Nashville, TN

Weather Forecast Office

March 25, 2021 Tornadoes & Severe Thunderstorms

March 25, 2021 Tornadoes & Severe Thunderstorms

A potent weather system on March 25, 2021 led to an outbreak of tornadoes across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee...some of which were strong to violent. As early as six days prior (March 20), the Storm Prediction Center was highlighting "another bout of severe potential to much of the South" in their Day 4-8 Convective Outlook. Computer models began to agree on a severe weather setup for March 25th, and concerns for a significant tornado outbreak were rising.

Synoptically, there were a handful of question marks that meteorologists were keeping a close eye on ahead of and during the March 25th severe weather event. A surface low pressure center was expected to cross over the Mississippi River sometime in the early to mid afternoon. Some high resolution models suggested that the low pressure would "deepen", or strengthen, as it crossed into the Missouri bootheel and northwest Tennessee. Other guidance was less impressive, with a weaker low positioned farther south (west-central TN). In addition, a stronger low-level jet was forecast to move atop the Southeastern U.S. during peak heating hours. Instability and the advance of a northward-moving warm front were in question, but the wind dynamics appeared favorable for a severe weather outbreak. Ultimately, more robust ingredients for strong/violent tornadoes remained over Alabama.

However, a mid-afternoon cluster of thunderstorms did produce large hail and damaging winds across Davidson and Sumner Counties. Impressive video and photos were captured around the Nashville Metro as these storms moved from south to north, showing a fast-moving curtain of rain and hail. As instability modestly increased south of Interstate 40 in the evening, three tornadoes impacted southern Middle TN. Portions of Wayne, Lawrence, Lewis, Rutherford, and Wilson Counties all sustained some form of damage from tornadoes during the evening hours of March 25th. More information on the large hail, damaging winds, and subsequent tornadoes can be found in detail below.

March 25, 2021 SPC Storm Reports

Tornadoes
Microbursts & Large Hail
Photos
Radar
Storm Reports
Damage Surveys

Tornadoes:

Tornado #1 - Waynesboro, TN
Wayne, Lewis, and Lawrence Counties

Date	3/25/2021
Time (Local)	7:30 PM - 7:59 PM CDT
EF Rating	EF-2
Est. Peak Winds	130 mph
Path Length	22.3 miles
Max Width	350 yards
Injuries/Deaths	1/0
Summary: A strong EF-2 tornado touched down just northeast of the city of Waynesboro between Highway 64 and Highway 99. The tornado increased in intensity rapidly as it tracked through neighborhoods along Highway 99. A few trees and outbuildings were blown down and destroyed at the beginning of the track before the tornado moved across Steele Street, Hassell Drive, High Street, and Natural Bridge Road, taking the roofs off several homes and causing one minor injury. Five high power TVA electrical steel poles were bent to the ground in this area, knocking out power to all of Wayne County. Continuing northeastward, the tornado destroyed a barn on York Road and damaged several homes on Fortyeight Creek Road. The tornado then moved through rural, forested and hilly terrain with few roads for over 20 more miles across northeast Wayne, extreme northwestern Lawrence, and extreme southern Lewis Counties, blowing down hundreds of trees before finally lifting around 4 miles northwest of Summertown.

Track Map

Tornado #2 - Smyrna, TN
Rutherford County

Date	3/25/2021
Time (Local)	8:11 PM - 8:14 PM
EF Rating	EF-1
Est. Peak Winds	95 mph
Path Length	2.2 miles
Max Width	100 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief EF-1 tornado touched down in western Smyrna and moved northeast through a residential area along Rock Springs Road. Dozens of houses sustained minor to moderate roof damage in 3 different neighborhoods. The tornado lifted just before reaching I-24.

Track Map

Tornado #3 - Gladeville, TN
Wilson County

Date	3/25/2021
Time (Local)	8:25 PM - 8:28 PM
EF Rating	EF-0
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Path Length	3.2 mi
Max Width	75 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A brief EF-0 tornado touched down near the Nashville Superspeedway and continued northeast, lifting just before reaching Highway 231 and the Cedars of Lebanon State Park. Mostly downed trees and broken large branches were observed. Several outbuildings had some minor roof damage including a few outbuildings.

