Heavy rain and thunderstorms produced 2 tornadoes and widespread flash flooding across Middle Tennessee from the afternoon of February 6 through the early morning hours on February 7. A warm front that had moved northward into Kentucky early in the day on February 6 sank back southward to near the Interstate 40 corridor by the afternoon, sparking numerous showers and thunderstorms along and just…
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.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms produced 2 tornadoes and widespread flash flooding across Middle Tennessee from the afternoon of February 6 through the early morning hours on February 7. A warm front that had moved northward into Kentucky early in the day on February 6 sank back southward to near the Interstate 40 corridor by the afternoon, sparking numerous showers and thunderstorms along and just north of the front. As the front effectively stalled in a west-to-east line along the Interstate 40 corridor, showers and storms continued to redevelop and move across the same areas. With rainfall rates approaching 1-2 per hour at times, this led to widespread flash flooding across Humphreys, Dickson, Cheatham, Davidson, Wilson, Smith, Jackson, Putnam, and Overton Counties. This flooding resulted in numerous closed roadways, dozens of water rescues, flooded homes and businesses, significant rises on area creeks and rivers, and unfortunately one fatality in Cheatham County. Total rainfall amounts ranged from 3 inches to nearly 7 inches across these counties. In addition to the flooding, thunderstorms produced two EF-0 tornadoes in Rutherford and Wilson Counties. Lightning also struck homes in Overton and Jackson counties, causing significant fire 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 Feb 6, 1:31 AM CST, 2 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 131 AM CST Wed Feb 6 2019 .DISCUSSION... A record-warm air mass remains situated over Middle Tennessee this morning as dew points range from the mid 50's to the mid 60's. A pronounced warm front is set up to our northwest as warm, soggy air continues to feed into the mid state from the Gulf of Mexico. The 06Z sounding from OHX shows 1.34 inches of precipitable water, with a surface-based CAPE of 177 J/kg and a zero lifted index. The 0-3 km storm-relative helicity checks in at 166, owing mainly to a 35-knot wind at 925 mb. The latest SPC outlook for day 1 places most of Middle Tennessee under a marginal to slight risk of severe storms, with the best chance occurring around Clarksville, Dover & Waverly, which are closest to the warm front. The primary threat is damaging straight-line winds. Otherwise, extensive cloud cover will keep a lid on deeper instability, so strong updrafts are unlikely. QPF increases significantly starting today, with heavy rain possible through Thursday evening when we finally get a cold fropa. Afterwards, look for temperatures to turn sharply colder. There may be some snow on the tail end of the cold front late Thursday night, but we aren't expecting anything measurable. Friday and Saturday will be clear and cold, and by Sunday, another active, multi-day weather system gets going. At this time, the cumulative QPF from today through Tuesday evening ranges from less than 3 inches across the southern Cumberland Plateau to more than 5 inches in areas to the west and north of Nashville. So excessive precipitation is a possibility with these back-to-back weather systems. We'll mention the possibility of flooding along with today's possible severe storms in the hazardous weather outlook. && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF DISCUSSION. CIGs are lowering to MVFR at the terminals this evening out ahead of increasing shower activity. Sites are expected to drop to IFR/LIFR CIGs by mid-morning Wednesday and remain IFR/LIFR for much of the day as scattered rain/isolated thunderstorms gradually develop. South winds could gust as high as 20 kts. CSV...the ceilometer is malfunctioning so AMD NOT SKED will continue. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 71 63 75 32 40 / 80 70 90 90 0 Clarksville 70 63 73 27 36 / 80 80 80 70 0 Crossville 67 60 71 33 40 / 70 60 90 100 10 Columbia 71 62 74 32 42 / 70 70 90 90 0 Lawrenceburg 71 62 74 34 43 / 70 60 90 100 0 Waverly 69 63 72 28 38 / 80 80 80 80 0 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && DISCUSSION......08 AVIATION........Schaper
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 519 AM CST Tue Feb 5 2019 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-061130- 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- 519 AM CST Tue Feb 5 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday A strong warm front will set up to our immediate north tomorrow, with widespread showers and a few storms possible Wednesday through Thursday. Rainfall totals through Thursday evening range from around an inch across the southern Cumberland Plateau to around 2.5 inches around Clarksville and Land-between-the-Lakes. Minor flooding is possible in these areas later in the week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 7 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:18 UTC.
20 heavy rain, 17 flash flood, 4 tornado, 2 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A NWS employee measured 5.86 inches of rain in Mount Juliet just southwest of Old Lebanon Dirt Road at Mount Juliet Road.
A COOP observer 4 miles south of New Johnsonville measured a 24 hour rain total of 5.20 inches.
A COOP observer in Gainesboro measured a 24 hour rain total of 3.95 inches.
A COOP observer in Carthage measured a 24 hour rain total of 3.80 inches.
