Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, March 31, 2023

The tornado that tracked through Wynne, Arkansas eventually moved from through the oxbows of the Mississippi River crossing between Tennessee and Arkansas a couple of times. Significant tree damage along the Mississippi River occurred.

The tornado that tracked through Wynne, Arkansas eventually moved from through the oxbows of the Mississippi River crossing between Tennessee and Arkansas a couple of times. Significant tree damage along the Mississippi River occurred. As the tornado passed over Corna Lake in Tipton County (the west side of the Mississippi River) and extreme southern Mississippi County, EF- 3 damage was observed. Peak winds were estimated at 145 mph in this part of Tipton County.

The rear flank downdraft of the tornado tracked across the Mississippi River into western Tipton County and caused straight-line wind damage from Ray Bluff Road northeast toward Drummonds Road. Trees were uprooted, a house and mobile home had roof damage and 12 older wooden power poles were broken.

The tornado that heavily damaged Wynne, Arkansas crossed the Mississippi River into Tipton County, Tennessee where it produced EF-2 damage across Wilder Farms. As the tornado climbed the Bluff, the tornado circulation began to weaken. From the top of the Bluff at the intersection of Pryor and Leach Roads to south of Burlison where the tornado appears to have lifted, EF-1 and EF-0 damage was observed. Peak winds from this tornado in Tipton County were estimated at 130 mph. It is important to note that as the long-tracked Wynne, Arkansas tornado was dissipating, the Covington, Tennessee tornado was on the ground approximately 3.5 miles away to the south.

The tornado developed along Highway 178 just northwest of Munford. A few fences were damaged in this area and small tree limbs were snapped. The tornado traveled east-northeast and damaged farm outbuildings along Beaver Road and then uprooted and snapped trees along Walker Field Road and Walker Field Lane. The tornado then crossed Cattle Branch Creek causing minor tree damage. The first structural damage occurred along Laxton Lane and Fite Road where houses had some minor roof damage. The tornado began to intensify as it crossed Akins Road and approached Marshall Drive. A few power poles were broken in this area. The first EF-3 damage occurred along Myron Creek Drive where significant structural damage occurred to a couple of well-built homes. The tornado crossed Indian Creek Canal and continued to cause major damage to homes and trees along Indian Creek Road and Wright Lane. The lone fatality of the tornado occurred in this area. The tornado continued east-northeast toward Highway 51, where it damaged trees and structures along Jack Bennett and Liberty Church Smith Road. The tornado widened to over one-half mile wide as it approached and crossed Highway 51. Several homes were completely destroyed in this area and dozens of homes had significant damage. Several businesses along Highway 51 suffered heavy damage. EF-3 damage was widespread in this area. Fifty-three power poles had to be replaced along Highway 51 south of Covington. The tornado then moved across the southern section of Covington. This area is mostly industrial and several businesses suffered significant damage along Highways 59 and 384. A metal truss tower was crumpled to the ground. The tornado damaged the middle and elementary schools along Mark Walker Jr. Drive where the elementary school suffered major damage to the gymnasium and several walls. The tornado then crossed South Main Street and Highway 179 damaging several more houses. Substantial damage was caused to several houses along Highway 54. One house was completely destroyed and a couple of large metal power poles were bent to the ground. The tornado widened to almost a mile as it tracked east-northeast just north of Highway 54. This area is rural and the last major structural damage in Tipton County was on Lindsey Road where a home suffered major roof damage. The strong tornado continued tracking east-northeast taking out several large metal power poles and snapping trees between farm fields. Several irrigation pivots were overturned and twisted. In total, over 500 structures were damaged in Tipton County, 82 of which were total losses. The tornado began to weaken across northeast Tipton County as it tracked toward the Hatchie River. The tornado continued into Haywood County. Peak winds in Tipton County were estimated at 150 mph.

The tornado that destroyed parts of Covington continued into Haywood County causing significant tree damage along Estes Lane. A mobile home suffered significant damage along Fulton Road. Minor tree damage continued for a few more miles and then the tornado lifted north of Brownsville. Minor damage was observed on Gillespie Road and Highway 54 North with the tornado lifting just east of Sturdivant Road. Peak winds in Haywood County were estimated at around 105 mph.

Mesonet station TT531 measured a wind gust of 63 mph northeast of Covington.

