An isolated severe thunderstorm occurred early on the morning of the 28th, ahead of a much larger band of rain and thunderstorms. This storm produced wind damage, despite a surface inversion.
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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 MRX wrote it up.
An isolated severe thunderstorm occurred early on the morning of the 28th, ahead of a much larger band of rain and thunderstorms. This storm produced wind damage, despite a surface inversion.
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 Morristown, TN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 28, 1:28 AM EST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Morristown TN
228 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...New DISCUSSION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 227 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
- Showers and thunderstorms will move into the area late
tonight/early Tuesday morning. Isolated strong/severe storm possible
mainly Plateau and southeast Tennessee. Main threat will be strong
and gusty winds.
- Windy conditions for the far east Tennessee mountains/foothills
tonight/early Tuesday morning. Gusts up to 50 mph possible.
- Periods of showers and thunderstorms likely late Tuesday evening
into Wednesday. Potential of strong to severe storms but timing,
intensity, and extent of the severe thunderstorms remain low.
- Another round of mainly rain showers expected Friday through
Saturday. Thunder chances are quite low.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 227 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
In the upper levels, a ridge is over the East Coast tonight as a
shortwave moves through the Great Lakes. Nearly zonal flow will be
over the Tennessee Valley. At the surface, a low is moving through
the Great Lakes with a cold front currently over Illinois into
Missouri and Arkansas. A line of showers and storms is along and
ahead of this front. Scattered storms have developed over Middle
Tennessee. CAM guidance has these storms forming a line and falling
apart as it moves into the region. Still some strong to severe
storms will be possible mainly in the Plateau counties and Southern
Tennessee Valley. Gusty winds will be the primary threat as the line
moves through the region late tonight into the early morning hours.
With southerly winds increasing overnight, downslope wind
enhancement is expected in the East Tennessee mountains and
foothills with gusts up to 50 mph expected in downslope prone spots.
Winds will peak overnight and begin decreasing by daybreak. 850 mb
winds will peak around 40 to 45 knots in the Tennessee Valley. Cold
air damming on the North Carolina side of the mountains is enhancing
the pressure gradient between the Tennessee Valley and the North
Carolina mountains and will increase downslope potential to the
Tennessee foothills.
Rain will clear out Tuesday morning as the cold front remains well
to our west. Another round of showers and storms will move into the
region Tuesday evening as a weak low develops in the South. In the
upper levels, a shortwave will move through the pattern Tuesday
evening. A few strong to severe storms will be possible mainly in
the Plateau counties and the southern/central Tennessee Valley.
Timing around 8pm to midnight is the best chance for some stronger
storms producing gusty winds. Forecast soundings suggest that
capping maybe a limiting factor.
Showers and storms are possible through the day Wednesday as the
weak low moves through the Southeast. With good effective shear and
decent instability expected on Wednesday, we will have to monitor
for severe potential. By Wednesday evening or night, rain will clear
out as the front moves through with a cooler, drier air mass
expected by Thursday.
Friday night into Saturday, another low is expected to move through
the Southeast bringing widespread showers and rain. With low
instability expected, thunder will be minimal if any. Sunday looks
dry. Temperatures will be cooler this week with highs in the 60s and
70s. The coolest day will be Saturday with highs in the lower 60s
for most of the Tennessee Valley.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 151 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
Showers and storms will move into the region over the next several
hours with LLWS currently expected in CHA and TYS. During the
storms, strong winds are possible, along with quick reductions to
MVFR or less, mainly from 09Z to 13Z. MVFR conditions will
continue through much of the morning as rain coverage decreases.
Improvements are expected later in the day with continued
southwesterly winds.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Chattanooga Airport, TN 79 64 80 54 / 60 90 90 20
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport, TN 77 61 76 52 / 50 90 100 30
Oak Ridge, TN 77 61 77 51 / 50 80 100 30
Tri Cities Airport, TN 74 58 72 48 / 60 80 100 50
&&
.MRX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NC...NONE.
TN...Wind Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for Blount Smoky
Mountains-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Johnson-Sevier Smoky
Mountains-Southeast Carter-Southeast Greene-Southeast
Monroe-Unicoi.
VA...NONE.