NWS Nashville office measured a 24 hour rain total of 3.93 inches.
The public reported a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.12 inches in the Opryland area along McGavock Pike.
A NWS employee in East Nashville measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.10 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Kingston Springs 0.3 ENE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.19 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Belle Meade 1.2 ESE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.20 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Belle Meade 1.7 WNW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.48 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Nashville 5.2 WSW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.62 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Nashville 4.4 WSW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.94 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Mount Juliet 2.9 WSW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.68 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Dickson 6.3 WSW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.89 inches.
CoCoRaHS station White Bluff 1.4 NNE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.12 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Clarkrange 6.0 NE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.70 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Lebanon 10.5 E measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.11 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Green Hill 0.3 N measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 5.33 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Rickman 3.8 ESE measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 4.61 inches.
CoCoRaHS station Berry Hill 1.6 WNW measured a 24 hour rainfall total of 6.11 inches.
An EF-0 tornado touched down along West Trimble Road just south of Milton and moved northeast across Halls Hill Pike before lifting south of Highway 96. One large barn west of Halls Hill Pike was destroyed, with debris from the barn blown up to 500 yards away. Two homes along Halls Hill Pike received minor roof damage, an outbuilding lost part of its roof, and a carport was destroyed. Dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted along the narrow path.
Twitter and Facebook reports indicated flooding around an Exxon gas station on Charlotte Pike just west of I-40, and a creek was overflowing its banks flooding the sports fields at Montgomery Bell Academy on West End Avenue in Belle Meade.
Wilson County Emergency Management reported widespread flash flooding affected much of northwest Wilson County, including in and around Mount Juliet. Several roads were flooded and closed including Central Pike at Chandler Road, Central Pike at Earhart Road, 2253 Beckwith Road, 7294 Hickory Ridge Road, 791 East Old Laguardo Road, Mays Chapel Road at Benders Ferry Road, Golden Bear Gateway near Stonehollow Way, Belinda Parkway near Southeast Springdale Drive, Maricourt Street near Colfax Drive, Old Lebanon Dirt Road near Kelsey Glen Drive, and Due West Drive near Mount Juliet Rd. Several cars were stranded in flooding in the 2800 block of Quarry Road, on Plowson Road, at 1538 Mays Chapel Road, and at Martha-Leeville Road at Eastgate Boulevard. Several businesses in the Valley Center strip mall at Mount Juliet Road and Old Lebanon Dirt Road in Mount Juliet were flooded.
Wilson County Emergency Management reported widespread flash flooding affected much of northeast Wilson County, including in and around Lebanon. Numerous roads were flooded and closed including Old Rome Pike at Goshen Road, the 1000 and 3000 blocks of Old Rome Pike, the 2200 block of Cairo Bend Road, Crowell Lane between Leeville Road and Tuckers Gap Road, Park Avenue at Harding Drive, and 3187 Cedar Grove Road. Some cars were also stranded in flood waters including at 3945 Old Rome Pike.
Facebook photos showed significant flash flooding occurring on Highway 46 at Barbeque Road. Rushing water surrounded the Dickson Sportsman Store and Whitt's Barbeque, and Barbeque Road was closed due to flooding.
Lightning struck a house on Swan Lane causing minor damage.
A Twitter tSpotter report indicated Highway 70 between Hiwassee Road and the Dollar General store in the Rome community was flooded and closed.
Davidson County Emergency Management reported major flash flooding affected central portions of Nashville during the evening hours on February 6, with numerous roads flooded and closed, vehicles stranded in flood waters with water rescues conducted, and several homes, businesses, and schools flooded. Roadways that were flooded and closed including the two right lanes of westbound I-440 just east of the Nolensville Pike exit, James Kay Lane at Dodsons Chapel Road in Hermitage, Harding Pike at Woodmont Boulevard in Belle Meade, Dartmouth Avenue at Woodmont Boulevard, and numerous other streets around Vanderbilt University and in Hillsboro Village. Flash flooding from Browns Creek near the Fairgrounds stranded numerous vehicles on Nolensville Road between Moore Avenue and Polk Avenue, with several water rescues conducted. Homes and businesses in this same area were also flooded, including a used car dealership on Nolensville Road and an apartment building on Lewis Street. Elsewhere, St. Bernard Academy was flooded with four inches of water inside the school, and several homes flooded in the Inglewood area of East Nashville.
Lightning struck an abandoned house in the Gladdice community at Gladdice Highway and Smith Bend Lane. The resulting fire completely destroyed the home.
Fisk Road at East Broad Street in Cookeville was flooded and impassable.
A tree was blown down on Monterey Highway around 4 miles west of Monterey.
Jackson County 911 Center reported widespread flash flooding across the county with mudslides in many areas, including on Dodson Branch Highway which briefly covered the road. A firetruck responding to fire at an abandoned home struck by lightning on Smith Bend Lane at Gladdice Highway became stuck in flood waters.