The rear flank downdraft of the tornado that tracked from Tipton County into Haywood County uprooted and snapped trees along Ross Road, Tabernacle Road, and Taylor Cemetery Road. A house suffered roof damage on Sturdivant Road.

Straight-line winds caused broken tree limbs. A couple of power poles were broken.

Several trees were snapped and uprooted in the area around LaGrange.

Straight-line winds broke large branches in Grand Junction and then uprooted and snapped trees along Highway 57 toward Saulsbury.

Straight-line winds damaged the roof of a mobile home on Highway 18 north of Grand Junction. Trees were uprooted along Highway 18 along with Westfork and Edwin Roads. A house suffered roof damage on Edwin Road and a mobile home suffered roof damage on Van Buren Road. An outbuilding also had major roof damage on Van Buren Road.

A tornado touched down near Grand Junction in southwest Hardeman County, TN on Westfork Road around 855 PM CDT Friday evening, March 31, 2023. This tornado produced an EF-1 swath of tree damage as it traveled to the northeast, uprooting and snapping the trunks of several large trees along Van Buren Road. The damage swath broadened out quite a bit as it reached Evergreen Road, causing more widespread and significant tree damage to Saulsbury Road and Roger Springs Road where EF-2 tree damage was noted. This tree damage continued for another few miles to the northeast where significant roof damage occurred to a one-family residence on Callahan Road. EF-1 damage was observed for several miles to the northeast along Sain Road. The tornado tracked through Lone Oak Farm along Lake Hardeman Road causing additional widespread tree damage. The tornado crossed Highway 125 damaging more trees before lifting just beyond L Crisp Road in a wooded area. Peak winds were estimated at 115 mph.

The rear flank downdraft of the EF-2 tornado that tracked across Hardeman County uprooted trees along Westfork Road.

NWS damage surveys concluded that a tornado touched down just south of Bethel Springs on Main Street around 9:30 PM CDT on the evening of March 31, 2023. The tornado picked up in size and intensity as it moved northeast toward Murray School Road where a double-wide manufactured home was completely destroyed. EF-2 damage continued northeast on Bethel Purdy Road where wooden power poles were snapped. A nearly 5-mile-long swath of EF-1 damage was noted up through Good Hope Church Road where more structures were significantly damaged. EF-2 damage was observed at several locations off Good Hope Church Road, including significant roof damage to a single-family residence along with bent metal electrical transmission poles. Widespread tree damage continued for 10 miles to the northeast consistent with EF-1 wind ratings as the tornado crossed into Hardin County. Peak winds in McNairy County from this tornado were estimated at 115 mph.

The rear flank downdraft of the EF-2 tornado that tracked from near Bethel Springs toward Morris Chapel caused straight-line damage on Good Hope Church Road, Sam Kirby Road, and Puron Road. Trees were uprooted and snapped. A church roof was heavily damaged.

This tornado moved into Hardin County from McNairy County. The tornado caused EF-2 damage at the Morris Chapel Methodist Church, with significant roof damage and the collapse of an exterior wall. The tornado dissipated in a field just south of White Oak Creek Canal a few miles to the northeast around 9:51 PM CDT. Peak winds in Hardin County from this tornado were estimated at 115 mph.

NWS meteorologists determined that straight-line winds impacted portions of southern and southeast Shelby County on the evening of March 31. Strong winds developed in the forward flank downdraft of a supercell thunderstorm and caused considerable tree damage and downed power lines in the area. Peak winds were estimated at 85 mph. A tree fell on a house near the Memphis International Airport resulting in the 3 fatalities.

A tornado briefly touched down off of US-70 along Highway 436. It ripped a few shingles off of a single-family home and then went on to down large limbs on trees. An occlusion led to the northward motion of the tornado as it damaged another roof of a home and then led to the major loss of roof panels to a small metal outbuilding before lifting. A special thanks goes out to Carroll County Emergency Management for their assistance in locating damage on the survey. Peak winds were estimated at 85 mph.

Straight-line winds knocked trees down along Haglersville Road.

Straight-line winds knocked down trees and power poles at Green Hills Estate Road and Highway 218.

A tornado briefly touched down along an elevated area and led to the collapse of walls and the removal of much of the roof of a metal outbuilding along Sawmill Rd. The tornado also damaged branches on a couple of trees near the outbuilding, lifted briefly, and then downed more limbs along Cedar Grove Church Road. While the damage path was short-lived in duration, it was determined to be tornadic based on the convergent damage pattern and vertical lift of roof panels into trees behind the outbuilding. A special goes out to Benton County Emergency Management for their assistance in locating damage during the survey. Peak winds were estimated at 85 mph.