Track Map

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Microbursts & Large Hail

Microburst #1 - East Nashville, TN
Davidson County

Date	3/25/2021
Time (Local)	4:30 PM
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Injuries/Deaths	0/0
Summary: A very intense 4 mile wide by 40 mile long downburst associated with a left-moving supercell caused a swath of damaging straight-line winds from southeast Nashville northeastward through western Sumner County and into Kentucky. Within the downburst, two severe microbursts struck East Nashville (Davidson County) and areas east of Portland (Sumner County). In Davidson County, dozens of trees were blown down were some falling onto houses and blocking roads. One home in the Napier area southeast of downtown Nashville collapsed. Several homes and businesses also sustained roof and exterior damage.

Track Map

Microburst #2 - Portland, TN
Sumner County

Date	3/25/2021
Time (Local)	5:00 PM
Est. Peak Winds	85 mph
Injuries/Deaths	4/0
Summary: A very intense 4 mile wide by 40 mile long downburst associated with a left-moving supercell caused a swath of damaging straight-line winds from southeast Nashville northeastward through western Sumner County and into Kentucky. Within the downburst, two severe microbursts struck East Nashville (Davidson County) and areas east of Portland (Sumner County). Around the area of Cook Road and Highway 259 east of Portland, dozens of trees were blown down with some falling onto houses and blocking roads. Several homes suffered roof and exterior damage, and numerous barns and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Four injuries were reported in this area.

Track Map

Photos:

Wayne County

Highway 99 area east of Waynesboro

(NWS storm survey)

Highway 99 area east of Waynesboro

(NWS Storm Survey)

Highway 99 area east of Waynesboro

(NWS Storm Survey)

Rutherford County

West Smyrna

(NWS storm survey)

West Smyrna

(NWS Storm Survey)

West Smyrna

(NWS Storm Survey)

Wilson County

Gladeville area

(NWS storm survey)

Gladeville area

(NWS storm survey)

Radar:

Base reflectivity radar from March 25, 2021. Begins at 4:00 PM CDT and ends around 10:18 PM CDT.

Storm Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
236 AM CDT MON MAR 29 2021

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0340 PM     HAIL             3 NE MORRISON           35.63N  85.88W
03/25/2021  E0.88 INCH       WARREN             TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF NICKEL SIZED HAIL NEAR MORRISON. 

0345 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 S CHAPEL HILL         35.59N  86.70W
03/25/2021                   MARSHALL           TN   AMATEUR RADIO   

            BOX TRUCK FLIPPED 2.5 MILES SOUTH OF HENRY HORTON STATE 
            PARK 

0415 PM     HAIL             6 WSW LEIPERS FORK      35.86N  87.10W
03/25/2021  E1.00 INCH       WILLIAMSON         TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN BENDING 
            CHESTNUT 

0418 PM     HAIL             6 WSW LEIPERS FORK      35.86N  87.09W
03/25/2021  E0.88 INCH       WILLIAMSON         TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT FROM BENDING CHESTNUT OF HAIL. 

0423 PM     HAIL             1 NE HARPETH HILLS      36.00N  86.89W
03/25/2021  E1.25 INCH       WILLIAMSON         TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL IN GRASSLAND 

0429 PM     HAIL             1 W FRANKLIN            35.93N  86.86W
03/25/2021  M1.00 INCH       WILLIAMSON         TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            1" HAIL IN WESTHAVEN. 

