Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, December 5 to 6, 2021

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, December 5 to 6, 2021
Start: 2021-12-05T18:17
End: 2021-12-06T07:48
Location: Tennessee

December 5 to 6, 2021 · NWS OHX · 24 events in 17 counties and zones

After some isolated thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours on December 5, a line of severe thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee during the early morning hours on December. This line of thunderstorms produced 5 tornadoes and numerous reports of wind damage.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $168,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS OHX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 5, 5:32 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 5, 5:32 PM CST, 45 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Nashville TN
532 PM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

.UPDATE...
FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Hopefully you've been able to get out and enjoy this late fall day
as temperatures have climbed into the mid 60s to lower 70s this
afternoon. Scattered showers have been contained to West Tennessee
so far, but that is changing as some showers move across the
Tennessee River. No lightning has been noted yet, but 500 J/kg of
MLCAPE is in place in that area with no capping. The shear is not
quite in place yet, so the thinking is a couple non severe storms
are possible this afternoon.

The severe threat increasing this evening as the low level jet
ramps up which increase the low level helicity. HREF shows mean
0-1 km SRH about 250 m2s2 after 00z. CAPE values are still
expected to be in excess of 500 J/kg. Models show another batch of
showers and storms move into the west likely after 8 PM. With the
parameters in place, it is possible for a couple of storms to be
severe with damaging winds and even a tornado. The timing for the
main event remains unchanged with the line of storms entering the
northwest around 2 AM, reaching metro between 5-6 AM, and exiting
the plateau by 9 AM. Models continue to show 0-1 km SRH values
exceeding 250 m2s2 ahead of the line with MLCAPE values around 500
J/kg. CAPE values begin to fall below 500 J/kg after 3 AM and
activity is expected to weaken as it approaches the plateau. The
main concerns continue to be damaging winds and a couple
tornadoes. Rain could be heavy at times with PWAT values around
the 95th percentile, but flooding shouldn't be an issue with the
progressive nature of the cold front.

Showers will quickly clear from west to east tomorrow with cold
air filtering into the area behind the front. In fact, locations
will start in the 50s and even 60s along the plateau, but will
fall into the 40s during the afternoon. Temperatures will fall
into the 20s by Tuesday morning. An upper trough will swing
through Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but the best
moisture will be confined south and east of our area. A couple of
showers are possible late Tuesday night or early Wednesday
especially along the plateau. Profiles might be cool enough to
even support a few snow flakes, but this will be inconsequential.
Another shortwave slides well north of the area on Thursday, but
there is some moisture drawn northward toward a surface low that
will be lifting into the Great Lakes region. This could spark a
couple showers late Thursday. A more organized and potent system
will develop and impact our area late Friday or Saturday. This
system could have some severe weather or flooding potential and is
worth keeping an eye on.

&&

.AVIATION...
00Z TAF DISCUSSION.

Cold front will be on approach late tonight and will move into our
northwestern counties around 09Z. Look for showers to begin with
the fropa, and a small window of heavier tstms will occur just
ahead of the front. Shear is on the strong side and look for wind
gusts to persist for both convective and non convective scenarios.
The front and convection will clear the Plateau around 15Z.
Clearing will commence in our northwest around 18Z and transition
quickly eastward.

&&

.OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

DISCUSSION......Reagan
AVIATION........21

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 5, 3:58 AM CST, 14 hours 19 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Nashville TN
358 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

TNZ005>011-023>034-056>066-075-077>080-093>095-061030-
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-
358 AM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Middle Tennessee.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Strong to severe storms are possible late today and tonight...
especially across the northwest. Damaging wind is the main threat.
Minor flooding may also occur, also mainly across the northwest.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

A line of strong to severe storms will continue across the area early
Monday. It will weaken east of I-65 but will carry the potential to
the Plateau into the late morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any
information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following
all local, state, and CDC guidelines.

07

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 5, 5:02 PM CST, 1 hour 15 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
502 PM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

TNZ005-052330-
Stewart TN-
502 PM CST Sun Dec 5 2021

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northern Stewart
County through 530 PM CST...