This small, brief, and weak EF-0 tornado touched down just north of I-40 in extreme eastern Dickson County about 5.4 miles SSE of White Bluff. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees in all directions as it moved northeast across Highway 96, passing between several homes and businesses and causing no reported damage. Crossing into extreme northwest Williamson County, the tornado moved over County Line Road and continued blowing down trees before lifting about 0.6 miles NNW of the I-40 and Highway 96 interchange. Total path length was 1.4 miles with path width up to 50 yards. The damage path from this tornado was found using a combination of high resolution Google Earth satellite imagery that became available in December 2019, as well as OHX radar data which showed strong rotation and a tornado debris signature.
This small, brief, and weak EF-0 tornado touched down just north of I-40 in extreme eastern Dickson County about 5.4 miles SSE of White Bluff. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees in all directions as it moved northeast across Highway 96, passing between several homes and businesses and causing no reported damage. Crossing into extreme northwest Williamson County, the tornado moved over County Line Road and continued blowing down trees before lifting about 0.6 miles NNW of the I-40 and Highway 96 interchange. Total path length was 1.4 miles with path width up to 50 yards. The damage path from this tornado was found using a combination of high resolution Google Earth satellite imagery that became available in December 2019, as well as OHX radar data which showed strong rotation and a tornado debris signature.
The 2100 block of Beasley Bend Road as well as Johnson Road at Hartsville Pike were closed due to flash flooding.
Putnam County Emergency Management reported numerous streets were flooded across Cookeville. Several vehicles were stranded in the flood waters and water rescues were conducted. Roads that were flooded included South Walnut Street between Borden Street and Jackson Street.
Humphreys County Emergency Management reported flash flooding along both Highway 70 and State Highway 13 South with debris being removed from the roadways.
Cheatham County Emergency Management reported major flash flooding along Pond Creek Road near the Davidson County line, which was underwater and impassable in many locations. Around 955 pm CST, one woman was swept away and drowned after attempting to walk across a flooded bridge along the driveway to her home at 4660 Pond Creek Road. Another man was rescued from the hood of his vehicle at Green Valley Drive and Pond Creek Road after attempting to drive through flooding. Three other water rescues occurred across the county. Total damage was estimated at $99,432.
Dickson County Emergency Management reported major flash flooding affected central and southern portions of Dickson County. Several roads and bridges were washed out including bridges on Coon Creek Road and on Willow Branch Road at Liberty Road near Charlotte. Numerous other roads were flooded and closed including Shady Hollow Road between College Street and Luther Road in Dickson. Vehicles were stranded in flooding in some areas with water rescues conducted, including on Eno Road and on Harris Road near Tennessee City. Total damage from the flash flooding was estimated at $1,329,000.
A small, weak tornado touched down along Trousdale Ferry Pike just west of Tuckers Crossroads and curved northeast before lifting near Big Springs Road. One barn at the beginning of the path was destroyed with debris blown up to one half mile away. One home and some trees across the street received minor damage. A few more trees were blown down in fields west of Big Springs Road before the tornado lifted.
A Facebook video showed flooding inside and around Gainesboro Elementary School on the south side of Gainesboro.
A Twitter tSpotter report indicated Pleasant Shade Highway was covered by flooding and closed south of the Macon County line.
Wilson County Emergency Management reported continued widespread flash flooding across much of Wilson County, including the Mount Juliet and Lebanon areas. Roads that were flooded and closed in Mount Juliet included Woodridge Place near Golden Bear Gateway, West Division Street near Mt. Juliet Elementary School, Old Lebanon Dirt Road near Page Drive, Cedar Drive, and York Road near Lebanon Road. In Lebanon, Highway 231 was flooded with one vehicle stranded requiring a water rescue. Several streets in downtown Lebanon were also flooded including Highway 231 and West Spring Street, and flood waters entered several downtown businesses.
Wilson County Emergency Management reported continued flash flooding across Wilson County, including the Mount Juliet and Lebanon areas. Roads that were still flooded and closed in Mount Juliet included Woodridge Place near Golden Bear Gateway, West Division Street near Mt. Juliet Elementary School, Old Lebanon Dirt Road near Page Drive, and York Road near Lebanon Road. The Music City Star commuter train was forced to cancel service due to flooding of railroad tracks near Cairo Bend Road at Highway 70 west of Lebanon.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Cheatham | 2019-02-06 | 53 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2019Warnings in Tennessee, February 2019
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: 810126, 810127, 810128, 810130, 810131, 810132, 810824, 810825, 810827, 810828, 810829, 810830, 810832, 810833, 810834, 810836, 810837, 810838, 810839, 810840, 809627, 809628, 809844, 809845, 809629, 809846, 810123, 809855, 809848, 809849, 809847, 810111, 859703, 859704, 809851, 809850, 809853, 809854, 810109, 809852, and more.