A line of thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee during the evening hours of March 30, 2025, and into the early morning of March 31, 2025. With ample moisture, instability, and wind shear in place, the stage was set for severe weather.
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 across Middle Tennessee during the evening hours of March 30, 2025, and into the early morning of March 31, 2025. With ample moisture, instability, and wind shear in place, the stage was set for severe weather. Thunderstorm wind damage was common with several reports of downed trees and other structure damage received. Large hail up to 2 inches in diameter was also reported, especially across Williamson County. This event was also responsible for four tornadoes with the strongest being an EF-2 tornado near Hampshire in Maury County.
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 Mar 30, 7:47 PM CST, 25 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 847 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 ...New MESOSCALE UPDATE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 840 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 - Severe thunderstorms are a threat tonight into early Monday morning with a level 3 out of 5 risk across the area. Damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes are all possible. The greatest risk for tornadoes and large hail is west of I-65. - Flooding and severe thunderstorms will be possible mid to late week with a series of weather systems to impact the area. The flooding could become significant by late week with some areas possibly exceeding 5 inches of rainfall through the week. && .MESOSCALE UPDATE FOR TORNADO WATCH 78... Issued at 840 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 The 00Z sounding from OHX does still show good instability with sufficient mid-level lapse rates for strong updrafts, but a cap has developed around 800 mb. At this time, there is still enough surface heating to overcome the cap, but any appreciable surface cooling could act as an inhibitor should the cap remain in place. The surface based LI is -4 and the 0-3 km helicity is 238, which isn't astronomical, but still enough to allow for tornado production. At this time, existing storms are getting very close to the northwest corner of Middle Tennessee. There is an axis of higher CAPE values just ahead of the existing line of storms, with values ~2,000 J/kg in this region. Also, there is a bullseye of 400-500 helicity values around the Linden/Hohenwald/Waynesboro area, so this is one spot worth watching. && .SHORT TERM... (Rest of today through Monday) Issued at 1155 AM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 Obviously our main concern is the potential for severe weather tonight, but first a few words about today. Some pieces of shortwave energy are producing scattered showers. Through the afternoon, most of the showers will move off to our east, but there will be weak but sufficient lift and enough instability for a few (20 to 30 percent coverage) showers or thunderstorms to bubble up as temperatures warm well into the 70s. Areas west of I-65 will see cape values climb into the 1500-2000 range by mid afternoon as deep layer shear values approach 40kt. So, we cannot rule out a brief severe storm west of I-65 this afternoon, but the threat will become much greater tonight. For this evening, stronger shortwave energy will approach along with a surface cold front. In a wide zone out ahead of the front, deep south to southwest flow will keep moisture flowing up into the region with dew points in the upper 50s to lower 60s, and pockets of mid 60s. This will result in widespread capes of 1000-2000 J/kg. Deep layer shear will reach 40-50KT and low level helicity values will be mostly in the 100-200 range. CAMs show some locally enhanced SRH values as the storms move into our western counties late this evening, and that is certainly concerning for tornado potential in our far west. The greatest cape and lapse rate values will be in place out to our west this afternoon and early evening, and that is where the greater threat for discrete supercells with large hail and strong tornadoes will be located within the zone of strong forcing. That "all modes" potential will still exist as the forcing and storms move into our far western counties, but starting around that time, things will begin a transition toward QLCS or line segments with damaging winds being the dominant mode along with some embedded tornadoes. Bottom line, this is a complex balance of shear and instability with all hazards possible, so everybody should be weather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings. Take warnings seriously and move to your safe place as quickly as possible if warnings are issued. The latest timing estimates show our northwest counties under greatest impact from 9 PM to midnight, Nashville and other areas along I-65 from 11 PM to 2 AM, and Plateau mainly from 2 AM to 6 AM. These times are just to offer a general idea of the greatest severe risk. Multiple clusters or lines of storms will be possible, so check our social media or other reliable sources for the latest timing updates and details graphics for your location. There could be some local ponding in heavy downpours, but thankfully we do not expect widespread flooding tonight. Rainfall amounts are expected to be mostly 1 to 1.5 inch. The line of convection is expected to clear the area early Monday morning with quieter weather then settling in for Monday afternoon. The trough axis will work through during the late morning and afternoon and may bring a few pop up showers but they will be low impact. After seeing highs in the 70s today we will see them fall back into the 60s for Monday. We will start to get some clearing Monday night and it will be on the chilly side with lows in the upper 30s to lower 40s. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through next Sunday) Issued at 1155 AM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 Quiet weather will stay in place on Tuesday as a short wave ridge moves overhead and a surface high sits to our north. The quiet weather won't stick around for long though as we will move into a rainy and stormy period of weather from Wednesday through the weekend. A trough will track out of the Rockies Wednesday with a surface low developing over the Plains. This will push a cold front into the western part of the area Wednesday evening into Wednesday night. Once again parameters look favorable for severe weather and is something to keep an eye on. The threat would mainly be from around I-65 west. The cold front will then stall over the region as it bumps up against a strong ridge centered off the east coast of Florida. Deep southwest flow along the periphery of the ridge will bring a series of systems along the stalled boundary resulting in multiple episodes of rain and storms. Flooding is a growing concern with parts of the area expected to receive more than 6 inches of rainfall and at least a low chance for more than 8 inches of rain over our northwest counties! Thankfully the severe storm threat will diminish after Wednesday, but some strong storms with gusty winds and enhanced downpours could bubble up from time to time. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 643 PM CDT Sun Mar 30 2025 It's going to be an active night for convection across Middle Tennessee. Severe storms are ongoing over extreme southeast MO and eastern AR, and are due to arrive in Middle Tennessee beginning around 02Z with slow eastward progress throughout the late evening and overnight. We have used the 22Z HRRR for timing of the expected storms. There hasn't been a great deal of change with the forecast, so there is reasonably good confidence in the timing of the TEMPO groups in the 00Z TAFs. Since all of our terminals are under an enhanced risk of severe storms, have included higher wind gusts within the TEMPO period. There is also a hail probability, but not enough of a probability to warrant mention in the TAFs. Once the storms depart, expect low ceilings to fill in behind the surface boundary for much of the day on Monday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 56 66 42 71 / 90 50 0 0 Clarksville 51 61 40 68 / 90 10 0 0 Crossville 58 67 37 68 / 90 80 10 0 Columbia 55 67 40 71 / 90 60 0 0 Cookeville 56 65 39 69 / 90 70 0 0 Jamestown 56 66 37 68 / 90 70 10 0 Lawrenceburg 57 68 40 71 / 90 70 0 0 Murfreesboro 55 68 39 73 / 90 60 0 0 Waverly 51 63 39 70 / 90 20 0 0 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TORNADO WATCH 78. && SHORT TERM...13 LONG TERM....13 AVIATION.....Rose
The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 50 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:10 UTC.
9 hail, 7 tornado, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed two trees in the Bumpus Mills area. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated one inch hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Clarksville.
An EF-1 tornado touched down northwest of McEwen in northeast Humphreys County. This tornado began in a wooded area south of E Richland Creek Road, causing timber damage. The tornado impacted a home on Brown Hollow Road, causing roof damage and snapping nearby trees. The tornado then continued east, causing more timber damage on Hatcher Hollow Road, and then dissipated along Smith Road. Damages are a rough estimate.
An EF-0 tornado touched down in southern Humphreys County near Highway 13 and Dyer Road. The tornado caused several areas of timber damage along Dyer Road which led to powerline damage as well as structural damage. The tornado appeared to have ran along the Duck River near the end of its path and is believed to have dissipated near Willhite Road. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree onto a home on Circle Drive in Springfield. No injuries were reported. Damages are a rough estimate.
An EF-0 tornado touched down just east of Tidwell in far eastern Hickman County. Timber damage occurred near Highway 46 before the tornado progressed into far western Williamson County. Damages are a rough estimate.
This narrative is a continuation of the EF-0 tornado that began in far eastern Hickman County. After crossing into far western Williamson County, the tornado snapped and uprooted several trees in the Pinewood Substation. The tornado crossed Interstate 840, causing additional timber damage along Liberty Road before dissipating as it crossed Valley Road. Damages are a rough estimate.
A very brief EF-0 tornado touched down near Buckfork Road, southwest of Linden. The tornado snapped and uprooted several trees and caused damages to two structures. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds caused minor damage to the roof of a home on Fairview Boulevard. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated half dollar size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm in Franklin.
Estimated ping pong size hail was reported from a severe thunderstorm near Lebanon.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported near Interstate 65 and Highway 96 in Franklin.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported at McKays Mill in Franklin.
Estimated ping pong size hail was reported on Lena Lane in Franklin.
Estimated 2 inch hail was reported southwest of Nolensville.
An EF-2 tornado touched down in western Maury County, just northeast of Hampshire near U.S. Highway 412. It was here that timber damage occurred as well as damage to at least one barn on Old State Road and Roy Thompson Road. The tornado crossed into an inaccessible wooded area thereafter then emerged onto Rippey Lake Road, causing additional damage to trees. The tornado then caused significant damage to a home, removing almost the entire roof section and collapsing most walls. The tornado weakened as it moved southeast, causing additional timber damage on South Bridges Road before dissipating on Ashwood Road. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated 2 inch hail was reported between Nolensville and Smyrna.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines along Highway 64 near the Hardin County line. Damages are a rough estimate.
An EF-1 tornado touched down near Trotwood Avenue and Old Sunny Lane south of Columbia in Maury County. Here the tornado caused timber damage by uprooting trees. The tornado continued east-southeast across a residential area in Sunnyside where mainly minor timber damage was observed. The tornado continued east-southeast, causing additional minor timber damage as it crossed Campbellsville Pike before dissipating shortly after crossing U.S. Highway 31. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed three trees and caused shingle damage to a home near Locke Creek and Murfreesboro Road east of Readyville. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated quarter size hail fell from a severe thunderstorm in Shelbyville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Tennessee, 2025Warnings in Tennessee, March 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: 1233736, 1233740, 1233738, 1233742, 1233744, 1233745, 1233746, 1233747, 1233749, 1233751, 1233753, 1233755, 1233757, 1233758, 1233761, 1233763, 1233762, 1233765, 1233764, 1233766, 1233767.