Isolated thunderstorms developed over Middle Tennessee during the afternoon of May 19, 2025. These thunderstorms were generally non-severe, but did produce very strong winds in the Nashville metro area with trees reported down as well as power outages.
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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.
Isolated thunderstorms developed over Middle Tennessee during the afternoon of May 19, 2025. These thunderstorms were generally non-severe, but did produce very strong winds in the Nashville metro area with trees reported down as well as power outages.
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 19, 4:44 PM CST, 39 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Nashville TN Issued by National Weather Service Morristown TN 544 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025 ...New UPDATE... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 539 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025 - Marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for severe weather today and a enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for Tuesday. - Strong winds and small hail possible with any storms that develops evening. For Tuesday, all modes of severe weather are possible, with greatest threats including damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. - Much cooler and drier air will push across the area by mid-week continuing into the first half of next weekend. && .UPDATE... Issued at 539 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025 No major changes to the forecast this evening. A few storms have popped up over the past couple hours across the northwest. Plenty of instability is available, but limited shear keeps our severe weather threat low through the remainder of the evening. This evening's storms will taper off after sunset, but a more active day is on tap for Tuesday with multiple rounds of storms expected. The discussion below still highlights our severe potential tomorrow well. Bottom line is that all severe weather hazards are possible, particularly during the afternoon and evening. && .SHORT TERM... (Rest of today through Tuesday) Issued at 914 AM CDT Mon May 19 2025 Showers and thunderstorms are moving through portions of the CWA this morning. This activity will continue into the late morning then dissipate through the afternoon as we lose our bulk shear and the frontal boundary pushes further north. Through the late afternoon into early evening, we will see some increase in instability and bulk shear which will allow for some storms to fire off. Some of these storms could be strong, but overall, storm coverage is looking minimal with a low chance for storms to become severe. Greatest threat will be strong winds and small hail with the strongest storms. Tonight, there will be some lingering showers and thunderstorms. Tuesday morning, the environment slowly becomes more suitable for stronger storms as a strong mid-level jet (60-70 kts) moves over and cooler temperatures aloft increase lapse rates through the afternoon. The atmosphere looks to remain uncapped Tuesday morning, so once we see increased surface heating through the early afternoon, storm activity will become more widespread going into the late afternoon into the overnight period. Timing and exact locations of storms will be a challenge to narrow down heading into tomorrows severe threat due to the uncertainty in Tuesday mornings convection. If we see more widespread activity through the morning, the environment will have a hard time recovering in time for afternoon and evening storms. At this time, there are signals pointing towards a mid-level dry slot developing through the morning which would allow for the environment to see good recoveries. If this verifies, then the best time for strongest storms will be during the late afternoon into the late evening. All hazards will be possible during this time. Greatest threats will include damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Expect heavy downpours which could lead to some localized flooding of poor drainage or low lying areas, but significant flooding isn't expected. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday Night through next Monday) Issued at 914 AM CDT Mon May 19 2025 Storm activity diminishes Tuesday night with most activity our of the Middle TN by midnight. Calmer weather with drier conditions develop Wednesday through Thursday. Highs will be cooler, only climbing into the 60s and 70s. As the trough lifts east, there will be some light rain chances across the east, but other than that, mostly dry conditions set up through end of the week. Temperatures warm back through the weekend with some increasing showers and thunderstorm chances Sunday and Monday as a shortwave displaces our surface ridge axis off to the west. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1229 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025 VFR conditions are expected over the next 24 hours. That said, scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this evening into early Tuesday morning. If one of these storms moves over a terminal, a short period of reduced VIS and lower CIGs could be possible. Confidence on storms location and timing is low at this time. South winds increase and become gusty through the end of the TAF period, after 15z. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Nashville 71 86 64 80 / 30 90 60 0 Clarksville 70 84 62 77 / 60 100 30 0 Crossville 64 81 60 73 / 20 90 90 10 Columbia 71 84 61 79 / 20 90 50 0 Cookeville 67 82 62 74 / 30 90 80 10 Jamestown 64 83 60 74 / 30 90 90 10 Lawrenceburg 70 84 61 79 / 20 90 60 0 Murfreesboro 70 86 62 80 / 20 90 60 0 Waverly 69 83 59 77 / 40 90 30 0 && .OHX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && UPDATE.......Clements SHORT TERM...Cravens LONG TERM....Cravens AVIATION.....12
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
Issued by National Weather Service Morristown TN
524 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025
TNZ006-025-026-192300-
Dickson TN-Cheatham TN-Montgomery TN-
524 PM CDT Mon May 19 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN DICKSON...
SOUTHEASTERN MONTGOMERY AND NORTHWESTERN CHEATHAM COUNTIES THROUGH
600 PM CDT...
At 524 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles west of Ashland City, moving northeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Pleasant View, Cheatham Dam, and Clarksville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3647 8713 3646 8713 3646 8712 3644 8710
3645 8709 3643 8709 3639 8700 3621 8717
3629 8740 3653 8729
TIME...MOT...LOC 2224Z 208DEG 17KT 3630 8725
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CEDThe Nashville radar (KOHX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:20 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was reported down on South Berrys Chapel Road near Lynwood Way, blocking the road. Damages are a rough estimate.
Severe thunderstorm winds downed powerlines in the Berry Hill area, causing power outages to 10,000 customers. 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, 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: 1247105, 1247106.