A small mesoscale convective system (MCS) moved eastward across Middle Tennessee during the late morning and early afternoon hours on August 8, producing several reports of 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 OHX wrote it up.
A small mesoscale convective system (MCS) moved eastward across Middle Tennessee during the late morning and early afternoon hours on August 8, producing several reports of wind 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 Aug 8, 6:18 AM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 718 AM CDT Wed Aug 8 2018 .UPDATE... FOR 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .SHORT TERM (Today thru Fri nite)... A pattern change will bring greater coverage of showers and thunderstorms to the area beginning today, along with slightly lower high temperatures. Unfortunately, details about the timing and coverage of showers and thunderstorms are uncertain. Early this morning, Mid Tn was rain free, but showers and thunderstorms were increasing northwest of our area. This activity was developing in response to a shortwave trough and surface boundary over the Mid Ms Valley - both associated with a larger scale trough crossing the Great Lakes. For Mid Tn, these systems will be replacing the southern ridge that brought hot temperatures with limited thunderstorm activity the past few days. The bulk of the energy with the approaching trough will track north of our area, but there should be enough lift, moisture, and instability in the approaching frontal zone to bring some rain for most locations today. Although pops will be "likely", there will be enough rain-free periods to get some outdoor work accomplished. Radar trends will have to be monitored for short range planning. Some short range models indicate the upstream convection will have a strong enough cold pool to push southeastward across all of Middle Tennessee through the morning. This could result in a relatively stable afternoon with lower thunderstorm coverage. But, the incoming morning storms could weaken or scatter out. Regardless of the exact evolution of these storms, the air mass will still have time for recovery/destabilization, resulting in scattered to numerous thunderstorms again through the afternoon. When thunderstorms occur today, they will likely contain some very heavy downpours with 1-2 inch per hour rainfall rates. The thunderstorms should move enough to keep any flooding problems localized and limited. Deepening on how much thunderstorm coverage we see this morning, and resultant destabilization, there could be a few strong to marginally severe storms in the afternoon with locally gusty winds and torrential downpours. The weakening frontal zone, along with a weak upper level trough, will remain over the region through Friday. This will keep at least scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast, with most of the activity occurring in the afternoon and evening hours. Generally, greater coverage (40-60 percent) is expected over the south half of the area, with 20-50 percent over the north. Warm and sticky conditions will persist, but with mostly cloudy and unsettled conditions, most locations will stay under 90 degrees through Friday. 13 .LONG TERM (Sat thru Wed)... Sfc stationary front will meander across SW portions of mid state Sat thru Sun morning before pushing swd. Sfc high pressure center should set up across the Carolinas as the day on Wed progresses. Aloft, the latest ECMWF/GFS solutions coming more into line than previous model forecast runs, especially for the upcoming weekend. However, as pointed out by yesterday aftertnoon's discussion, these model solutions begin to diverge by next Mon with the latest GFS suggesting a weaker upper-level low pressure system that would allow the mid state to dry out towards the beginning to middle of next work week. Latest ECMWF solution on the other hand allows the upper- level tough to extend deeper into the SE, keeping plenty of moisture in our area for convective development. Usually prefer the ECMWF in the extended portion of the forecast anyway as it verifies well. Will thus continue the lean toward it. However, in agreement with surrounding offices that some drying aspects of the latest GFS solution for the later portions of the extended forecast period need to be taken into account too. So overall, a lean was given toward the latest ECMWF solution but some consideration given to the latest GFS during the Mon night thru Wed night time frame. So it maybe a little drier Mon night thru Wed night as compared to yesterday's mornings runs at this time, but still an unstable summertime weather pattern is expected to be in store for the mid state region Sat thru the afternoon hrs on Mon. On average, sct shwrs and iso to sct tstms will be possible Sat thru the daytime hrs on Mon, with iso shwrs/tstms possible Mon night thru Wed night. Variable sky conditions can be expected thru the day on Mon also, with generally ptcldy skies expected Mon night thru Wed night. As