At 502 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9
miles northwest of Dover, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Big Rock and Land Between The Lakes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3666 8785 3663 8785 3664 8764 3661 8764
      3650 8804 3653 8803 3656 8803 3668 8807
      3668 8802
TIME...MOT...LOC 2302Z 243DEG 40KT 3659 8795

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Barnwell

The radar

The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 113 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:16 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 thunderstorm wind, 7 tornado, 1 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Perry

When: December 5, 6:17 PM CST
Where: Perry County, 4.74 mi NW of Lobelville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 35.819, -87.819

Dime to penny size hail reported on Red Bank Road near Lobelville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stewart

When: December 6, 4:14 AM CST
Where: Stewart County, Bumpus Mills
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.600, -87.820

Trees and power lines down across Bumpus Mills.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stewart

When: December 6, 4:17 AM CST
Where: Stewart County, Big Rock
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.580, -87.750

Trees and power lines were blown down in Big Rock.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stewart

When: December 6, 4:17 AM CST
Where: Stewart County, Dover
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.480, -87.830

Trees and power lines were blown down with minor property damage throughout Dover.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stewart

When: December 6, 4:18 AM CST
Where: Stewart County, 0.55 mi SE of New Haven
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 36.493, -87.794

A concentrated area of downed trees was reported near Cross Creeks Wildlife Refuge Headquarters.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: December 6, 4:33 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Clarksville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.530, -87.350

Trees and tree limbs were blown down throughout Montgomery County. A wind gust of 53 mph was measured at Clarksville Outlaw Field at 433 AM CST.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: December 6, 4:35 AM CST
Where: Houston County, 2.9 mi S of Tennessee Ridge
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: 911 Call Center
Coordinates: 36.279, -87.779

Trees and tree limbs were blown down on Lewis Branch Road and Bateman Branch Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dickson

When: December 6, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Dickson County, 1.3 mi WNW of Taylor Xrds
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 36.208, -87.451

A tree was blown down onto a house with a limb knocked through the window in the 1200 block of Upper Creek Road.

Lightning, Robertson

When: December 6, 5:10 AM CST
Where: Robertson County, 2.13 mi SSE of Coopertown
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.400, -86.942

Two structure fires from lightning strikes were reported in the Martins Chapel area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cheatham

When: December 6, 5:18 AM CST
Where: Cheatham County, 1.73 mi ESE of Cheap Hill
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.317, -87.123

Trees were blown down blocking Saddle Tree Road as well as Ed Harris Road north of Ashland City.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sumner

When: December 6, 5:33 AM CST
Where: Sumner County, Cottontown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 36.450, -86.530

Trees were blown down in Cottontown.

Tornado, Trousdale

When: December 6, 5:59 AM CST to 6:05 AM CST
Where: Trousdale County, 2.86 mi ESE of Paynes Store to 2.1 mi ESE of Hartsville
Rating: EF0
Path length: 4.77 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.385, -86.222

An EF0 tornado touched down just east of Hankins Lane and continued eastward where it blew down several trees on Oldham Road. The tornado moved east along old Highway 25 where it toppled dozens of trees, destroyed a couple of barns and outbuildings, and blew an RV on top of a school bus. As the storm continued along its path, it downed trees south and southeast of downtown Hartsville. It weakened as it crossed Thompson Lane and Circle Lane, then lifted just south of Trousdale County Elementary School. This tornado is the first December tornado on record for Trousdale County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When: December 6, 6:19 AM CST
Where: Smith County, 0.86 mi WSW of Pleasant Shade
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 36.377, -85.965

A Facebook report indicated a shop was destroyed and trees and power lines were blown down on Toe Town Road in Pleasant Shade.

Tornado, Lawrence

When: December 6, 6:34 AM CST to 6:35 AM CST
Where: Lawrence County, 1.49 mi E of Lodi to 1.76 mi ENE of Lodi
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.27 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.234, -87.544

A brief EF0 tornado touched down along Key West Road, blowing down several trees. It moved east to Pond Field road, uprooting a few large trees. The tornado lifted just a few hundred yards to the east in an open field.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: December 6, 6:38 AM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Westpoint
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.130, -87.530

Several trees were blown down in the Westpoint area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: December 6, 6:50 AM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Lawrenceburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 35.250, -87.330

Lawrence County Emergency Management reported 155 hours were without power in Lawrenceburg due to tree limbs down on power lines.

