A line of thunderstorms moved through Middle Tennessee during the late morning and early afternoon hours of August 7, 2023. Damaging straight-line winds were the primary threat with this line, especially for areas roughly along and south of Interstate 40.
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 line of thunderstorms moved through Middle Tennessee during the late morning and early afternoon hours of August 7, 2023. Damaging straight-line winds were the primary threat with this line, especially for areas roughly along and south of Interstate 40. While this line of thunderstorms was severe as it crossed the Tennessee River, it significantly strengthened as it moved east of Interstate 65 with estimated winds of 70 to 95 mph across the Cumberland Plateau. Numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines were received with many of these also damaging homes and vehicles as well. The worst damage occurred across Cannon, Coffee, Warren, and Van Buren counties. Six separate microbursts and downbursts were identified that caused most of the significant damage in this area.
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 Aug 7, 5:41 AM CST, 3 hours 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 641 AM CDT Mon Aug 7 2023 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Tuesday) Issued at 158 AM CDT Mon Aug 7 2023 A few showers have popped up over the last couple of hours as some upper level support noses into the area. The surface front that will sweep through the area later today is still back in central Arkansas. CAMS are showing scattered storms developing around mid to late morning either in a SW to NE orientation ahead of the surface front. The wind energy in place is impressive for early August with a 30-40 kts LLJ and a 80-90 jet streak at 300 mb. This translates to 40-45 kts of effective bulk shear in the late morning to early afternoon time frame. In addition to that, mlCAPE values ahead of the storms will be in the 2500-3500 J/kg range. I suspect when storms initially develop, they will exhibit some supercellular characteristics with rotating updrafts and impressive cores. Large hail will certainly be possible along with damaging winds. Hodographs are unidirectional with SW surface winds and a SW LLJ. This should limit the tornado threat, but a tornado cannot be ruled out along the plateau. The initial cells that develop will quickly cold pool into a line of storms with the threat shifting more toward damaging winds. The line of storms are expected to clear the area by mid afternoon. Behind the frontal passage conditions will be breezy with westerly winds around 15-20 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph. The rest of the short term forecast will be much calmer. Lows tonight will drop into the low to mid 60s. With the cooler temperatures and light wind, patchy fog will likely develop. Tuesday looks to be the nicest day we'll have over the forecast period with plenty of sun and highs mainly in the low to mid 80s. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday Night through next Monday) Issued at 158 AM CDT Mon Aug 7 2023 The quiet weather won't last long as a shortwave will pass through the area on Wednesday with another wave of showers and storms. Models again show a large amount of instability with decent shear. A few storms could reach severe limits with damaging winds being the greatest threat. On Thursday another shortwave will be on the heels of Wednesday's wave. Once again, there appears to be ample shear and instability in place for some severe storms with damaging winds. Rain chances will go down on Friday without a substantial wave moving through the area. Regardless, some isolated showers and storms will still be possible. Scattered storm chances will continue into the weekend. As far as temperatures, highs are expected to be around normal or a couple degrees below normal. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 634 AM CDT Mon Aug 7 2023 Scattered thunderstorms are impacting terminals this morning with low clouds accompanying them. A line of thunderstorms is expected to develop later this morning between 16Z-18Z and will primarily impact CSV And SRB. Wind gusts up to 40+ kts will be possible as storms move through with lowered vsbys due to heavy rain. VCTS is in at BNA and MQY as storm coverage will be less near those terminals. Outside of the storms, sustained southerly winds will be between 10-15kts with gusts up to 30kts possible for most of the day. Once the front moves through, winds will shift out of the WNW, going calm by the overnight period. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 89 68 86 69 / 40 10 10 20 Clarksville 87 65 86 68 / 20 10 10 20 Crossville 81 61 78 61 / 90 10 10 20 Columbia 88 66 85 68 / 50 10 10 30 Cookeville 84 63 80 65 / 80 10 10 20 Jamestown 82 63 78 63 / 80 10 10 20 Lawrenceburg 88 66 83 67 / 60 10 10 30 Murfreesboro 90 66 86 67 / 60 10 10 20 Waverly 86 64 83 67 / 30 0 10 30 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Reagan LONG TERM....Reagan AVIATION.....Baggett
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 137 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:27 UTC.
30 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees across southern Lawrence County. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and tree limbs across Summertown with some partially blocking streets. One of these trees was snapped on North Brace Road. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree limb onto a powerline at 1st Avenue and Gaines Street in Lawrenceburg. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a large tree that fell on top of a building, causing significant damage along Airport Avenue in Murfreesboro. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and tree limbs in east Wartrace. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees across Bell Buckle. Damages are a rough estimate.
A combination of sentinel satellite imagery, drone video, and damage photos indicate a small but intense 250-500 yards wide microburst caused significant damage from Hollow Springs Road in Cannon County to Pedigap Road in Warren County. The metal roof of a barn-style home at 5990 Hollow Springs Road was partially blown off and the home was shifted slightly off its foundation, causing $100,000 in wind and water damage. Winds were estimated up to 75 mph in this area. Further to the east, a video of the microburst was taken at an automotive business on Jim Cummings Hwy, where winds were also estimated up to 75 mph. Major tree damage occurred from north of McMahan Rd to north of Pedigap Rd, with dozens of trees snapped and uprooted. A silo on Parker Rd was also destroyed and a barn on Pedigap Rd was heavily damaged. Winds were estimated up to 90 mph in this area. No injuries were reported, and damages are a rough estimate.
