Multiple rounds of thunderstorms impacted Middle Tennessee on May 26, 2024, and into the 27th. The first round of thunderstorms that moved through the area during the morning of the 26th was the strongest, producing damaging winds and very large hail.
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.
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms impacted Middle Tennessee on May 26, 2024, and into the 27th. The first round of thunderstorms that moved through the area during the morning of the 26th was the strongest, producing damaging winds and very large hail. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped across Middle Tennessee with the most intense damage occurring in Sumner County and along the northern Cumberland Plateau. Hickman and Williamson counties received very large hail of two to three inches in diameter which caused damage to many vehicles. While the second round of thunderstorms late in the evening on the 26th and in the early morning hours of the 27th were not as intense, they did produce sporadic wind damage in the form of downed trees and power lines.
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 May 26, 5:30 AM CST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 630 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Monday) Issued at 141 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 All is quiet in Middle Tennessee at the moment but that won't last. We face a substantial severe weather threat today. Right now, our eyes are back to the west over Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas where storms are ongoing. That activity will move eastward through the rest of the overnight hours. CAMS are showing the activity over eastern Oklahoma/ northwestern Arkansas impacting our area during the morning hours. There could be enough instability around for this round to produce some damaging wind and an instance or two of large hail. While this round has some severe potential this is not the main round. The atmosphere will rapidly destabilize during the afternoon with SBCAPE values potentially as high as 3000 J/kg late in the afternoon. There is some uncertainty regarding the convective evolution late in the afternoon. While there won't be any large scale lift during that time frame, there could be some remnant outflow boundaries around that could be a source of storm initiation. Our effective bulk shear will be in excess of 50 kts by the afternoon with some steeper mid level lapse rates advecting into the area from the west. If storms can fire late in the afternoon, we could see a couple supercells with all severe threats (damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes). Confidence is higher in a solution where storms fire to our west during the evening and move eastward into our area. By the time storms get here, we will likely be looking at an MCS. With that said, damaging winds would be the primary concern, but a few circulations embedded in the line will pose a tornado threat and a couple instances of large hail will still be possible given the steep lapse rates aloft. The line of storms should move through the area and clear our south and east by 2-4 AM CDT Monday morning. At that point, the severe threat should be over but the rain will linger. In addition to the severe threat, a flash flooding threat will be present particularly in the north where chances are higher of multiple rounds of storms from this morning and this evening. While storm motions will be progressive today, recent heavy rainfall and PWAT values around the 90th percentile will pose enough threat to go ahead and issue a flood watch for the entire area. The front will slowly move through the CWA late tonight into Memorial Day. The rain chances on Memorial Day should be confined to areas east of I-65 and those chances will decrease as the morning and afternoon progress. && .LONG TERM... (Monday Night through next Sunday) Issued at 141 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 By Monday night, the front will be east of us and the entire area should be dry. This will be the start of a calmer pattern for the rest of the week. Large scale troughing will dip out of Canada into the Great Lakes region on Tuesday with northwesterly low level flow here locally. The air will be drier on Tuesday with dew points falling into the mid to upper 50s by sunset. By Wednesday, the low level flow will be northerly as surface high pressure moves from the northerly plains toward the Great Lakes. Highs on Wednesday and Thursday will struggle to touch 80 degrees and the nights will be cooler with lows in the 50s Thursday morning and Friday morning. In fact, a few spots on the plateau may dip into the 40s. The large trough will slide east on Friday with upper level ridging on its heels. Highs on Friday will rebound back into the low to mid 80s. Those warmer temperatures will stick around through next weekend. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 622 AM CDT Sun May 26 2024 Active weather expected during this taf cycle. A line of strong to severe storms is currently approaching from the west and is expected to bring impacts to terminals through the morning. Additionally, some scattered development is possible this afternoon, but no one model has a good idea where they'll develop or even if they will develop. If storms do develop this afternoon, all modes of severe weather will be possible, likely bringing VFR vis thresholds down to IFR. A second line of strong thunderstorms is expected to push in from the west tonight after 04Z, with strong winds and very heavy rain being the primary threats. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 90 71 85 64 / 60 90 20 0 Clarksville 88 69 83 61 / 80 90 10 0 Crossville 82 64 78 56 / 70 90 40 10 Columbia 90 68 85 61 / 50 90 20 0 Cookeville 83 66 80 59 / 70 90 40 10 Jamestown 82 64 78 57 / 80 90 40 10 Lawrenceburg 88 68 84 61 / 40 90 20 0 Murfreesboro 89 68 85 60 / 60 90 20 0 Waverly 89 67 83 61 / 60 90 10 0 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Flood Watch through Monday morning 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. && SHORT TERM...Reagan LONG TERM....Reagan AVIATION.....Baggett
The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 60 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 13:46 UTC.
