Tornadoes · United States · Tennessee · 2006

F1 tornado, Crossville, Tennessee, April 7, 2006

This F1 tornado ran 6.2 miles across Cumberland County on April 7, 2006, touching down at 5:46 PM CDT and reaching 150 yards wide. It killed nobody and injured 4, and did $4.0 million of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F040 to 72 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F173 to 112 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. F2113 to 157 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. F3158 to 206 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4207 to 260 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. F5261 to 318 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
F1
Date
April 7, 2006
Touchdown
5:46 PM CDT (22:46 UTC)
Path length
6.2 miles (10.0 km)
Path width
150 yards (137 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
4
Property damage
$4.0 million
County
Cumberland County
Touchdown point
35.920, -85.080
Lift-off point
35.950, -84.980
Record number
310

What the Weather Service recorded

6 homes were destroyed (2 were mobile homes). 6 other homes with 50% of the structure damaged and a total of 181 homes damaged. There was $3.2 million estimate for just homes. This estimate did not include out-buildings or vehicles. Final debris estimates on clean-up have reached over $200,000.Final estimate will approach $4 million in damage.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.

The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 15:24 UTC and running to 00:49 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
15:24 UTC00:49 UTCTornado WatchOHX
22:32 UTC23:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHX
22:54 UTC23:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningOHX
23:03 UTC23:24 UTCTornado WarningOHX
00:13 UTC01:00 UTCTornado WarningOHX
00:49 UTC06:57 UTCTornado WatchOHX

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 16:32 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), 12:00Z

10.8 hours before the tornado, 143 km from the path. April 7, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2006-04-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1 joules per kilogram, CIN -263, lifted condensation level 1050 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 12:00Z on 2006-04-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 174 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 54 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-263 J/kg
Surface CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1050 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
32 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
174 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
241 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.0
0-3 km lapse rate
5.3 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), 00:00Z

1.2 hours after it, 143 km from the path. April 8, 2006.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2006-04-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 310 joules per kilogram, CIN -177, lifted condensation level 1354 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Nashville Metro, TN at 00:00Z on 2006-04-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 219 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 65 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
310 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-177 J/kg
Surface CAPE
440 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1354 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
65 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
219 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
272 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.7
0-3 km lapse rate
5.1 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Crossville Memorial (CSV), 5 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
20:53 UTC7256210° 11 kt181007.1
21:53 UTC7156200° 8 kt1006.8
22:20 UTC71.655.4190° 6 kt1006.1TS
22:53 UTC6057 6 kt331006.1+TSRA FG SQ
23:03 UTC5957.2330° 5 kt1006.4-TSRA BR
23:08 UTC5957.20° 0 kt1006.1-TSRA BR
23:12 UTC5957.20° 0 kt1006.1-TSRA BR
23:28 UTC5957.2 4 kt1005.8VCTS -RA BR
23:53 UTC5856330° 10 kt181007.5+TSRA BR
00:07 UTC57.253.6350° 4 kt1006.8-TSRA
00:21 UTC57.255.4300° 7 kt1008.1TSRA BR
00:26 UTC57.255.4 3 kt1007.5+TSRA BR
00:32 UTC57.255.4140° 6 kt1007.1+TSRA BR

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Nashville radar (KOHX), 142 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 22:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
21:00 UTCHAIL 1.75JamestownFentress, TNGOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN JAMESTOWN
22:04 UTCHAIL 17 Se SmithvilleDe Kalb, TNHWY 288 SE OF SMITHVILLE
22:05 UTCTORNADO8 Ne SmithvilleDe Kalb, TNLARGE TREES DOWN AND DEBRIS SCATTERED ALONG HWY 287, EAST OF HWY 56
22:44 UTCHAIL 0.75CookevillePutnam, TNPENNY SIZE HAIL NEAR BAXTER
22:45 UTCHAIL 1Pleasant HillCumberland, TNHWY 70 WEST AND MAIN STREET, QUARTER SIZE HAIL
22:46 UTCTORNADO 111 W Crab OrchardCumberland, TN*** 4 INJ *** F1 TORNADO FROM 3.8 SOUTHWEST CROSSVILLE TO 2.5 EAST OF CROSSVILLE FROM 546 PM TO 551 PM. THE TORNADO DAMAGED A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF ROOFS ON HOMES. PATH LENGTH WAS 6.2 MILES AND PATH WIDTH OF 150 YARDS.
22:56 UTCHAIL 11 Nw CrossvilleCumberland, TNQUARTER SIZE HAIL WEST OF HWY 70
23:00 UTCHAIL 11 Nw CrossvilleCumberland, TNQUARTER SIZE HAIL WEST OF HWY 70
23:03 UTCTORNADO7 S CrossvilleCumberland, TNTORNADO AT MARION CIRCLE, TREES DOWN
23:06 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Wsw DeerlodgeMorgan, TNFEW TREES DOWN ACROSS THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:06 UTCHAIL 1.753 Wsw DeerlodgeMorgan, TNPENNY TO GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL ACROSS WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:15 UTCFUNNEL CLOUDWartburgMorgan, TNFROM 715 TO 735 PM...SEVERAL REPORTS OF FUNNEL CLOUD SIGHTINGS COUNTYWIDE BUT NO REPORTS OF TOUCHDOWNS AT THIS TIME. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGWartburgMorgan, TNFROM 715 TO 735 PM...NUMEROUS TREES DOWN COUNTYWIDE. REORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:15 UTCTSTM WND DMGWartburgMorgan, TNFROM 715 TO 735 PM...SEVERAL HOMES COUNTYWIDE SUFFERED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:15 UTCHAIL 1.75WartburgMorgan, TNFROM 715 TO 735 PM...NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PENNY TO GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL COUNTYWIDE. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:20 UTCTSTM WND DMGRockwoodRoane, TNSEVERAL TREES DOWN COUNTYWIDE. REPORTED BY ROANE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
23:25 UTCTSTM WND DMGHarrimanRoane, TNONE TREE DOWN ON SWAN POND CIRCLE IN HARRIMAN. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
23:25 UTCHAIL 13 S WartburgMorgan, TNQUARTER SIZED HAIL IN THE MOSSY GROVE AREA. REPORTED BY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR.
23:30 UTCTSTM WND DMGKingstonRoane, TNSEVERAL TREES DOWN IN KINGSTON. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
00:13 UTCHAIL 1.752 E SpencerVan Buren, TNGOLF BALL SIZE HAIL 2 MILES EAST OF SPENCER
00:25 UTCHAIL 0.757 Wnw PikevilleBledsoe, TNPENNY SIZED HAIL AT FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK. REPORTED BY PARK RANGER.
00:28 UTCHAIL 0.88PetrosMorgan, TNNICKEL SIZED HAIL IN PETROS. REPORTED BY SHERIFFS DISPATCH.
00:30 UTCFUNNEL CLOUD11 Nne PikevilleBledsoe, TNFUNNEL CLOUD CROSSED HIGHWAY 101 NEAR THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY LINE AND MOVED NORTHEAST INTO CUMBERLAND COUNTY. REPORTED BY DAUGHTER OF FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK OFFICIAL.
00:40 UTCTORNADO 111 W Crab OrchardCumberland, TN*** 4 INJ *** F1 TORNADO FROM 3.8 SOUTHWEST CROSSVILLE TO 2.5 EAST OF CROSSVILLE FROM 740 PM TO 745 PM. THE TORNADO DAMAGED A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF ROOFS ON HOMES. PATH LENGTH WAS 6.2 MILES AND PATH WIDTH OF 150 YARDS.
01:35 UTCTSTM WND DMG7 Wnw PikevilleBledsoe, TNSEVERAL TREES DOWN IN FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK. REPORTED BY STATE PARK OFFICIAL.
01:35 UTCHAIL 1.758 Nw PikevilleBledsoe, TNPENNY TO GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL ON AND ALONG HIGHWAY 30. REPORTED BY FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK OFFICIAL.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2006 tornado in TennesseeEvery tornado in Tennessee since 1950Warnings in force in Tennessee nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of April 7, 2006

