Widespread showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall affected Middle Tennessee throughout the day on April 12. Strong gradient winds measured up to 54 mph caused several reports of wind damage, while the 2 to 4 inches of rain that fell across the area resulted in one report of minor flooding.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall affected Middle Tennessee throughout the day on April 12. Strong gradient winds measured up to 54 mph caused several reports of wind damage, while the 2 to 4 inches of rain that fell across the area resulted in one report of minor 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 Apr 12, 2:36 PM CST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 336 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 .UPDATE... FOR EVENING DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... Updated suite of forecast products to mention Tornado Watch Number 109 for Wayne, Lawrence, and Giles Counties until 10 PM CDT. Tweaked hourly temperature, dewpoint, and wind speed/direction grids. Remainder of forecast continues to be on track. && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. Degraded conditions will continue all sites well into Monday as a very deep SFC low passes just west. CIGs/VSBYs expected to bounce around but remain quite low. Additionally, winds are expected to become very strong and gusty, especially overnight. Conditions will improve after 15z Monday most sites. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flash Flood Watch through Monday morning for Cannon-Coffee- Cumberland-De Kalb-Fentress-Grundy-Overton-Pickett-Putnam-Van Buren-Warren-White. Wind Advisory until 7 AM CDT Monday 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. Flash Flood Watch until 1 AM CDT Monday for Bedford-Cheatham- Clay-Davidson-Dickson-Giles-Hickman-Houston-Humphreys-Jackson- Lawrence-Lewis-Macon-Marshall-Maury-Montgomery-Perry-Robertson- Rutherford-Smith-Stewart-Sumner-Trousdale-Wayne-Williamson- Wilson. && DISCUSSION......JB Wright AVIATION........07
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 445 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-131000- 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- 445 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds of 60-75mph, large hail, and a few tornadoes can be expected this afternoon and evening across Middle Tennessee. Also, heavy rainfall with localized flash flooding may occur especially across southern and eastern Middle Tennessee. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Frost and a late spring freeze will be possible Wednesday and Thursday mornings. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will be needed today and tonight. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. Hurley
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
1036 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
TNZ060-061-094-095-121600-
Lawrence TN-Maury TN-Giles TN-Marshall TN-
1036 AM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN MARSHALL...NORTHEASTERN
LAWRENCE...SOUTH CENTRAL MAURY AND CENTRAL GILES COUNTIES UNTIL 1100
AM CDT...
At 1036 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Pulaski, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Lawrenceburg, Pulaski, Cornersville, Ethridge, Lynnville and
Frankewing.
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 12 and 30.
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.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
This storm 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.
&&
LAT...LON 3519 8744 3546 8727 3539 8663 3528 8671
3525 8675 3526 8683 3516 8683
TIME...MOT...LOC 1536Z 227DEG 41KT 3526 8708
07Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
404 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
TNZ059>061-094-095-122130-
Lawrence TN-Williamson TN-Maury TN-Giles TN-Marshall TN-
404 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARSHALL...NORTHEASTERN
LAWRENCE...MAURY...SOUTHEASTERN WILLIAMSON AND NORTHERN GILES
COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM CDT...
At 404 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from Mount Pleasant to 7 miles northeast of
Lawrenceburg. Movement was northeast at 50 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Columbia, Lewisburg, Lawrenceburg, Spring Hill, Mount Pleasant,
Chapel Hill, Cornersville, Ethridge, Lynnville, Culleoka and I-65
East Of Columbia.
This includes Interstate 65 between mile markers 23 and 52.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for Middle
Tennessee.
LAT...LON 3525 8736 3545 8730 3547 8728 3550 8728
3550 8727 3551 8728 3562 8725 3580 8668
3575 8670 3572 8669 3533 8675
TIME...MOT...LOC 2104Z 246DEG 44KT 3555 8716 3530 8723
SchaperSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
408 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
TNZ056>058-060-093-094-122145-
Hickman TN-Lawrence TN-Wayne TN-Lewis TN-Maury TN-Perry TN-
408 PM CDT Sun Apr 12 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LEWIS...NORTHEASTERN WAYNE...
NORTHERN LAWRENCE...WESTERN MAURY...EASTERN PERRY AND HICKMAN
COUNTIES UNTIL 445 PM CDT...
At 407 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 11 miles west of Centerville to near
Collinwood. Movement was east at 75 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Lawrenceburg, Hohenwald, Centerville, Waynesboro, Linden, Mount
Pleasant, Collinwood, Summertown, Lobelville, Ethridge, Gordonsburg,
Kimmins, Henryville, Flatwoods, Primm Springs, Hampshire,
Pleasantville and Williamsport.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for Middle
Tennessee.
LAT...LON 3585 8767 3585 8721 3583 8715 3521 8733
3515 8783 3566 8790
TIME...MOT...LOC 2107Z 253DEG 66KT 3575 8765 3524 8772
SchaperThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 strong wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Several trees were blown down and an outbuilding was damaged in the 780 block of Ethridge Red Hill Road.
A tree fell onto a home on Malibu Canyon Drive and another tree fell on a mobile home on Dawson Drive.
A tree fell onto power lines and caused power outages 7 miles east-southeast of Auburntown.
A tree was blown down across the road in the 5900 block of Wayman Dunn Road.
Trees were damaged across the county with numerous power outages.
A tree was blown down on East Cove Road south of Monterey with power outages in the area.
A tree was blown down on South Grundy Quarles Highway in Gainesboro.
A tree was blown down across the road at Riverview Drive and Battleground Drive.
Trees, large limbs, and power lines were blown down across Putnam County with numerous power outages.
Several trees were blown down including one in the 200 block of Cinnamon Circle south of Clarkrange, another tree in the 300 block of Nichols Road south of Clarkrange, and another tree in the 100 block of Ashburn Drive east of Crab Orchard.
A house had minor flooding in the Cumberland Mountain Retreat area.
Trees were blown down across Overton County with numerous power outages.
A tree was blown down across Highway 70 at Ozone Road east of Crab Orchard, and another tree was blown down in the 900 block of Keyes Road north of Baker Crossroads.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, April 2020
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: 888627, 888628, 888629, 888630, 888631, 888632, 888633, 888634, 888635, 888636, 888626, 888638, 888637.