Dickson- Fentress-Giles-Grundy-Hickman-Houston-Humphreys-Jackson-Lawrence- Lewis-Macon-Marshall-Maury-Montgomery-Overton-Perry-Pickett- Putnam-Robertson-Rutherford-Smith-Stewart-Sumner-Trousdale-Van Buren-Warren-Wayne-White-Williamson-Wilson. && DISCUSSION......13 AVIATION........Shamburger
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 420 AM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-191100- 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- 420 AM CST Sat Nov 18 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Strong sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph are expected through this evening. Thus a Wind Advisory is in effect for all of Middle Tennessee through midnight tonight. There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across northwestern portions of Middle Tennessee north of Interstate 40 and west of Interstate 65 approaching the Land Between the Lakes Region. There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms across the remainder of Middle Tennessee. The potential of severe thunderstorms will be mainly this afternoon and evening as a strong cold front moves across the mid state region. Damaging winds will be the main threat. However, it can not totally be ruled out that a severe thunderstorm or two will produce an isolated tornado or two also. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening across Middle Tennessee. Spotter Thunderstorm Reporting Criteria... Tornado Funnel Cloud Flooding Hail >= 1/2 inch Winds > 50 MPH (Measured) Structural Damage Trees of Power Lines Down 31
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
257 PM CST SAT NOV 18 2017
TNZ005-006-023-024-182130-
Stewart TN-Humphreys TN-Montgomery TN-Houston TN-
257 PM CST SAT NOV 18 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN MONTGOMERY...STEWART...
HOUSTON AND HUMPHREYS COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM CST...
At 256 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Land Between The Lakes Area to near Bruceton.
Movement was east at 50 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Waverly, Camden, Dover, Erin, Clarksville, New Johnsonville, McEwen,
Tennessee Ridge, Hurricane Mills, Big Rock, Cumberland City,
Woodlawn, Land Between The Lakes, Houston County Airport and Indian
Mound.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 700 PM CST for
Middle Tennessee.
LAT...LON 3666 8785 3663 8785 3664 8746 3597 8762
3596 8802 3605 8799 3613 8792 3617 8792
3622 8795 3626 8794 3631 8796 3645 8806
3649 8806 3652 8804 3656 8803 3668 8807
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 266DEG 44KT 3669 8808 3607 8829
ShamburgerThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
54 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were blown down on Highway 13.
A Facebook report indicated the roof was blown off a trailer home and several trees were blown down along and just off Highway 231 near mile marker 5.
A home suffered minor roof damage and several trees were snapped that blocked Tom Stanfill Loop near Bethany Road. A few other buildings had minor damage and several other trees were blown down across eastern Houston County.
A large tree was blown down on Lobelville Highway, and another tree was blown down at Gilmer Bridge Road and Lost Creek Road.
Numerous trees were blown down across northern Dickson County.
An 80-foot tree fell and damaged an amateur radio tower.
A small, brief EF-0 tornado touched down southwest of the intersection of Little Barton's Creek Road and Woods Valley Road northwest of Cumberland Furnace and moved northeast. A home suffered minor roof damage, a travel trailer was blown onto its side, and a carport was destroyed on Woods Valley Road. Just east of Woods Valley Road on Little Barton's Creek Road, one barn was destroyed, another barn was damaged, and an outbuilding was heavily damaged by a fallen tree. Another home and an adjacent barn further to the east suffered minor roof damage. Dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted in all directions along the path. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 mph. The beginning point, ending point, and path length of this tornado were adjusted slightly in May 2019 based on new high resolution satellite imagery available in Google Earth.
Facebook photos showed numerous trees blown down on Cheatham Dam Road east of Sinclair Lane.
A church suffered minor roof and exterior damage on Cheatham Dam Road at Highway 12.
A tSpotter report indicated trees were blown down on Highway 12 near Chapmansboro.
Facebook photos showed a tree was blown down and a barn was damaged at 4475 Carter Road.
