A broken line of thunderstorm tracked eastward across Middle Tennessee on May 6, 2024. With plenty of instability and modest shear, these thunderstorms became strong to severe, especially across eastern Middle Tennessee.
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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 broken line of thunderstorm tracked eastward across Middle Tennessee on May 6, 2024. With plenty of instability and modest shear, these thunderstorms became strong to severe, especially across eastern Middle Tennessee. Several reports of wind damage and large hail up to two inches in diameter were received. Two tornadoes were also confirmed. One was an EF-0 near Lebanon, and the other was an EF-1 near Smithville.
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 6, 1:00 AM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 200 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Tonight) Issued at 155 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Our active weather pattern continues. Currently, we're in between two rounds of storms during this overnight period. The first has moved into KY and the second is in West TN, headed this way. While no severe weather is expected with this second round, an isolated wind gust or two of 40 mph isn't out of the question. The bigger thing we're monitoring is the rainfall amounts. Over West TN, as these storms came out of the Memphis area, 0.75 to 1.5 inches has been noted in MRMS data. These numbers are possible in isolated areas of western Middle TN over the next few hours, but on the whole, everyone should get around an inch. Any training will lead to the higher numbers. Here's the problem: the last few runs of the HRRR have begun to hint at this round getting through the area by about 15Z, then a third wave may develop in West TN and cross the TN River by lunch time. If this does pan out, I'm a little worried about at least localized flash flooding for those who get both the second and third rounds of rains. Rainfall totals could be at 3 inches or better on top of already wet soils. We will need to monitor this closely -- especially for areas along and north of I-40. For the lunchtime development, forecast soundings are fairly spring- like, but shear values are meager. Enough to support thunderstorms, but severe chances are negligible, at best. Rain chances may linger in the evening hours across the northern Cumberland Plateau, but most should be dry tonight. That's just today and tonight! I haven't even gotten to the severe weather threats for Tuesday and Wednesday! && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through next Monday) Issued at 155 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Forecast soundings Tuesday and Wednesday continue to show some of the more impressive environmental conditions I've seen this spring. CAPE will build into the 1500-2000 J/Kg range on Tuesday as temperatures climb into the low to mid-80s and dew points climb into the upper 60s, close to 70 degrees. Shear values improve on Tuesday and while they're not incredibly impressive, 40 kts of 0-6 km shear and ~200 SRH is nothing to sneeze at. However, on Tuesday, I don't see much of anything in the way of a focusing mechanism for lift -- at least in the models. Doesn't mean we can't get a outflow that pushes into Middle TN from upstream storms, but even with the impressive instability parameters, if we don't have some lifting mechanism, we may be hard-pressed for get much more than isolated storm development. For now, we'll carry a wind and hail threat for any storms that do develop on Tuesday. Wednesday still looks like the better day for severe weather. Heat and moisture continue to build into the region leading to CAPE values potentially north of 3000 J/Kg during the afternoon hours. Without a doubt, the highest values we've seen so far this spring. While that's all fine and dandy, we may struggle during the afternoon to see anything that will provide lift. We'll have to refine the Wednesday afternoon forecast over the next couple of days, especially as we get into CAM range. However, as the associated front moves into the region Wednesday evening, even our global models are picking up on what looks to be a fairly intense line of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday evening. While we'll lose some of the heating of the day, CAPE values manage to remain in the 1500-2000 J/Kg range and it's ahead of this line where shear values start to increase and lapse rates get sharp (7.5+). If this verifies, we'll be looking at all forms of severe weather being possible. Wind, large hail, tornadoes - and with PWs being in the 90th percentile - flash flooding, as well. There's plenty to fine tune over the next few days, so please be weather aware through the first half of this week. After Wednesday night, it looks like we should get a break from this active pattern for at least a few days. Temperatures relax back into the 70s and our next rain chances may not come until the end of next weekend. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1224 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Scattered showers and storms will likely affect the terminals off and on over the forecast period. Visibilities will be reduced to IFR/MVFR during pockets of heavy rain. In addition, cigs may temporarily be reduced to MVFR. The rain chances should taper off Monday evening for the remainder of the taf period. Winds will generally be out of the S/SW around 5-10 kts. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 82 67 85 68 / 90 30 60 60 Clarksville 80 66 84 66 / 90 40 50 50 Crossville 76 61 79 63 / 90 60 50 70 Columbia 83 66 84 66 / 70 30 50 60 Cookeville 77 63 81 65 / 100 60 60 70 Jamestown 75 61 81 63 / 90 60 60 70 Lawrenceburg 82 66 83 67 / 60 20 50 60 Murfreesboro 83 65 84 66 / 90 30 50 60 Waverly 82 66 83 66 / 90 40 50 50 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Unger LONG TERM....Unger AVIATION.....Reagan
The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 130 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:11 UTC.
16 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Six large oak trees up to five feet in diameter were uprooted and snapped along Highway 43 around one mile north of the Tennessee/Alabama border. Powerlines were also blown down in this area. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree at Rogana Road at Rock Springs Road and a large tree branch and powerline on Mount Vernon Road at Old Highway 31E in Bethpage. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated half dollar size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm in Warren County.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees along South Cumberland Street in Lebanon. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm in Lebanon.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm in Lebanon.
A brief EF0 tornado touched down along Big Springs Road north of Old Rome Pike around seven miles northeast of Lebanon. Several videos of the tornado were taken from nearby residents and firefighters. The only known damage was to trees. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated half dollar size hail fell from a severe thunderstorm near Lebanon.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported near Fairview in Williamson County.
Estimated ping pong size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Leipers Fork in Williamson County.
Estimated ping pong size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near College Grove in Williamson County.
Estimated ping pong size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near College Grove in Williamson County.
Estimated half dollar size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near College Grove in Williamson County.
Estimated golf ball size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Williamsport in Maury County.
Estimated two inch hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm in College Grove in Williamson County.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Baxter.
An EF1 tornado touched down east of Highway 70 in northwest Smithville then moved east paralleling Allen Ferry Road. Numerous trees were broken, snapped, and uprooted along the road, and several farm buildings lost roofing. The tornado then curved southeast and caused the worst damage along Highway 56 north of Smith Road where dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted and a couple homes suffered significant roof, garage, and exterior wall damage. The tornado then lifted east of the highway. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds snapped two trees on the Mount Juliet side of Percy Priest Lake. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated 1.5 to 2 inch hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Bell Buckle in Rutherford County.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm east of Smithville.
Estimated quarter to half dollar size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Beech Grove.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported along Honeysuckle Lane from a severe thunderstorm near Sparta.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed large trees along Hickory Valley Road just south of Panther Road in Sparta. Damages are a rough estimate.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding along Hickory Valley Road and Lost Creek Road south of Sparta. A resident in the area reported that about four to five inches of rain was covering roadways, making them impassable. Home driveways in this area were also flooded. Damages are not known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2024Warnings 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: 1166068, 1166067, 1166043, 1166045, 1166046, 1166047, 1166050, 1166049, 1166065, 1166051, 1166052, 1166053, 1166054, 1166057, 1166055, 1166056, 1166058, 1166061, 1166066, 1166059, 1166063, 1166060, 1166062, 1166064.