Tornado Watch Extended Across Middle Tennessee as Severe Weather Moves Through
Tornado watch extended to 20 Middle Tennessee counties until 5 a.m. as severe storms bring damaging winds and large hail across the region.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE — The National Weather Service has extended Tornado Watch 167 across 20 counties in Middle Tennessee until 5 a.m. CDT Monday morning as severe thunderstorms continue to move through the region, bringing the threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail.
The expanded tornado watch now includes Davidson, Wilson, Sumner, Rutherford, Bedford, Williamson, Cheatham, Dickson, Humphreys, Robertson, Macon, Trousdale, Marshall, Maury, Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Wayne, Hickman, and Perry counties, according to the National Weather Service Nashville.
Major cities under the tornado watch include Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Gallatin, Lebanon, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Goodlettsville, Smyrna, La Vergne, Columbia, Shelbyville, Lewisburg, Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, Springfield, Dickson, Waverly, Ashland City, Kingston Springs, Pegram, McEwen, New Johnsonville, Lafayette, Hartsville, Centerville, Linden, Lobelville, Hohenwald, Clifton, Collinwood, and Waynesboro.
Severe Thunderstorms Bring Damaging Winds
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 2:42 a.m. CDT for Smith, northeastern Davidson, southern Sumner, Wilson, southern Macon, and Trousdale counties until 3:45 a.m. CDT. The storm was located over Hendersonville, approximately 10 miles southwest of Gallatin, and moving east at 55 mph.
The National Weather Service warned of 70 mph wind gusts with the potential for considerable tree damage and damage to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings. Areas impacted include Gallatin, Lebanon, Lafayette, Carthage, Hartsville, Madison, Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, Goodlettsville, White House, Millersville, Lakewood, Watertown, Gordonsville, Hermitage, Belinda City, Old Hickory, Rural Hill, Hickman, and South Carthage.
Memphis Area Under Severe Weather Threat
Severe thunderstorm warnings were also issued for the Memphis metropolitan area, with storms producing 60 mph wind gusts and hail ranging from half dollar to ping pong ball size. At 3:27 a.m. CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Bartlett, moving southeast at 25 mph.
The warning covered southwestern Fayette County and eastern Shelby County until 4:15 a.m. CDT. Locations impacted include Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Cordova, Memphis, Lakeland, Arlington, Somerville, Ellendale, Eads, Warren, Macon, Oakland, Piperton, Rossville, Lenow, Kirk, Hickory Withe, Elmore Park, and Brunswick.
Interstate 40 in Tennessee between mile markers 12 and 29 and Interstate 240 between mile markers 12 and 17 were included in the warning area. A separate storm was later located over Cordova, continuing to move southeast at 25 mph with similar hazards.
Watch Expanded Throughout Early Morning Hours
The tornado watch was initially issued at 1:13 a.m. CDT for seven counties before being progressively expanded throughout the early morning hours. The watch area grew to include 11 counties at 3:18 a.m., then 16 counties, and finally reached 20 counties by 2:41 a.m. CDT.
The National Weather Service advised residents in the affected areas to remain weather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings. The severe weather system was part of a broader pattern of spring storms moving across the southeastern United States.