A tSpotter report indicated a few trees were blown down on Ed Harris Road.
A Facebook report indicated a shed was flipped upside down in Youngville.
A 3/4 mile wide by 5 mile long downburst caused minor wind damage to 17 homes, 3 churches, an apartment building and several outbuildings along and either side of Old Clarksville Pike from the Mt Zion area in Cheatham County eastward to the Joelton area in Davidson County. Damage included the roof blown off a barn on Johns Road, part of the roof and porch blown off a small home at 7321 Old Clarksville Pike, and a collapsed porch on a home on Old Clarksville Pike at Park Lane. Numerous trees and power lines were also blown down along and near Old Clarksville Pike that blocked roadways. The downburst continued into far northwest Davidson County, where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along Harper Road, Douglas Road, Bidwell Road, Old Clarksville Pike, and Eatons Creek Road. Six trees were snapped in the yard of a home at 3429 Binkley Road in Joelton. A mobile home suffered minor exterior damage on Old Clarksville Pike and an outbuilding had roof damage on Eatons Creek Road. The downburst ended near I-24 at Whites Creek Pike. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.
A Facebook report indicated a tree was blown down that blocked the on-ramp to I-24 at Exit 31.
A 3/4 mile wide by 5 mile long downburst caused minor wind damage to 17 homes, 3 churches, an apartment building and several outbuildings along and either side of Old Clarksville Pike from the Mt Zion area in Cheatham County eastward to the Joelton area in Davidson County. Damage included the roof blown off a barn on Johns Road, part of the roof and porch blown off a small home at 7321 Old Clarksville Pike, and a collapsed porch on a home on Old Clarksville Pike at Park Lane. Numerous trees and power lines were also blown down along and near Old Clarksville Pike that blocked roadways. The downburst continued into far northwest Davidson County, where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along Harper Road, Douglas Road, Bidwell Road, Old Clarksville Pike, and Eatons Creek Road. Six trees were snapped in the yard of a home at 3429 Binkley Road in Joelton. A mobile home suffered minor exterior damage on Old Clarksville Pike and an outbuilding had roof damage on Eatons Creek Road. The downburst ended near I-24 at Whites Creek Pike. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.
Trees were reportedly blown down in Cross Plains.
An EF-1 tornado started along Stagner Road just north of Interstate 24 around 1.2 miles northwest of Joelton, blowing down several trees as it moved eastward to Whites Creek Pike. More trees and power lines were blown down on Millken Drive and Margie Drive before the tornado intensified and caused significant roof damage to two homes on Gary Road just south of Union Hill Road. Several power poles were also snapped and trees uprooted in this area. The tornado continued eastward through inaccessible forests blowing down numerous trees before rapidly dissipating about one half mile north of the Clay Lick Road bridge over Interstate 24. The beginning point, start time, end point, and path length of this tornado were updated in July 2018 based on newly available high resolution satellite imagery in Google Earth.
A Facebook photo showed a tree was blown down which destroyed a driveway gate near the Union Hill Road and Lickton Pike intersection.
A tSpotter Twitter report indicated a Bradford Pear tree was snapped on the north side of Portland.
One wall of a poorly constructed detached garage of a home was blown down near White House.
An interstate sign was blown down on I-840 just west of I-65.
A tree and a power line were blown down blocking both lanes of Campbellsville Pike in Columbia.
Windows were reportedly blown out of a home at 100 Hallmark Road in Columbia causing one minor injury due to flying glass.
