Scattered thunderstorms once again impacted Middle Tennessee on July 16, 2025. Lightning from one of these thunderstorms struck a natural gas substation in Davidson County which caused a fire.
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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.
Scattered thunderstorms once again impacted Middle Tennessee on July 16, 2025. Lightning from one of these thunderstorms struck a natural gas substation in Davidson County which caused a fire.
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 Jul 16, 5:33 AM CST, 2 hours 32 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 633 AM CDT Wed Jul 16 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 628 AM CDT Wed Jul 16 2025 - Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will continue for the period. - The risk of severe weather is very low, however, heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and frequent lightning will be possible with any storm. - Heat indices are likely to exceed 100 degrees each day this week for most areas west of the Cumberland Plateau. && .UPDATE... Issued at 544 AM CDT Wed Jul 16 2025 There's not much different with today's forecast than yesterday's. Once again, there is plenty of instability and moisture available for isolated to scattered storms to develop during peak-heating hours. We are currently not outlooked for anything more than general thunderstorms during the next 3 days, with nothing for us in SPC's extended convective outlook, so that's good news. Temperatures will continue to exceed seasonal normals for the foreseeable future. Many areas west of the Cumberland Plateau are likely to experience afternoon heat indices of 100F or greater today and the next several days. A few spots, mainly near the Tennessee River, will probably reach 105F this afternoon, but not widespread enough to warrant a Heat Advisory. Tomorrow, even more locations are expected to hit the 105F threshold, so it is quite possible that a Heat Advisory will be needed for tomorrow. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Thursday Night) Issued at 1043 PM CDT Tue Jul 15 2025 Warm and muggy conditions in Middle Tennessee continue into the rest of this week. Tonight, patchy fog will once again be possible on the Cumberland Plateau, as it has been the past week or so. Wednesday, some CAMs are showing some morning showers moving west to east around 6am along and north of I-40 so we will have to watch for some early morning precipitation. With this early convection, the same CAMs are not showing much in the way of afternoon thunderstorms. However, guidance has been struggling to accurately depict the coverage (or outright existence) of diurnal showers and thunderstorms. As long as this pattern continues, diurnal showers and thunderstorms will continue to be a possibility. Heat indices on Wednesday could get up to just under heat advisory criteria, so while it is not likely at this time that one will be issued, remember to stay hydrated and stay cool if working or doing anything outside in the afternoon. && .LONG TERM... (Friday through next Wednesday) Issued at 1043 PM CDT Tue Jul 15 2025 Biggest concern the next few days is heat indices, as there are afternoons towards the end of the week when they could flirt with 110 degrees. Most likely scenario is 100 to 105 degrees, with the higher end values being more likely west of I-24. We're actively monitoring the situation for a possible heat advisory, but at this time, just remember heat safety and recognize the signs of heat illness. Second biggest concern is with these diurnal storms, while severe weather risk is low, hazardous weather could still occur. This includes heavy rainfall rates that could lead to localized flooding, frequent lightning, and gusty winds. If you're spending any time outdoors the next week, make sure you have a plan to keep yourself safe in case a storm surprises you while you're outdoors. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 628 AM CDT Wed Jul 16 2025 Middle Tennessee finds itself caught between a surface ridge to our south and a weak shortwave to our north this morning. The air mass across the mid state hasn't budged. There is plenty of instability and available moisture, so we're looking at low to medium chances of rain and storms mainly this afternoon. Like yesterday, PoPs are too low to warrant mention in the TAFs, except along the Cumberland Plateau, where probabilities are a little higher, so we've included PROB30 remarks for TS/CBs at KCSV and KSRB. Elsewhere, we can upgrade the TAFs should convection look to affect one or more of the terminals. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 96 77 96 76 / 40 10 30 20 Clarksville 93 75 94 76 / 20 10 20 20 Crossville 88 69 88 70 / 40 30 50 30 Columbia 93 75 94 74 / 20 10 10 10 Cookeville 90 72 90 73 / 40 20 50 30 Jamestown 89 71 88 71 / 40 30 60 30 Lawrenceburg 93 74 93 74 / 20 10 20 20 Murfreesboro 95 75 95 74 / 30 10 30 20 Waverly 93 74 94 74 / 20 10 10 20 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE.......Rose SHORT TERM...Holley LONG TERM....Holley AVIATION.....Rose
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a natural gas substation in Joelton, causing a fire. Damages are a rough estimate.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, July 2025
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: 1264759.