&&
DISCUSSION...McD
AVIATION...BWHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Morristown TN 103 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002- 005-006-008-290515- Cherokee-Clay-Scott TN-Campbell-Claiborne-Hancock-Hawkins- Sullivan-Johnson-Morgan-Anderson-Union-Grainger-Hamblen- Northwest Cocke-Cocke Smoky Mountains-Northwest Greene- Southeast Greene-Washington TN-Unicoi-Northwest Carter- Southeast Carter-Roane-Loudon-Knox-Jefferson-Northwest Blount- Blount Smoky Mountains-North Sevier-Sevier Smoky Mountains- Sequatchie-Bledsoe-Rhea-Meigs-McMinn-Northwest Monroe- Southeast Monroe-Marion-Hamilton-Bradley-West Polk-East Polk-Lee- Wise-Scott VA-Russell-Washington VA- 103 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026 /1203 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North Carolina...east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight ...Isolated Strong to Severe Storms Possible early this morning and again this evening in the Plateau and southeast Tennessee... Showers and thunderstorms will move into the area early this morning. Some storms could be strong to severe, mainly across the Plateau and southeast Tennessee, with the main concern being damaging winds. Another round of showers and storms is expected this evening. Some storms could be strong to severe, mainly across the Plateau and southeast Tennessee, with the main concern being damaging winds. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Another round of showers and storms will be possible Wednesday. The areal extent of these storms remain uncertain at this time but the main concern will be damaging winds and hail. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed Tuesday evening and again on Wednesday.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
207 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
TNZ014>016-038-VAZ001-280645-
Claiborne TN-Hancock TN-Grainger TN-Hawkins TN-Lee VA-
207 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EASTERN CLAIBORNE...WEST CENTRAL
HAWKINS...HANCOCK...NORTH CENTRAL GRAINGER AND SOUTH CENTRAL LEE
COUNTIES THROUGH 245 AM EDT...
At 206 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
New Tazewell, or 11 miles southeast of Middlesboro, moving northeast
at 35 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...
Sneedville, New Tazewell, Tazewell, Harrogate, Springdale, Lone
Mountain, Howard Quarter, Evanston, Rose Hill, and Treadway.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional
information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3642 8313 3637 8370 3650 8375 3671 8331
3672 8326
TIME...MOT...LOC 0606Z 247DEG 31KT 3645 8364
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
218 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
TNZ012-013-280700-
Scott TN-Campbell TN-
218 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT WEST CENTRAL CAMPBELL AND
NORTHERN SCOTT COUNTIES THROUGH 300 AM EDT...
At 218 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles northeast of Jamestown, moving east at 40 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...
Oneida, Huntsville, Helenwood, Winfield, Honey Creek State Park, and
Big South Fork National Park.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional
information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3659 8434 3641 8427 3639 8467 3640 8466
3641 8467 3641 8466 3644 8469 3650 8471
3660 8478
TIME...MOT...LOC 0618Z 258DEG 33KT 3649 8483
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
325 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
TNZ081>084-098>100-280800-
Sequatchie TN-Rhea TN-Bledsoe TN-Marion TN-Bradley TN-Hamilton TN-
Meigs TN-
325 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN RHEA...NORTHWESTERN
BRADLEY...SEQUATCHIE...SOUTHWESTERN BLEDSOE...SOUTHWESTERN MEIGS...
NORTHEASTERN MARION AND CENTRAL HAMILTON COUNTIES THROUGH 400 AM
EDT/300 AM CDT/...
At 325 AM EDT/225 AM CDT/, Doppler radar was tracking a strong
thunderstorm near Whitwell, or 8 miles southwest of Dunlap, moving
east at 55 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...
Chattanooga, Dayton, Dunlap, Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain, Walden,
Lakesite, Whitwell, Fairmount, and Graysville.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
This storm may intensify, so closely monitor for additional
information or possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3530 8565 3530 8564 3532 8556 3534 8554
3534 8553 3536 8551 3537 8551 3539 8549
3562 8507 3524 8487 3510 8558
TIME...MOT...LOC 0725Z 250DEG 47KT 3528 8551
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BWSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Morristown TN
332 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
TNZ012-013-035-036-280815-
Anderson TN-Scott TN-Campbell TN-Morgan TN-
332 AM EDT Tue Apr 28 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT MORGAN...CENTRAL ANDERSON...
WESTERN CAMPBELL AND SOUTHERN SCOTT COUNTIES THROUGH 415 AM EDT...
At 332 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles northwest of Wartburg, moving east at 55 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...
Clinton, La Follette, Wartburg, Jacksboro, Huntsville, Helenwood,
Caryville, Rocky Top, Norris, and Sunbright.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3610 8405 3608 8408 3608 8480 3609 8482
3609 8483 3614 8487 3616 8491 3621 8491
3624 8488 3628 8488 3629 8487 3629 8484
3630 8482 3630 8480 3632 8478 3651 8417
TIME...MOT...LOC 0732Z 258DEG 49KT 3618 8480
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
BWThe Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:54 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Several powerlines and at least 1 tree were downed in Chattanooga by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Tennessee in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Tennessee, April 2026
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: 1330483.