Sentinel satellite imagery along with damage photos indicate a 3/4 mile wide microburst blew down numerous trees and damaged several outbuildings from east of Espy Road in northern Coffee County to near Taylor Lake Road along the Cannon/Warren County border. A three car garage was partially collapsed on Floyd Rd at Espy Road. Swaths of corn could been seen blown down along Highway 53 south of Ivy Bluff Road, and an outbuilding was heavily damaged on Ivy Bluff Road. No injuries were reported. Damages are a rough estimate.
A combination of sentinel satellite imagery, drone video, and damage photos indicate a small but intense 250-500 yards wide microburst caused significant damage from Hollow Springs Road in Cannon County to Pedigap Road in Warren County. The metal roof of a barn-style home at 5990 Hollow Springs Road was partially blown off and the home was shifted slightly off its foundation, causing $100,000 in wind and water damage. Winds were estimated up to 75 mph in this area. Further to the east, a video of the microburst was taken at an automotive business on Jim Cummings Hwy, where winds were also estimated up to 75 mph. Major tree damage occurred from north of McMahan Rd to north of Pedigap Rd, with dozens of trees snapped and uprooted. A silo on Parker Rd was also destroyed and a barn on Pedigap Rd was heavily damaged. Winds were estimated up to 90 mph in this area. About 60 reports of traffic hazards were received with numerous power outages throughout the county. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree onto a vehicle at Woodbury Highway and Gnat Hill Road north of Manchester which injured a person who was in the vehicle at the time. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree on top of a home at Bond Street and Hills Chapel Road in Manchester. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds reported numerous trees down in the Beechgrove area, including along Hoodoo Norton Branch Road. Power outages were also reported in the area. Damages are a rough estimate.
Sentinel satellite imagery along with damage photos indicate an intense microburst struck the Manchester area, causing a 1/2 mile wide swath of damage along a roughly 7 mile path across southern and southeastern Manchester. Scattered trees were blown down in this area with several trees falling onto homes and businesses. Some roads reported impacted included Highway 55, Highway 41, Perry Road, Old Pocahontas Road, Royal Trail, Doak Road, Ragsdale Road, and Vaughn Hollow. Winds were estimated up to 75 mph. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds flipped a RV along Spry Road east of Beechgrove. No injuries were reported. Damages are estimated.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines along Garner Road in Morrison. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree along McFerrin Street in Woodbury. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a honey locust tree along Iconium Drive near Woodbury which blocked a driveway. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree along Harrison Ferry Mountain Road near McMinnville. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds blew the roof off of a barn on Castle Street near Senator Jerry Cooper Highway just northwest of McMinnville. No injuries were reported. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds caused a tree to fall on a house in the 1300 Block of Mike Muncy Road near McMinnville. The house sustained heavy structural damage, but no injuries were reported. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed multiple trees at Crisp Springs Road and Highway 70 in McMinnville. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees at Skyline Drive and Redbud Trail in Sparta. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds snapped a tree along Gaines Street in Sparta which blocked the street. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds snapped a tree in Silver Point which fell on top of a home, causing minor roofing and gutter damage. Damages are a rough estimate.
Satellite imagery along with damage photos indicate a large and very damaging 10 mile wide downburst struck eastern Van Buren County. Scattered trees were snapped and uprooted in this large downburst with winds estimated from 60 to 75 mph. Within the downburst area, a smaller but much more damaging 1.5 mile wide microburst blew down thousands of trees from western Fall Creek Falls State Park eastward to south of Saratoga Springs. Numerous roads were blocked by falling trees in this area, with some trees falling onto buildings. Winds in the microburst were estimated up to 95 mph. This resulted in numerous trees falling on cars in the park and trapping multiple people. Multiple campers were also damaged, and widespread power outages forced the park to close. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Spencer. Damages are a rough estimate.
An ASOS station in Crossville measured a 64 mph wind gust from a severe thunderstorm. These winds downed numerous trees and powerlines in the area and caused 4,420 customers to be without power in Crossville and western Cumberland County. Two homes were damaged by falling trees. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree along Hanging Limb Highway in Monterey. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree near Muddy Pond Road in Monterey. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed powerlines along Martha Washington Road in Clarkrange and downed a tree on top of a car. No injuries were reported. Damages are a rough estimate.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, August 2023
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: 1106609, 1106610, 1106611, 1106636, 1106612, 1106613, 1106615, 1106619, 1106624, 1106614, 1106637, 1106617, 1106616, 1106618, 1106620, 1106621, 1106622, 1106623, 1106625, 1106626, 1106627, 1106628, 1106629, 1106638, 1106631, 1106630, 1106632, 1106633, 1106634, 1106635.