46 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
April 712:40 PM CDTF0Benton, TN1.110$50,000
April 71:05 PM CDTF0Humphreys, TN0.220$10,000
April 71:10 PM CDTF0Humphreys, TN0.220$1,000
April 71:30 PM CDTF3Dickson, TN18.8880$6.0 million
April 71:34 PM CDTF2Henderson, TN9.01005$2.0 million
April 71:40 PM CDTF1Henderson, TN3.5100$40,000
April 71:53 PM CDTF2Benton, TN6.050$250,000
April 72:05 PM CDTF1Humphreys, TN4.550$100,000
April 72:08 PM CDTF3Davidson, TN22.78807128$79 million
April 72:43 PM CDTF0Lewis, TN0.3100
April 73:04 PM CDTF2Barren, KY8.12504$1.6 million
April 73:35 PM CDTF0Union Parish, LA6.8250$70,000
April 75:14 PM EDTF1Adams, IN0.8100$40,000
April 74:36 PM CDTF0Leflore, MS3.050
April 74:45 PM CDTF1Pike, IN0.775$120,000
April 74:45 PM CDTF1Warren, TN11.01502$500,000
April 74:53 PM CDTF0Washington, MS1.050$100,000
April 74:56 PM CDTF0Pontotoc, MS6.030$30,000
April 75:43 PM CDTF0Humphreys, MS1.030
April 75:50 PM CDTF0Colbert, AL0.150$20,000
April 75:52 PM CDTF0Leflore, MS1.050
April 76:14 PM CDTF0Lauderdale, AL0.130
April 76:17 PM CDTF0Moore, TN0.230
April 76:25 PM CDTF1Colbert, AL8.0100$120,000
April 76:28 PM CDTF1Warren, TN4.01001$100,000
April 76:30 PM CDTF0Lincoln, TN0.550$1,000
April 76:55 PM CDTF1Colbert, AL10.0100$70,000
April 77:02 PM CDTF1Muhlenberg, KY1.7150$40,000
April 77:05 PM CDTF1Limestone, AL0.7200$10,000
April 77:35 PM CDTF0Chickasaw, MS0.215$10,000
April 77:45 PM CDTF0Madison, AL0.250$10,000
April 77:48 PM CDTF0Lincoln, AL to TN2.130
April 78:01 PM CDTF0Lincoln, TN0.130$5,000
April 78:45 PM CDTF0Lawrence, AL0.130
April 78:55 PM CDTF1Marion, AL9.450$50,000
April 79:00 PM CDTF0Franklin, AL3.075$10,000
April 79:30 PM CDTF0Lawrence, AL0.150
April 79:55 PM CDTF0Sunflower, MS3.050$30,000
April 710:00 PM CDTF0Lawrence, AL0.160$10,000
April 710:00 PM CDTF1Winston, AL4.7150$80,000
April 710:16 PM CDTF0Morgan, AL1.050$1,000
April 710:24 PM CDTF0Limestone, AL0.140
April 710:35 PM CDTF1Morgan, AL9.0150$110,000
April 711:15 PM CDTF0Marshall, AL0.1150$20,000
April 711:50 PM CDTF1Cullman, AL0.230$120,000
April 712:44 AM CDTF0DeKalb, AL0.185$10,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.