An EF-1 tornado began in far southeast Davidson County where weak tree and roof damage (EF-0) was noted on Hampton Blvd in the Villages of Long Hunter subdivision of Antioch. The tornado then crossed Percy Priest Lake into far northwest Rutherford County where numerous trees were blown down and the roofs of a few homes suffered minor damage. Moving into Wilson County, the tornado intensified to EF-1, snapping or uprooting dozens of trees and destroying several outbuildings on Fellowship Road and Underwood Road. The worst damage was in Gladeville where a few homes suffered roof damage on Cobblestone Way and Stonefield Drive, several fences were blown down, and a few outbuildings were destroyed. The steeple of a church on McCreary Road collapsed into the sanctuary, and part of an exterior brick wall was blown down. An RV carport across the street from the church was also destroyed. Another outbuilding was destroyed on Odum Lane and several more trees were blown down before the tornado lifted in inaccessible areas south of Highway 265. The ending point, ending time, and path length of the Wilson County portion of this tornado were updated in July 2018 based on newly available high resolution satellite imagery in Google Earth, giving an updated total path length across Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties of 10.93 miles.
A few trees were blown down in the Fairvue Plantation subdivision, including two trees that fell and blocked Browns Lane.
A tree was blown down that partially blocked Shutes Branch Road near the entrance to the National Weather Service office.
A few trees were blown down on Lock 4 Road and also on Peach Valley Road.
A tree was blown down near the entrance to Tennessee Fastening Technology on Ingram Blvd just west of Mason Road, and a fence was blown down northeast of the Ingram Blvd and Mason Road intersection. No other damage was found in the area.
An EF-1 tornado began in far southeast Davidson County where weak tree and roof damage (EF-0) was noted on Hampton Blvd in the Villages of Long Hunter subdivision of Antioch. The tornado then crossed Percy Priest Lake into far northwest Rutherford County where numerous trees were blown down and the roofs of a few homes suffered minor damage. Moving into Wilson County, the tornado intensified to EF-1, snapping or uprooting dozens of trees and destroying several outbuildings on Fellowship Road and Underwood Road. The worst damage was in Gladeville where a few homes suffered roof damage on Cobblestone Way and Stonefield Drive, several fences were blown down, and a few outbuildings were destroyed. The steeple of a church on McCreary Road collapsed into the sanctuary, and part of an exterior brick wall was blown down. An RV carport across the street from the church was also destroyed. Another outbuilding was destroyed on Odum Lane and several more trees were blown down before the tornado lifted in inaccessible areas south of Highway 265. The ending point, ending time, and path length of the Wilson County portion of this tornado were updated in July 2018 based on newly available high resolution satellite imagery in Google Earth, giving an updated total path length across Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties of 10.93 miles.
A tree was blown down into the road at 2024 Woods Ferry Road.
The front porch awning was blown off a home into the backyard and several trees were blown down at a neighboring home on Jefferson Pike at Alsup Lane. No other damage was found in the area.
A tree was blown down across the road at 115 Sunset Drive in Mount Juliet.
An EF-1 tornado began in far southeast Davidson County where weak tree and roof damage (EF-0) was noted on Hampton Blvd in the Villages of Long Hunter subdivision of Antioch. The tornado then crossed Percy Priest Lake into far northwest Rutherford County where numerous trees were blown down and the roofs of a few homes suffered minor damage. Moving into Wilson County, the tornado intensified to EF-1, snapping or uprooting dozens of trees and destroying several outbuildings on Fellowship Road and Underwood Road. The worst damage was in Gladeville where a few homes suffered roof damage on Cobblestone Way and Stonefield Drive, several fences were blown down, and a few outbuildings were destroyed. The steeple of a church on McCreary Road collapsed into the sanctuary, and part of an exterior brick wall was blown down. An RV carport across the street from the church was also destroyed. Another outbuilding was destroyed on Odum Lane and several more trees were blown down before the tornado lifted in inaccessible areas south of Highway 265. The ending point, ending time, and path length of the Wilson County portion of this tornado were updated in July 2018 based on newly available high resolution satellite imagery in Google Earth, giving an updated total path length across Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties of 10.93 miles.
A tree was blown down that blocked one lane at 1000 Mays Chapel Road in Mount Juliet.