0430 PM     HAIL             FOREST HILLS            36.06N  86.84W
03/25/2021  E1.25 INCH       DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF 1.25 INCH HAIL IN FOREST HILLS 

0430 PM     HAIL             GREEN HILLS             36.10N  86.82W
03/25/2021  E1.50 INCH       DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER 1.5" HAIL REPORT FROM GREEN HILLS 

0430 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SE NASHVILLE          36.15N  86.76W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            A SWATH OF VERY DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS STRUCK 
            FROM THE NAPIER AREA JUST SOUTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN 
            NASHVILLE NNE ACROSS EAST NASHVILLE AND INGLEWOOD. 
            NUMEROUS LARGE TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN WITH SOME FALLING 
            ONTO HOMES INCLUDING ONE HOUSE IN THE NAPIER AREA THAT 
            COMPLETELY COLLAPSED FROM THE WEIGHT OF A FALLEN TREE. 
            MANY WAREHOUSE BUILDINGS AND OTHER BUSINESSES ALSO 
            SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT ROOF AND EXTERIOR DAMAGE. SEVERAL 
            POWER POLES AND LINES WERE ALSO BLOWN DOWN. WINDS WERE 
            ESTIMATED UP TO 85 MPH 

0435 PM     HAIL             GREEN HILLS             36.10N  86.82W
03/25/2021  E1.25 INCH       DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF LARGE HAIL NEXT TO A QUARTER IN 
            GREEN HILLS. ESTIMATED HALF DOLLAR. 

0439 PM     HAIL             2 NW INGLEWOOD          36.23N  86.75W
03/25/2021  E1.25 INCH       DAVIDSON           TN   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            SPOTTER REPORT OF HALF DOLLAR HAIL ON MAPLEWOOD TRACE 
            BY MAPLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. 

0441 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 SSE INGLEWOOD         36.18N  86.72W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES DOWN NEAR ROSEBANK 
            ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 

0449 PM     TSTM WND DMG     EAST NASHVILLE          36.17N  86.77W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            LARGE TREE DOWN ON 19TH AND EASTSIDE. 

0451 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 E EAST NASHVILLE      36.17N  86.73W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TREES DOWN IN THE SHELBY PARK AREA. 

0454 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 SSE EAST NASHVILLE    36.16N  86.75W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            DAMAGE TO OFFICE IN MARSHALL & BRUCE PRINTING CO ON 
            DAVIDSON ST IN EAST NASHVILLE. WINDOW BROKEN WITH DAMAGE 
            INSIDE THE OFFICE. LIKELY CAUSED BY A COMBINATION OF 
            HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. 

0454 PM     HAIL             GOODLETTSVILLE          36.32N  86.71W
03/25/2021  E1.00 INCH       DAVIDSON           TN   MEDIA           

            QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORT IN GOODLETTSVILLE 

0457 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GREEN HILLS             36.10N  86.82W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF TREES DOWN IN GREEN HILLS AT 
            SHACKLEFORD & GRANNY WHITE. POWER LINES TAKEN DOWN BY 
            TREES. 

0458 PM     HAIL             COTTONTOWN              36.45N  86.54W
03/25/2021  M1.50 INCH       SUMNER             TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF 1.5" HAIL IN COTTONTOWN 

0459 PM     TSTM WND DMG     INGLEWOOD               36.21N  86.73W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF MULTIPLE LARGE TREES DOWN ON 
            BURRUS/PORSHA IN INGLEWOOD BETWEEN CURDWOOD AND 
            BROADMOOR. 

0500 PM     HAIL             1 WNW NASHVILLE         36.18N  86.80W
03/25/2021  E1.50 INCH       DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF HAIL NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 
            BRIGHTWOOD AVE. LOMBARDY AVE. 

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 ENE PORTLAND          36.61N  86.44W
03/25/2021                   SUMNER             TN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            *** 4 INJ *** VERY DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS STRUCK 
            AN AREA AROUND COOK ROAD AND HIGHWAY 259 NORTHEAST OF 
            PORTLAND. NUMEROUS TREES WERE UPROOTED AND SEVERAL BARNS 
            AND OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. FOUR 
            INJURIES WERE REPORTED IN THIS AREA. WINDS WERE 
            ESTIMATED UP TO 85 MPH. 

0507 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW BERRY HILL        36.12N  86.78W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF A LARGE TREE DOWN ON A HOME OFF OF 
            ELLIOTT AND INVERNESS. 

