Tornadoes in Tennessee
Timber driven by a tornado into a large tree
in the front yard of the Hughes home,
Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, n.d.
THS Photograph Collection
Tornadoes can occur all over the world, but they most frequently occur in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are approximately 800 tornadoes each year in the U.S., and they cause, on average, 80 deaths and 1,500 injuries. Tornadoes vary in intensity: weak tornadoes (with winds less than 110 mph) account for 69% of all tornadoes in the U.S., but only 5% of tornado-related deaths; strong tornadoes (with winds 110-205 mph) account for 29% of tornadoes in the U.S. and 30% of deaths; violent tornadoes (with winds greater than 205 mph) account for only 2% of tornadoes in the U.S. but 70% of deaths. In 1971 Ted Fujita of the University of Chicago developed a scale to measure the intensity of tornadoes, known afterwards as the Fujita Scale. The scale was refined and updated in 2007 and is now called the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Tennessee has experienced numerous tornadoes over the years, with all categories on the Fujita Scale represented. The earliest recorded tornado in Tennessee occurred on May 24, 1807, and struck Roane, Knox, Sevier, Jefferson, and Cocke counties. In Middle Tennessee there were 486 recorded tornadoes between 1830–May 2007, and they caused 421 deaths.
Nashville, Tennessee, April 16, 1998
On April 16, 1998, Nashville was hit by 3 tornadoes. Around 3:30 p.m. an F3 tornado touched down one mile west of Charlotte Pike and I-440. The tornado traveled NE for about 42 miles through downtown Nashville, East Nashville, Donelson, and Hermitage before finally lifting near Hartsville in Trousdale County. 100 people were injured by this tornado, and one man later died from his injuries. Approximately 300 homes were damaged and 600 businesses were damaged or destroyed. 35 buildings in downtown Nashville were declared structurally unsound. Property damage was estimated at over $100 million.
An F2 tornado touched down less than an hour later just east of Cornelia Fort Airport and traveled into Wilson County. The third tornado, also an F2, occurred about an hour after the second. It touched down near Elmington Park and traveled one mile before lifting near Centennial Park.
On the same day another powerful tornado hit four counties in southern Tennessee, traveling 69 miles. It touched down as an F3 tornado 11 miles south of Clifton in Wayne County, was upgraded to an F5 as it passed through Lawrence County, downgraded to an F4 as it passed through Giles County, and downgraded further to an F3 as it passed into Maury County, finally lifting SE of Columbia. It killed 3 people, injured 36, and caused about $13 million in property damage.
Legislative Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee, April 16, 1998 |
Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, April 16, 1998 |
Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, Tennessee, April 16, 1998 |
Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, Tennessee, April 16, 1998 |
Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee, April 1998 |
Congressman Bob Clement, Vice President Al Gore, Governor Don Sundquist, & Mayor Phil Bredesen touring the tornado damage, Nashville, Tennessee, April 1998 |
James K. Polk State Office Building, |
Bank of America Plaza, |
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Tornado damage, Middle Tennessee, April 1998 |
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Montgomery County Court House,
Clarksville, Tennessee, January 22, 1999
W. J. Souza Photograph Collection
Clarksville, Tennessee, January 22, 1999
At 4:15 a.m. on January 22, 1999, an F3 tornado touched down in Clarksville. It was on the ground for only 5 minutes and traveled just 4.3 miles, but it was 880 yards wide. Despite the short duration of the tornado, it did extensive damage to downtown Clarksville. The Montgomery County Court House was severely damaged, as were the offices of the Leaf-Chronicle newspaper. Twenty-two buildings at Austin Peay State University were also heavily damaged. The estimated property damage caused by the tornado was nearly $73 million.
Montgomery County Court House |
Leaf-Chronicle building, |
South 2nd Street, |
Goodlette, Peay, & Hurt law office, |
Trinity Episcopal Church, |
Madison Street Methodist Church, |
Building on the corner of |
Clarksville, Tennessee, |
Clarksville, Tennessee, |
Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection
Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee, |
Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee, |
Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee, |
Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee, |
Wilson Hill School, Wilson Hill, Marshall County, Tennessee, |
Golddust, Lauderdale County, Tennessee, |
Western State Hospital, |
Newbern, Dyer County, Tennessee, 1952 |
Next Page: Murfreesboro and Liberty tornadoes
Section researched and written by Will Thomas, Archival Assistant