A QLCS (Quasi-Linear Convective System) moved across Middle Tennessee during the afternoon hours on December 31. Several reports of wind damage were received, as well as a few reports of flooding.
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 QLCS (Quasi-Linear Convective System) moved across Middle Tennessee during the afternoon hours on December 31. Several reports of wind damage were received, as well as a few reports of flooding.
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 Dec 31, 12:21 PM CST, 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 1221 PM CST Mon Dec 31 2018 .UPDATE... FOR 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... Winds have started to pick up around Middle TN this morning as the surface pressure gradient tightens. The 12Z OHX RAOB would suggest southerly sustained winds of 15-25 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph will be possible as we get into the late morning and early afternoon hours, so the Wind Advisory will continue as planned. Of course, the bigger questions will revolve around how intense this afternoon's storms will become. The same sounding from OHX might have experienced some wet-bulbing contamination, so the 200 J/Kg of MUCAPE is a little suspicious, but the wind profile is likely very accurate. Already calculating 600 m2/s2 O-3km SRH with 60+ kts of deep layer shear. I talked yesterday about this current "dry slot" and its effects on the eventual intensity of this afternoon's storms -- nothing has changed in that regards. If we can see some sun prior to the arrival of the line, we could see more widespread strong to severe storms. However, showers continue to stream into Middle TN this morning and while scattered, they are likely to help keep instability very low. Latest GOES-East imagery is showing only a few breaks in the clouds over northern and central MS (which is the most likely air mass we'll see prior to storms developing), so storms this afternoon will very likely need to rely on advected instability just ahead of what is expected be a broken QLCS. This should keep the strong to severe storms in more of the 'isolated' category and out of 'widespread'. This is no reason to let our guard down, however. Even without thunderstorms producing 60+ mph winds, today's pressure gradient winds may very well be enough to break branches and make a mess of things, especially in areas that got soaked from last night's rains, so please remain weather aware throughout the day. Models continue to be very consistent with timing of the QLCS, too. West to east, it's looking like approaching the TN River 12-1 pm, I-65 corridor in the 2-4 pm range and off the Plateau by 6-7 pm. While some trailing stratiform rain isn't out of the question until 8-9 pm, maybe a little later on the Plateau, it does look like things should be calm for tonight's NYE festivities around most, if not all of Middle TN. && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. BNA/MQY/CKV/CSV...Line of convection is currently making its way across West Tennessee, with strong to severe storms expected in Middle Tennessee during the afternoon. Used the latest HRRR to time the squall line at each of our terminals. Storms should weaken somewhat by the time they reach CSV this evening. Look for MVFR/IFR clouds for most of the TAF period as significant low- level moisture stays around even after the cold fropa later tonight. Winds will remain strong throughout the afternoon, but should begin to weaken after 00Z. There is also significant LLWS owing to an unusually strong 850 mb jet, but the surface winds are strong enough that LLWS criteria aren't being met for inclusion in the TAF's. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening 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......Unger AVIATION........08
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 506 AM CST Mon Dec 31 2018 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-011115- 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- 506 AM CST Mon Dec 31 2018 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across Middle Tennessee this afternoon and evening. A line of thunderstorms, some potentially strong or severe, is expected to form across west Tennessee and move across our area in the afternoon into early evening. Damaging straight line winds will be the main threat with this line of storms, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible, especially across northwestern Middle Tennessee. In addition to the storms, a wind advisory is in effect today from 9 AM until 6 PM. Strong south winds will develop late this morning with sustained winds between 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 45 mph this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Please report any thunderstorm or non thunderstorm wind damage to the NWS Nashville office. 10
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
1222 PM CST Mon Dec 31 2018
TNZ005-006-023-024-311900-
Stewart TN-Humphreys TN-Montgomery TN-Houston TN-
1222 PM CST Mon Dec 31 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MONTGOMERY...
STEWART...HOUSTON AND NORTHWESTERN HUMPHREYS COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM
CST...
At 1221 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 10 miles east of Murray to near Bruceton.
Movement was east at 55 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Waverly, Camden, Dover, Erin, New Johnsonville, Tennessee Ridge, Big
Rock, Cumberland City, Land Between The Lakes, Houston County Airport
and Indian Mound.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 Tornado Watch remains in effect until 700 PM CST for Middle
Tennessee.
LAT...LON 3666 8785 3663 8785 3664 8763 3605 8767
3601 8800 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 1821Z 251DEG 50KT 3659 8814 3605 8831
13The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:41 UTC.
20 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees were blown down in the Land Between the Lakes and across western Stewart County.
A few trees were blown down in the Largent Hollow area of Highway 147 as well as two other locations along Highway 147.
A tree was blown down that blocked Bateman Branch Road.
A tree was blown down onto a house on Riverside Drive.
A downed tree caused extensive roof damage to a home on Hickory Grove Boulevard in Clarksville.
Trees were blown down on McAdoo Creek Road in Sango.
A tree was blown down into the road in Cumberland Furnace.
A tree was blown down on Buffalo Road.
A tree was blown down into the road near White Bluff.
A tree was blown down onto a house on Bessie Street.
Two trees were blown down onto power lines at Poplar Creek Road and Griffith Road.
A tree was blown down that blocked the road at Clovercroft Road and Highway 96.
A trained spotter reported a tree blown down on Marriott Drive.
A tree was blown down at North Greenhill Road and Vanderbilt Road.
A tree was blown down on Highway 11 just north of Minor Hill.
Large tree limbs were blown down on Golden Bear Parkway in Mount Juliet.
A tree was blown down at Belinda Parkway and Adelmont Court.
A tSpotter Twitter photo showed a tree was blown down on Highway 41A.
A tree was blown down on Sherrilltown Road.
Wilson County Emergency Management reported flooding on Hickory Ridge Road at Quarry Road as well as Forrest Park Drive at Franklin Road with both roads closed.
A tree was blown down into the road at South Commerce Road and Bluebird Road.
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, December 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: 798661, 798663, 798669, 798675, 798674, 798676, 798683, 798685, 798684, 798686, 798687, 798691, 798690, 798693, 798692, 798694, 798695, 798697, 798698, 798726, 798699.