Straight-line winds removed shingles from a roof and broke tree limbs.

Straight-line winds uprooted trees along Hargis Road and Liberty Road. A home on Liberty Road suffered roof damage.

The tornado formed in far eastern Hardeman County just to the east of Muddy Creek, causing damage to trees and minor structural damage along Powell Chapel and Skipper Creek Roads. The tornado then moved into McNairy County. Peak winds in Hardeman County from this tornado were estimated at 105 mph.

The rear flank downdraft of the EF-3 tornado that developed in western Hardeman County and moved across McNairy County uprooted trees on Powell Chapel Road.

Straight-line winds damaged the signage and facade of a convenience store off of Highway 64 and Teague Road.

The rear flank downdraft of the EF-3 tornado that developed in western Hardeman County and moved across McNairy County uprooted trees from Hines Gin Road to Locke Road.

This tornado crossed from Hardeman County into McNairy County and moved east-northeast along Skipper Creek, intensifying as it moved into the Rose Creek area. A swath of significant damage was surveyed along Rose Creek Road from Talley Road to King Road. Tree damage was widespread and several homes were severely damaged. A single-wide manufactured home was destroyed on Rose Creek Road, killing all four occupants. Maximum wind speeds in this area were estimated at 125 mph. The tornado briefly weakened as it approached Highway 64 west of Selmer. Widespread tree damage and sporadic damage to structures were noted along Bud Long Road, Highway 64, and John Moore Road, with several utility poles snapped along Highway 64. A church was damaged at Highway 45 and Dowty Road. The glass in the foyer was blown out and some damage to the siding was observed. Just north of the church, a metal building was destroyed and several utility poles were snapped. More significant damage was noted along Main Street just south of Hopkins Street in the Bethel Springs area. Several homes sustained significant damage. This is the same area affected by a tornado a few hours prior with a few of these properties sustaining damage from both tornadoes. The tornado continued to the east-northeast, damaging trees and utility poles on Murray School Road and numerous homes along Bethel Purdy Road. The Community Center on Purdy Beauty Hill Road was completely destroyed and a nearby home suffered severe damage. The tornado intensified as it followed Old Stage Road. Widespread damage to trees, powerlines, and homes was observed from Dogwood Lane to Leapwood Enville Road. Several homes were completely destroyed and four fatalities occurred in this area. Additional home and tree damage was observed along Puron and Neely Sharp Roads with another area of more significant damage near Highway 22 and Winding Ridge Road where another fatality occurred. In total, nearly 200 structures were damaged in McNairy County between this tornado and the EF-2 that occurred a couple of hours earlier, 91 of which were total losses. The tornado weakened as it moved into Hardin County. Peak winds in McNairy County from this tornado were estimated at 155 mph.

Straight-line winds uprooted trees north of the EF-3 tornado track from Sandy Flat Road to Dowty Road near the intersection with Lynch Lane.

Straight-line winds uprooted and snapped trees. A roof was blown off.

This tornado weakened as it moved from McNairy into Hardin County, with damage to homes and trees along Highway 69, Old Union Road, Harris Road, and Glendale Road near Hookers Bend. One area of more intense damage was surveyed near Chalk Bluff along Glendale Road where a manufactured home was completely destroyed and an area of trees was slightly debarked. The tornado then approached New Harmony, crossing the bends in the Tennessee River three times. Numerous homes were damaged along Emerald Lane and in the area of Flat Bluff near Becky Road and Lion Lane. Additional damage was noted in the Crossroads area along Clifton and Hardin Creek Roads as the tornado moved into Wayne County. In total, nearly 150 structures were damaged in Hardin County between this tornado and the EF-2 that occurred a couple of hours earlier, 42 of which were total losses. Peak winds in Hardin County from this tornado were estimated at 145 mph.

The rear flank downdraft of the EF-3 tornado that developed and moved across McNairy County caused extensive roof damage to an outbuilding on Vista River Lane near the Tennessee River.

Straight-line winds caused minor tree and outbuilding damage in the Enville area.

Several trees were uprooted along Highway 22.

Straight-line winds damaged the roof of an outbuilding along Highway 22.

Straight-line winds uprooted several trees along Highway 64 between Star Lane and Prentiss Johnson Lane.