Tornado, Overton

When: December 6, 6:56 AM CST to 6:59 AM CST
Where: Overton County, 1.35 mi ESE of Unity to 1.56 mi SSW of Taylors Xrds
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.64 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.475, -85.306

An EF0 tornado touched down west of Independence Road northeast of Allons and moved east across Mullins Lane and Stover Road blowing down trees and damaging the roofs of several barns. The tornado took a slight northeast turn across the intersection of Willow Grove Highway and Cherokee Lane where it blew the metal roof off of one home and damaged several outbuildings and barns. Numerous trees were downed in this area as well. Tree damage continued to the east before the tornado lifted west of Jaybird Lane. This tornado is the first December tornado on record for Overton|County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Putnam

When: December 6, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, 2.25 mi NNW of Holladay
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 36.179, -85.549

A Facebook photo showed a barn partially collapsed on Pippin Road.

Tornado, Overton

When: December 6, 7:04 AM CST to 7:05 AM CST
Where: Overton County, 2.04 mi ENE of Rhyan Spgs to 3.15 mi ENE of Rhyan Spgs
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.15 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Pickett, Tn (OHX)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.479, -85.195

An EF0 tornado touched down near the Monroe community east of Garrett Town Lane and moved eastward, blowing down a few trees. It crossed Highway 111 causing damage to fencing around the recycling plant and downed several more trees. As it continued east, the tornado strengthened, blowing down dozens of trees and destroying several outbuildings along Bethsadia Road, Ester Jones Road, and Big Hollow Road. Debris was blown hundreds of yards away along this portion of the path. The tornado lifted near Dale Hollow Lake. This tornado is the first December tornado on record for Pickett County.

Tornado, Pickett

When: December 6, 7:05 AM CST to 7:07 AM CST
Where: Pickett County, 1.39 mi S of Midway to 1.32 mi SSE of Oak Grove
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.87 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.480, -85.175

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: December 6, 7:24 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 1.15 mi W of Jamestown
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 36.432, -84.941

A Facebook report indicated trees and power lines were blown down in the Ridgetop Acres area of Jamestown.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fentress

When: December 6, 7:24 AM CST
Where: Fentress County, 0.6 mi W of Pine Haven to 0.33 mi W of Pine Haven
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 36.450, -84.941

Straight line winds estimated up to 70 mph knocked over 3 HVAC units on the roof of Pine Haven Elementary School and damaged a portable building. A dugout at the baseball field across the street collapsed and bleachers were turned over.

Tornado, Bedford

When: December 6, 7:40 AM CST to 7:43 AM CST
Where: Bedford County, 0.39 mi SSW of Raus to 2.1 mi ESE of Raus
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.12 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Moore, Tn (HUN)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.395, -86.331

This tornado touched down in the Raus community near Smith Chapel Road at Elijah Parker Road in far southern Bedford County, where it caused EF0 damage including blowing down a wall at the Raus Community Center and knocking down trees on Powell Hollow Road. Moving eastward, the tornado crossed into Moore County and strengthened to EF-1 where it blew down numerous trees and caused minor damage to several homes along Brinkley Road, Ledford Mill Road, and Motlow College Road. The tornado then moved into Coffee County, continuing to blow down trees and damage homes in areas along and near Ledford Mill Road. The tornado weakened as it entered and moved across northern portions of the city of Tullahoma, where it damaged signs and outbuildings along North Jackson Street, then blew down numerous trees and caused minor roof damage to homes on Normandy Road, Riley Creek Road, around the Lakewood Golf Course, and in the Lake Tullahoma Estates before lifting. Total path length of this tornado was 8.01 miles.

Tornado, Coffee

When: December 6, 7:44 AM CST to 7:48 AM CST
Where: Coffee County, 1.36 mi WSW of Flowertown to 2.78 mi NE of Tullahoma
Rating: EF1
Path length: 4.68 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 35.394, -86.273

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Tennessee in 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 2021 Warnings in Tennessee, December 2021

Sources

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: 999082, 999083, 999084, 999086, 999085, 999089, 999087, 999088, 999090, 999284, 999285, 999286, 999305, 999287, 999289, 999290, 999292, 999293, 999295, 999309, 999306, 999308, 999310, 999311.