0509 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E NASHVILLE           36.17N  86.75W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            LARGE TREES DOWN ACROSS SHELBY IN EAST NASHVILLE. 

0514 PM     HAIL             2 N WHITE HOUSE         36.50N  86.65W
03/25/2021  M2.00 INCH       ROBERTSON          TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            LARGE HAIL REPORT FROM 37048 ABOVE RIDGE. 

0519 PM     HAIL             PORTLAND                36.59N  86.52W
03/25/2021  E1.50 INCH       SUMNER             TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TSPOTTER REPORT OF 1.5" ESTIMATED HAIL FROM PORTLAND. 

0522 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 E NASHVILLE           36.17N  86.75W
03/25/2021                   DAVIDSON           TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            LARGE TREES DOWN IN EAST NASHVILLE OFF OF RIVERSIDE AND 
            CARTER. 

0730 PM     TORNADO          3 ENE WAYNESBORO        35.34N  87.71W
03/25/2021                   WAYNE              TN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            *** 1 INJ *** A STRONG EF-2 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 
            NORTHEAST OF WAYNESBORO. A FEW TREES AND OUTBUILDINGS 
            WERE BLOWN DOWN BEFORE IT MOVED NORTHEAST INTO AREAS 
            ALONG HWY 99. SEVERAL HOMES HAD ROOFS BLOWN OFF CAUSING 
            ONE MINOR INJURY. 5 TVA STEEL POWER POLES WERE BENT TO 
            THE GROUND KNOCKING OUT POWER TO ALL OF WAYNE COUNTY. IT 
            CONTINUED NORTHEAST FOR OVER 20 MILES ACROSS HILLY 
            HEAVILY WOODED TERRAIN BLOWING DOWN HUNDREDS OF TREES 
            BEFORE LIFTING SOUTHWEST OF MT PLEASANT. PATH LENGTH 
            22.3 MI AND PATH WIDTH 350 YDS. 

0811 PM     TORNADO          4 E NOLENSVILLE         35.95N  86.59W
03/25/2021                   RUTHERFORD         TN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            A BRIEF EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BETWEEN LA VERGNE AND 
            SMYRNA THEN MOVED NORTHEAST THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA 
            OFF ROCK SPRINGS ROAD. DOZENS OF HOUSES SUSTAINED MINOR 
            TO MODERATE ROOF DAMAGE IN 3 DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. 
            THE TORNADO LIFTED JUST BEFORE REACHING I-24 AND 
            STONECREST MEDICAL CENTER. PATH LENGTH 2.2 MILES AND 
            PATH WIDTH 100 YARDS. 

0825 PM     TORNADO          4 S GLADEVILLE          36.05N  86.42W
03/25/2021                   WILSON             TN   NWS STORM SURVEY

            A BRIEF EF-0 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF THE 
            NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY AND CONTINUED NORTHEAST BEFORE 
            LIFTING JUST PRIOR TO REACHING HIGHWAY 231 AND THE 
            CEDARS OF LEBANON STATE PARK. MOSTLY DOWNED TREES AND 
            BROKEN LARGE BRANCHES WERE OBSERVED. SEVERAL 
            OUTBUILDINGS HAD SOME MINOR ROOF DAMAGE INCLUDING A FEW 
            WAREHOUSES. PATH LENGTH 3.2 MILES AND PATH WIDTH 75 
            YARDS. 

0922 PM     TSTM WND DMG     8 SSW SHELBYVILLE       35.38N  86.50W
03/25/2021                   BEDFORD            TN   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TREE AND POWER LINES DOWN ON HAWTHORNE HILL ROAD 


&&

EVENT NUMBER OHX2100298 OHX2100297 OHX2100299 OHX2100300 OHX2100301 
OHX2100302 OHX2100303 OHX2100307 OHX2100416 OHX2100304 OHX2100305 
OHX2100306 OHX2100308 OHX2100309 OHX2100310 OHX2100311 OHX2100312 
OHX2100313 OHX2100314 OHX2100315 OHX2100417 OHX2100316 OHX2100317 
OHX2100318 OHX2100319 OHX2100320 OHX2100413 OHX2100414 OHX2100415 
OHX2100418  


$$

SHAMBURGER

Damage Surveys

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
818 PM CDT Fri Mar 26 2021

...NWS Damage Survey for March 25, 2021 Tornado Event Update #2...