it is with summertime, the weather pattern still looks like some of the stronger shwrs and tstms could bring brief heavy rainfall which could lead to localized minor flooding in some locations. However, as of this time, there continues to be no indication of any widespread organized flooding potential. This reasoning continues to be supported by the latest WPC QPF forecasts. As it is with summertime also, the weather pattern still looks like some of the stronger tstms might reach strong, with a few tstms here and there, reaching svr tstm thresholds, also, mainly during the mid to late afternoon and into the early evening hrs. However, as of this time also, there is no indication of any organized strong to svr convection pattern establishing itself across the mid state region Sat thru next Wed. This reasoning continues to be supported by the latest SPC Day 4-8 Convective Outlook. As for temps, afternoon high temps and overnight low temps will be around seasonal normal values Sat thru next Wed night. 31 && .AVIATION... 12Z TAF DISCUSSION. CKV/BNA/MQY/CSV...Significant uncertainty in terminal forecasts thru 09/12Z. Several amendments probable thru 09/12Z. Actual terminal forecast and forecast reasoning will need to be closely monitored thru 09/12Z. Tried to depict potential line of morning convection across cntrl W TN influencing terminal locations thru 08/18Z. How convective development moving thru mid state this morning works over atm and effects potential second round of sct/numerous shwrs/tstms development at least thru 09/12Z a significant quandary here. Did not want to go straight VCTS for entire forecast period, and gave best windows for VCTS development. With so much uncertainty if shwrs/tstms will actual impact specific terminals, addressed only as VCTS. Although atm moisture, instability, and moisture are in place for sct/numerous convective development, consensus of short range models show some shearing and dissipating of convection thru 08/18Z. Best chances of shwrs/tstms should be before 09/02Z. Could be some tstms afterwards also. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && DISCUSSION......13 AVIATION........31
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 504 AM CDT Wed Aug 8 2018 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-091000- 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- 504 AM CDT Wed Aug 8 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. 31
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Nashville TN 940 AM CDT WED AUG 8 2018 TNZ007-025>027-081515- Robertson TN-Dickson TN-Davidson TN-Cheatham TN- 940 AM CDT WED AUG 8 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DAVIDSON... NORTHEASTERN DICKSON...CHEATHAM AND SOUTHWESTERN ROBERTSON COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 AM CDT... At 939 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Ashland City, moving northeast at 55 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Ashland City, Nashville, Coopertown, White Bluff, Kingston Springs, Pegram, Joelton, Pleasant View, Cheatham Dam, Beaman Park, Bells Bend and Whites Creek. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && LAT...LON 3605 8720 3632 8729 3649 8699 3615 8672 TIME...MOT...LOC 1439Z 240DEG 49KT 3624 8714 MacDonald
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 28 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:05 UTC.
12 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees and power lines were blown down across northwest Davidson County.
A Facebook photo showed a large tree was blown down across 26th Avenue at Albion Street blocking the roadway.
A tree fell onto through the middle of a house in northwest Nashville causing severe damage to the home. No injuries.
A Twitter tSpotter report and photo showed a large tree was blown down on Douglas Avenue.
A WKU stormchaser reported several trees and power lines were blown down across southeast Robertson County from Greenbrier to White House.
Trees and power lines were reportedly blown down in Ridgetop with power outages.
Trees were blown down in Belinda City and the tin roof of a shed was blown off in Mundy Park.
A few trees were blown down in Lebanon.
A tent broke away from its stakes at the Wilson County Fair and went airborne before landing on a building and power lines.
Lightning struck a house on Stillwater Trail at Bonita Parkway in Hendersonville. The resulting fire caused minor damage to the home.
A Facebook report and photos showed trees were blown down in the Morris subdivision and a soccer goal was blown 20 yards into the Cumberland River.
A Twitter tSpotter report and photo showed the steeple was blown off the First Baptist Church in Carthage.
Multiple trees and power lines were blown down in Gainesboro and the eastern part of Jackson County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 2018
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: 782094, 782092, 782093, 782095, 782097, 782096, 782101, 782099, 782098, 782100, 782102, 782103, 782105.