Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across eastern parts of Middle Tennessee during the late morning and afternoon hours on April 8, 2021. With weak instability of up to 500 J/Kg of MLCAPE along with moderate low level shear around 200-250 m2/s2, several of these storms exhibited weak rotation at times.
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.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across eastern parts of Middle Tennessee during the late morning and afternoon hours on April 8, 2021. With weak instability of up to 500 J/Kg of MLCAPE along with moderate low level shear around 200-250 m2/s2, several of these storms exhibited weak rotation at times. However, no reports were received until late afternoon when one small storm entered western Cumberland County. This small supercell thunderstorm dropped quarter-size hail on the Pleasant Hill community around 311 PM CDT. Shortly thereafter, numerous photos and videos showed a small EF-0 tornado touching down in the Pleasant Hill community, damaging several buildings. Many area residents witnessed the tornado as it tracked northeastward before lifting near Interstate 40, and the tornado was visible from over 10 miles away and could be seen from downtown Crossville. This storm and others went on to produce more tornadoes to the northeast in Morgan and Scott Counties.
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 7, 7:10 PM CST, 4 hours 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 810 PM CDT Wed Apr 7 2021 .UPDATE... FOR EVENING DISCUSSION. && .DISCUSSION... A broad area of showers and thunderstorms is progressing eastward across West Tennessee and eastern Arkansas, along and ahead of a surface boundary that will eventually come through Middle Tennessee later tonight and tomorrow morning. Expect this activity to weaken the farther east it goes, but some strong to severe storms are still possible in our area, mainly west of I-65. The HRRR brings the leading edge of this activity across the Tennessee River between 03-04Z, and into Nashville Metro between 06-07Z, with considerable weakening thereafter. The 00Z sounding from OHX does show some instability, but is also somewhat dry and lacking in significant low-level wind shear. The surface-based CAPE is 700 J/kg and the LI is -2. PWAT is 0.98" and the 0-3 km storm- relative helicity is 78. Hourly grids are holding up well thus far and see no need for a forecast update at this time. && .AVIATION... 00Z TAF DISCUSSION. VFR conditions will continue for a few more hours, but showers and a few thunderstorms will approach from the west by 03-04Z and bring MVFR cigs/vis to BNA/MQY/CKV. CSV will see reduced flying categories, too, but not until after 07Z. VFR should return for all terminals by 18Z Thursday. South to southwest winds will continue to be gusty through the period. && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && DISCUSSION......08 AVIATION........Unger
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Nashville TN 337 AM CDT Wed Apr 7 2021 TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-081030- 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- 337 AM CDT Wed Apr 7 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Middle Tennessee. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. A few strong thunderstorms are possible tonight, generally west of I-65. Main concern is strong gusty winds. Heavy rain is possible tonight into early Thursday, especially across the southwest. Minor flooding may occur. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few strong thunderstorms may remain early Thursday east of I-65. Main concern continues to be strong gusty winds. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not likely. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. 07
The Nashville radar (KOHX), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:19 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Fence blown over and scoreboard snapped at Hillwood High School.
This EF-0 tornado quickly spun up near Highway 70 and Brownstown Road causing minor tree damage. The tornado then moved directly through the Pleasant Hill community where several structures were damaged, including the elementary school and a nursing home, along with a few other buildings. Most of these structures either lost parts of their roofs, had broken glass in windows or doors, or suffered siding damage. The tornado was at its strongest and widest in this area. Continuing northeast, the tornado then travelled along Bud Tanner Road causing mostly downed trees, although a couple of homes had minor roof damage. Minor tree damage continued to be observed on Claysville Road and Stonecrest Loop before the tornado weakened considerably and finally dissipated prior to reaching Interstate 40.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2021Warnings in Tennessee, April 2021
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: 954435, 954425, 954428.