.Update...Three tornadoes touched down across Middle Tennessee
Thursday evening in addition to the several straightline wind and
large hail events.

.Tornado #1: Waynesboro EF-2 Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-2
Estimated Peak Wind:    130 mph
Path Length /statute/:  22.3 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   350 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               1

Start Date:             03/25/2021
Start Time:             7:30 PM CDT
Start Location:         3 miles ENE Waynesboro

End Date:               03/25/2021
End Time:               7:59 PM CDT
End Location:           4.5 miles NW Summertown

Survey Summary:
The tornado touched down just northeast of the city of Waynesboro
and increased in intensity rapidly.  A few trees and outbuildings
were destroyed before moving into several neighborhoods taking
roofs off several homes.  One minor injury occurred in this area.
This tornado then stayed on the ground for over 20 miles moving
across the heavily wooded terrain of northeast Wayne, extreme
northwestern Lawrence, and extreme southern Lewis Counties.
Hundreds of trees were uprooted in northeast Wayne County making
it fairly easy to determine the tornado width of 350 yards.  A
total of 5 high power TVA electrical steel poles were bent causing
widespread power outages in Wayne County.  The tornado finally
weakened to EF-0 as it crossed into Lawrence and Lewis Counties
before completely dissipating just southwest of Mt. Pleasant.


.Tornado #2: Smyrna EF-1 Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind:    95 mph
Path Length /statute/:  2.2 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             03/25/2021
Start Time:             811 PM CDT
Start Location:         3.5 miles E Nolensville

End Date:               03/25/2021
End Time:               814 PM CDT
End Location:           I-24 & Sam Ridley Pkwy in Smyrna

Survey Summary:
A brief EF-1 tornado touched down in between La Vergne and Smyrna
and moved northeast through a very residential area off of Rock
Springs Road.  Dozens of houses sustained minor to moderate
roof damage in 3 different neighborhoods. The tornado lifted just
before reaching I-24 and StoneCrest Medical Center.


.Tornado #3: Gladeville EF-0 Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind:    85 mph
Path Length /statute/:  3.2 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   75 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             03/25/2021
Start Time:             825 PM CDT
Start Location:         4.2 miles S Gladeville

End Date:               03/25/2021
End Time:               828 PM CDT
End Location:           10.5 miles SW Lebanon

Survey Summary:
A brief EF-0 tornado touched down just north of the Nashville
Superspeedway and continued northeast, lifting just before
reaching Highway 231 and the Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
Mostly downed trees and broken large branches were observed.
Several outbuildings had some minor roof damage including a few
warehouses.

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$

Hurley/Borden/Adcock/Schaper

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Nashville TN
255 PM CDT Fri Mar 26 2021

...NWS STORM SURVEY CONFIRMS SWATH OF DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
IN DAVIDSON AND SUMNER COUNTIES...

A severe thunderstorm produced a large swath of damaging straight
line winds across much of Davidson and Sumner Counties during the
late afternoon of March 25, 2021. The strongest winds occurred in
central Davidson County, mainly east and northeast of downtown
Nashville, and in northern Sumner County to the northeast of
Portland. Winds of 85 mph were estimated in both locations.

The Davidson County damage was concentrated in the Napier area
and in East Nashville where numerous large trees were blown down,
some onto homes, and numerous warehouse buildings sustained
significant roof damage. One house in the Napier area completely
collapsed from the weight of a fallen tree.

The Sumner County damage was concentrated about 5 miles northeast
of Portland, particularly around Cook Road and Highway 259, where
numerous trees were uprooted and several structures sustained
significant damage including two destroyed outbuildings. Four
injuries were reported in this area.

The storm survey information will also be available on our
website at http://www.weather.gov/Nashville

$$

05

Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged!
Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site.