A line of thunderstorms moved through Middle Tennessee during the evening hours of May 16, 2025. Severe thunderstorm winds were common along this line with several reports of downed trees received.
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 through Middle Tennessee during the evening hours of May 16, 2025. Severe thunderstorm winds were common along this line with several reports of downed trees received. A few reports of penny to half dollar size hail were also received.
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 16, 8:11 PM CST, 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN 911 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025 ...New UPDATE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 909 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025 - A dynamic weather system will bring the potential for all modes of severe weather to Middle Tennessee this evening through 3 am Saturday morning. Damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes will all be possible. - Unsettled weather will continue into the weekend, though the severe threat will be lower after tonight. && .UPDATE... Issued at 909 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025 The forecast is on track. There are no appreciable changes to our messaging. All of Middle Tennessee is now under a Tornado Watch until 08Z, and the leading edge of the incoming line of storms is closing in on Land-between-the-Lakes. Instability across that portion of Middle Tennessee is still off-the-charts, with CAPE values of 3,500 to 4,000 J/kg and lifted indices of -12 to -13. Helicity values have dropped off some (generally 175 to 200). Of note, the 00Z sounding from OHX does show that the elevated inversion that has persisted for several days now has strengthened so that we might find ourselves capped off at some point later on tonight after the boundary layer has cooled some. But for now, we're preparing for severe storms to enter the county warning area shortly. && .SHORT TERM... (Rest of today through Saturday) Issued at 1135 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025 The earlier severe watch has been allowed to expire. There were a couple of storms that became perky. The CAMS are showing the possibility of a few discrete storms this afternoon. The main threat with these discrete storms will be wind and hail. The stronger storms will be with the line of storms this evening and into the overnight hours. Please see previous AFD for the details. Highlights...the discrete storms will form into a line most likely entering the northwest forecast area between 8 to 10 pm. Nashville Metro entering around 10 to midnight. Exiting the Cumberland Plateau around 2 to 3 am. This will be a fast moving line. All forms of severe weather will be possible from winds to 70 mph...large hail...and tornadoes. Since the storms will be moving so fast flooding is not a first level concern unless there are some training storms. As mentioned previously...now is the time to make sure preparations are in place. Make sure your friends and family are aware too and have multiple ways of receiving warnings. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday Night through next Friday) Issued at 1135 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025 Unsettled weather will still be possible next week. There is a marginal risk (1/5) on Sunday as a warm front moves north across middle TN. A low moves out New Mexico/Colorado with a warm front that will meander around the southeast US Sunday through Wednesday. Being spring time...afternoon and evening strong to marginally severe storms will be possible. Thursday will be "best" weather day with the lowest chance for rain. Temperatures for the long term will be highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s with lows in the 60s. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 616 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025 We are still expecting a line of storms to move through the mid- state this evening which will likely cause disruptions as it does. It doesn't look like much of a wind-shift or low CIGS but VIS reduction to IFR can be expected. Amendments might be needed once the storms approach or timing changes. After 07-08Z storms should be out of the area with VFR conditions and southwest winds with gusts to about 20kts tomorrow. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 68 88 66 85 / 90 0 20 50 Clarksville 65 84 63 82 / 80 0 20 30 Crossville 62 80 60 79 / 90 0 10 40 Columbia 66 87 65 83 / 80 0 20 60 Cookeville 64 82 61 80 / 90 0 10 40 Jamestown 62 82 58 79 / 90 0 10 30 Lawrenceburg 66 86 64 82 / 80 0 20 60 Murfreesboro 67 87 64 83 / 90 0 20 50 Waverly 64 84 63 82 / 90 0 20 50 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE.......Rose SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM....12 AVIATION.....05
The Ft Campbell radar (KHPX), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:00 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind, 4 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree on Highway 49 at Overlook Road near Dover. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed multiple trees and powerlines across Montgomery County. One tree fell onto a home in Clarksville. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree on Highway 149 in Cumberland City. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees across Robertson County. Damages are a rough estimate.
Estimated half dollar size hail was reported near Coopertown.
Estimated quarter size hail was reported near Coopertown.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree on South Tunnel Road in Gallatin. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed three trees on Mt. Vernon Road in Bethpage. Damages are a rough estimate.
Penny size hail was reported near Bethpage.
Dime to nickel size hail was reported in Livingston.
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, May 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: 1247095, 1247096, 1247097, 1247098, 1247099, 1247100, 1247101, 1247102, 1247103, 1247104.