23 thunderstorm wind, 23 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power lines between mile markers two and five along Woodland Trace Scenic Byway in Land Between the Lakes. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and caused power outages in northern Stewart County. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines near Clarksville. A couple trees fell onto homes, and one tree fell onto an apartment building. No injuries were reported. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a large tree onto a home on the 3200 block of Burr Road in Springfield. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in and north of Orlinda. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees along Clay Gregory Road northeast of Orlinda. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees on Highland Road east-northeast of Orlinda. Damages are a rough estimate.
NWS storm survey found a large 1.5 mile wide by 11 mile long downburst that blew down dozens of trees and power lines across northern Sumner County, from west of Mitchellville to the Kentucky border north of Westmoreland. Some trees fell onto homes causing substantial damage. Max winds were estimated up to 75 mph. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines along Highway 52 in Moss. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees on Mitchell Street in Celina. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees along Heard Ridge Road near Fairview. Damages are a rough estimate.
NWS storm survey found scattered trees were blown down across central Pickett and northern Overton Counties, including on Jolley Road, Iron Creek Road, C Parker Road, Raymond Road, Keisling Ridge Road. A barn was destroyed on Hatcher Hall Road. Winds were estimated up to 70 mph. Damages are a rough estimate.
NWS storm survey found a large 2.5 mile wide by 7 mile long downburst with embedded stronger microbursts that blew down hundreds of trees across northeast Fentress and eastern Pickett Counties, especially in Pickett State Park and Big South Fork Recreation Area. The park was temporarily closed due to all roads being blocked by downed trees. Max winds were estimated up to 85 mph. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees along Doubletop Road near Jamestown. Damages are a rough estimate.
NWS Damage Assessment found large swaths of trees down in northeastern Pickett County, primarily along Pickett Park Highway northeast of Jamestown. These trees also brought down large stretches of powerlines.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees and power poles in Jamestown. Damages are a rough estimate.
Quarter size hail was reported along Interstate 24 near Clarksville.
Ping pong size hail was reported in Adams.
Ping pong size hail was reported in Coopertown.
Heavy rain caused flooding in the Springfield and Greenbrier area. In Greenbrier, portions of Old Greenbrier Pike at Worsham Spring Road was underwater. In Springfield, Kinneys School Road was flooded and closed at Sulphur Fork Creek. Damages are unknown.
Quarter size hail was reported north of Bon Aqua.
Golf ball size hail was reported in Bon Aqua.
Tennis ball size hail was reported in Bon Aqua.
Two inch hail was reported in Fairview.
Quarter size hail was reported southeast of Fairview.
Golf ball size hail was reported in Fairview.
Golf ball size hail was reported southeast of Fairview.
Quarter size hail was reported west of Franklin.
Tennis ball size hail was reported southwest of Franklin.
Three inch hail was reported in the Leipers Fork area. Many vehicles sustained damage due to broken windows and car dents. Damages are a rough estimate.
Golf ball size hail was reported near Franklin.
Half dollar size hail was reported near Franklin.
Quarter size hail was reported near Brentwood.
Two inch hail was reported northeast of College Grove.
Half dollar size hail was reported near Murfreesboro.
Nickel size hail was reported west of Murfreesboro.
Ping pong size hail was reported near Murfreesboro.
Golf ball size hail was reported west of Murfreesboro.
Quarter size hail was reported in the Burt area of southwest Cannon County.
Penny size hail was reported near Woodbury.
Severe thunderstorm winds snapped trees and tree limbs northeast of Greenbrier. Damages are a rough estimate.
A large tree was reported down in north Portland, causing power outages in the area. Saturated grounds likely contributed to the tree falling. Damages are a rough estimate.
A downed tree on Highway 76 caused power outages in the White House area. Saturated grounds likely contributed to the tree falling. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees across Pickett County. Damages are a rough estimate.
A tree was reported down near Oaklawn Cemetary Road and Old Smithville Highway in Sparta. Saturated grounds likely contributed to the tree falling. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees in Loretto, including along Highway 43 which blocked southbound lanes. Lawrenceburg Utility Systems reported 443 customers without power due to damage. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a powerline along Busby Road in West Point. Damages are a rough estimate.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, May 2024
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: 1171787, 1171788, 1171789, 1171790, 1171791, 1171792, 1171793, 1171794, 1171796, 1171797, 1171799, 1171801, 1171804, 1171802, 1187384, 1171803, 1171805, 1171806, 1171807, 1171838, 1171812, 1171813, 1171814, 1171808, 1171809, 1171810, 1171811, 1171815, 1171816, 1171817, 1171818, 1171819, 1171820, 1171821, 1171822, 1171823, 1171824, 1171825, 1171826, 1171827, and more.