A high-end EF-0 tornado touched down just east of Highway 231 in Trousdale County causing weak tree damage before intensifying on Walnut Grove Road and Sulphur College Road where dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted. A few homes sustained some minor roof damage with a few outbuildings and barns severely damaged. Additional trees were downed on Highway 141 and Halltown Road before the tornado lifted. The tornado passed just 1.5 miles north of the city of Hartsville.
A tree was blown down that blocked the roadway at 560 Palmer Road.
A few trees and power lines were blown down across Macon County.
A tree was blown down onto a car at 413 South Maple Street in Lebanon.
A tree was blown down that blocked the road in the 600 block of Rocky Valley Road.
A tree was blown down across Young Road at Walnut Hill Road.
A tree was blown down that blocked the road at 1700 Turner Road.
A tree was blown down that blocked the road at 1555 Linwood Road in Watertown.
A tree was blown down at 135 Vickers Avenue in Watertown.
High resolution satellite imagery from Google Earth showed a 300 yard wide by 1.4 mile long microburst struck western Cannon County north of Readyville. A tree was snapped east of Tassey Road, and more trees were blown down on Hoyt Knox Road. The door of a barn was blown off south of Coleman Road, and part of the roof of a home under construction was blown off south of Porterfield Road. Another barn had part of its roof blown off at Porterfield Road at Jess Reed Road, and several trees were blown down both west and east of Porterfield Road. Winds were estimated up to 65 mph.
The porch and part of the roof were blown off a home at 57 McGinnis Lane in Brush Creek.
A strong 1/2 mile wide by 4.7 mile long microburst struck areas from around 1.2 miles northeast of Brush Creek to 0.6 miles southeast of Hickman. Several trees were blown down south of Dry Fork Road and north of Hall Road, and a mobile home suffered roof damage on Cedarwood Lane. More trees were blown down near and along Leland Lane and Winfree Road, and an outbuilding was destroyed just north of the intersection of Winfree Road at Sykes Road. The worst damage occurred on Sykes Road where two homes suffered significant roof damage, a large equipment shed was completely destroyed, two barns had minor roof damage, an outbuilding was destroyed, and many trees were blown down. Debris from the destroyed barn was blown over 500 yards to the northeast. More trees were blown down on Raccoon Branch Lane and Highway 264, and a barn had minor roof damage just south of Hickman. Winds were estimated up to 85 mph.
A tSpotter Twitter photo showed a tree was blown down that blocked Brush Creek Road.
De Kalb County Sheriff's Office reported trees were blown down on Hickman Road.
Cannon County Sheriff's office reported trees down on McMinnville Highway east of Woodbury.
Trees were blown down on Wilmouth Creek Road near Sugar Tree Knob Road.
Trees were blown down on Nabors Hollow Road and Hackett Valley Road.
Clay County Sheriff's Office reported several trees were blown down throughout Clay County.
A few power poles and power lines were knocked down across Putnam County from Buffalo Valley to Monterey.
Jackson County Sheriff's Office reported trees blocking York Highway and Ridgetop Lane near Burristown.
Jackson County Sheriff's Office reported trees down on Dodson Branch Highway.
Numerous reports of power lines down with power outages across Overton County.
Trees were blown down and an outbuilding was damaged on Old Smithville Highway South near Cassville Elementary School.
White County Sheriff's Office reported a tree fell onto a vehicle and a home near Sparta.
Lightning struck a home on Walton Hills Road and the resulting fire caused an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 damage.
A tree and power lines were blown down that blocked the road at 1903 Hanging Limb Highway. A driver was injured when he drove into the tree.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2017Warnings in Tennessee, November 2017
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: 724472, 724476, 724475, 724477, 724478, 724479, 726770, 724483, 724482, 724484, 724485, 724486, 724487, 724489, 724492, 727751, 724493, 724569, 724498, 724506, 724499, 724501, 724503, 724508, 724574, 724509, 724513, 724514, 724515, 724575, 724516, 724518, 724521, 724576, 724522, 724577, 724528, 724530, 724531, 724532, and more.