Lightning in Tennessee

Events

489

Deaths

24

Injuries

106

Damage

$37 million

• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, May 8 to 11, 20245 deaths · 13 injured · $36 million · EF3 · 135 eventsA widespread severe weather event impacted Middle Tennessee beginning in the early morning hours of May 8, 2024, and continued through the early morning hours of May 9th.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, November 5 to 6, 20181 death · 3 injured · $5.6 million · EF2 · 38 eventsA line of severe thunderstorms called a Quasi-linear Convective System (QLCS) developed across west Tennessee and moved eastward across Middle Tennessee during the late evening hours on Monday, November 5, 2018 into the early morning hours on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, June 4 to 5, 20142 deaths · $969,000 · 1 in hail · 24 eventsA weak cold front moving southward out of Kentucky spawned numerous showers and thunderstorms throughout Middle Tennessee from the late evening hours on June 4 and continuing throughout the day on June 5. Many reports of damaging winds were received with these storms.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, April 26 to 27, 20111 death · 1 injured · $1.5 million · EF1 · 83 eventsDuring the early morning hours on Wednesday, April 27th, twelve tornadoes occurred across Middle Tennessee. Seven of these were EF0 tornadoes and five of these were EF1 tornadoes.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Tennessee, May 4, 20211 death · $3.8 million · EF1 · 22 eventsA moist and unstable airmass in place across the Mid-South helped to fuel severe storms ahead of an advancing cold front and deep upper-level trough swinging into the Central Plains.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, February 6 to 7, 20191 death · $2.9 million · EF0 · 44 eventsHeavy rain and thunderstorms produced 2 tornadoes and widespread flash flooding across Middle Tennessee from the afternoon of February 6 through the early morning hours on February 7.
• Lightning Strike in Tennessee, August 23, 20022 deaths · 1 eventTwo persons will killed when lightning struck their farm.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, April 2 to 9, 20251 injured · $2.5 million · EF1 · 168 eventsA major and historic multi-day severe weather event unfolded across Middle Tennessee during early April 2025. This event began during the afternoon hours of April 2nd and continued through April 6th.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, May 30 to 31, 20041 death · 2 injured · $574,000 · 1.5 in hail · 53 eventsLaw enforcement reported trees down on U.S. Highway 70 just west of Camden.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Tennessee, May 30, 200422 injured · $331,000 · 1.75 in hail · 22 eventsOne house was damaged. Some trees were blown down.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Tennessee, July 6 to 7, 2016$12 million · 1 in hail · 117 eventsA major severe thunderstorm and flash flood event affected Middle Tennessee from Wednesday, July 6 into Thursday, July 7.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, April 15, 20011 death · $500,000 · 65 kt wind · 23 eventsSpotter reported 2 trees down.
• Tornadoes and Flood in Tennessee, February 24, 20112 injured · $2.3 million · EF2 · 33 eventsA strong storm system moved across Middle Tennessee during the evening hours on Thursday, February 24th. This system produced several severe thunderstorms, resulting in mainly tornadic and straight line wind damage events across several counties in the mid state.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in Tennessee, March 12, 20101 death · $310,000 · 1 in hail · 3 eventsAs an upper level low pressure system approached Middle Tennessee, and a surface low pressure system developed in northeast Louisiana, a warm, moist, and unstable airmass was ushered across the Cumberland Plateua Region of the mid state, resulting in a severe thunderstorm…
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Tennessee, September 22 to 25, 20091 death · $240,000 · 5 eventsShowers and thunderstorms developed across mainly the western half of Middle Tennessee as the day progressed in response to deepening surface and aloft southerly flow. This was in association with a developing low pressure system over the central plains.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Tennessee, July 21, 20061 death · 3 injured · $40,000 · 52 kt wind · 5 eventsTrees down on Jennings Creek Highway.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Tennessee, July 29, 20061 death · $100,000 · 4 eventsLightning from a thunderstorm struck a house on 109 Wallace Road in Jackson. The strike started a fire in the home. The home burned to the ground and a 87 year old man was killed inside.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, May 10 to 11, 20161 injured · $8.1 million · 2.5 in hail · 56 eventsThe largest severe weather event of Spring 2016 across Middle Tennessee affected areas mainly north of I-40 from the late evening hours on May 10 into the morning hours on May 11.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Tennessee, April 27 to 28, 20132 injured · $15 million · 1 in hail · 27 eventsNumerous showers and thunderstorms developed across Middle Tennessee early on April 27 and continued into the afternoon hours as a weak warm frontal boundary was draped across the region. Some flooding was reported in the Nashville metro area.
• Extreme Cold and Lightning Strike in Tennessee, December 16, 20001 death · $50,000 · 2 eventsA house was destroyed by a fire started by lightning.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, June 11, 20031 death · $5,000 · 1 in hail · 29 eventsHam radio operator reported quarter size hail.
• Lightning Strike in Tennessee, July 1, 20051 death · 3 injured · $10,000 · 1 eventMr. Terry Binion, a 38-year-old Hartsville resident, was struck and killed by lightning while riding a horse at the East Fork Stables in Allardt. He was riding with his wife, son, and 2 friends.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Tennessee, May 30, 20061 death · 1 injured · $17,000 · 50 kt wind · 5 eventsA 37 year old man was killed when lightning struck a tree he was using for a shelter at the Oakview Links Golf Course. A 33 year old man was injured in the same strike and was transported to a hospital in Memphis.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Tennessee, November 18, 20172 injured · $447,000 · EF1 · 61 eventsA line of strong to severe thunderstorms, known as a Quasi-Linear Convective System (or QLCS), moved rapidly across Middle Tennessee at 60 mph from west to east between 3 PM and 7 PM CST on Saturday, November 18, 2017.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in Tennessee, July 2 to 6, 20181 death · 1 injured · $3,000 · 50 kt wind · 11 eventsShowers and thunderstorms formed along a cool front sliding south across East Tennessee during the late afternoon and evening hours. The storms produced damaging winds, flash flooding and frequent lightning. The lightning resulted in a fatality in Roane County.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Tennessee

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.