March 2-3, 2020 Tornadoes
A StoryMap of the damaging tornadoes that struck Middle Tennessee
Overview
March 2-3, 2020 Tornado Outbreak Map
From late in the day on March 2 into the early morning hours on March 3, several supercell thunderstorms spawned numerous tornadoes across southeast Missouri, southern Kentucky, Tennessee, and central Alabama. One of these supercells formed near the Mississippi River in West Tennessee, then tracked eastward across the entire length of the state spawning numerous tornadoes and dropping large hail up to the size of baseballs in some areas. The worst of these tornadoes touched down across Middle Tennessee during the early morning hours of March 3, 2020, resulting in widespread damage, hundreds of injuries and 25 fatalities. These tornadoes were the worst seen in Tennessee since the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011 across East Tennessee, as well as the Super Tuesday tornadoes on February 5-6, 2008.
March 2-3, 2020 Radar (view in 1080p for greatest clarity)
Damage surveys conducted by NWS Memphis, NWS Nashville, and NWS Morristown determined 10 tornadoes touched down across the state of Tennessee, with 7 of these tornadoes affecting Middle Tennessee. The two strongest and most damaging tornadoes were an EF-3 tornado that tracked over 60 miles across the Nashville metro area eastward to Smith County, as well as an even stronger EF-4 tornado that caused severe damage in central Putnam County between Baxter and Cookeville, TN. Incredibly, this EF-4 tornado dissipated just blocks west of the heart of Cookeville. All of these tornadoes were moving at extremely fast speeds of around 50-70 mph!
The Tornadoes
Tornado #1 - Camden/Waverly, TN (Benton and Humphreys)
The tornado started in Benton County northwest of Camden and caused a substantial amount of tree damage along the path that extended to the Tennessee River. Several homes and mobile homes were damaged along the path in Benton County resulting in 1 death and 2 injuries. The most damage was in the Ballard Road area.
The tornado continued across the Tennessee River into Humphreys County, and damaged hundreds of trees along the river on Crystal Springs Road. It then progressed east and damaged/uprooted several dozen trees along Lucas Ridge Road, Hemby Branch Road, and Clydeton Road. There were also some roof panels damaged and removed from a small outbuilding on Clydeton Road. Additional trees were uprooted along Brazzle Road and Stephenson Road just off Highway 13 before dissipating around Highway 13.
Tornado #2 - McEwen, TN (Humphreys)
This EF-0 tornado touched down along Curtis Chapel Road just northwest of McEwen, where it damaged a small barn. The tornado continued eastward and damaged/uprooted some trees along CCC Road as well as caused some minor roof damage to a home. Additional damage was found on Tummins Road where a few trees were uprooted. The tornado appeared to dissipate shortly after that location.
Tornado #3 - Nashville Area (Davidson, Wilson, Smith)
Guided Tour of the Nashville Area Tornado
01 / 07
1
John C. Tune Airport
"The tornado began in far western Davidson County and rapidly intensified into EF-2 intensity as it tracked across John C. Tune Airport..."
- NWS Nashville Storm Survey
2
Germantown and North Nashville
After the tornado passed through the John C. Tune Airport, it continued into the North Nashville and Germantown areas. A range of EF-0 to EF-2 damage was noted here by NWS Storm Surveys.
3
East Nashville and Five Points
"The tornado intensified further to EF-3 intensity as it tracked into East Nashville, with the most significant damage occurring in and around the Five Points neighborhood, where two fatalities occurred."
- NWS Nashville Storm Survey
4
Donelson and Hermitage
"EF-1 and EF-2 damage continued across the Cumberland River before the tornado strengthened again to EF-3 intensity in the Stanford Estates subdivision in Donelson. EF-2 damage was observed across Hermitage and the remainder of Davidson County."
- NWS Nashville Storm Survey
5
Mount Juliet
"The tornado strengthened to EF-3 intensity for a third time upon entering Wilson County, with a 6-mile swath of EF-3 damage observed near the Mt. Juliet area, where three more fatalities occurred."
- NWS Nashville Storm Survey
6
Mount Juliet/Lebanon
EF-3 damage concluded near an industrial park along Eastgate Blvd between Mount Juliet and Lebanon. The NWS Nashville Storm Survey followed the damage through Lebanon, "EF-1 and EF-2 damage continued along a path that paralleled and occasionally crossed Interstate 40 south-southeast of Lebanon."
(Image: Mark Humphrey, AP)
7
New Middleton to Gordonsville
"Once the tornado moved into Smith County, it weakened some but was still causing significant tree and powerline damage, as well as damage to homes. Just south of Gordonsville, the tornado caused a mobile home to flip, along with destroying several barns and outbuildings. The tornado finally lifted just south of I-40 near Highway 141/Lancaster Highway."
- NWS Nashville Storm Survey
4-panel Radar Loop of Davidson/Wilson/Smith County Tornado
March 3, 2020 - Nashville Tornado Radar (view in 1080p for greatest clarity)
Tornado #4 - Buffalo Valley, TN
Data on this tornado was updated on 4/7/2020 based on high resolution satellite imagery.
An EF-0 tornado touched down near the Smith/Putnam County line northwest of Buffalo Valley and then moved east-northeast across very hilly terrain, taking down several trees in the process. Several homes suffered roof damage and some outbuildings were damaged on St. Marys Road, and numerous trees were blown down. The tornado continued across Highway 96 to Rock Springs Road with continued tree damage and minor damage to outbuildings, before lifting just west of Stanton Road.
Tornado #5 - Cookeville, TN
01 / 05
Tornado #6 - Goffton, TN
A very brief and weak EF-0 tornado touched down just off of Highway 70 and Overstreet Drive southeast of Cookeville in the Dry Valley and Goffton area. Damage was mostly to the roof of one house, metal garage, and an outbuilding. There were also several trees with large branches broken off.
Tornado #7 - Rinnie, TN
The tornado touched down near the intersection of Highway 127 and Atkins Road where trees were uprooted and one single wide mobile home sustained roof damage. The tornado moved northeast where it crossed Smith Road. Two outbuildings were destroyed, two houses sustained shingle damage, one power pole was pushed over, and approximately 20 trees were uprooted. The tornado then took an eastward track just south of Beaty Road where more trees were uprooted. Two more outbuildings were destroyed at the end of Beaty Road. The tornado continued east-southeast where trees were uprooted on Cool Springs Road. The tornado continued east-southeastward through the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area where thousands of additional trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado reached maximum width and strength as it crossed Myatt Creek Rd and Turner Creek Rd in the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area. The tornado weakened as it approached the Morgan County border before lifting in Morgan County.
Statistics
SPC Storm Reports for March 2-3, 2020
- Deadliest tornadoes in Tennessee since the April 27, 2011 Tornado Outbreak in East Tennessee
- Worst tornadoes in Middle Tennessee since the February 5, 2008 Super Tuesday Outbreak
- 10 tornadoes touched down across Tennessee from the late evening on March 2nd into the early morning hours on March 3rd
- All 10 tornadoes in Tennessee were spawned by the same supercell thunderstorm
- 7 tornadoes affected Middle Tennessee
- 3 tornado affected West Tennessee
- 1 tornado affected East Tennessee
- Other severe thunderstorms spawned tornadoes across southeast Missouri (1 tornado), southern Kentucky (2 tornadoes), and central Alabama (2 tornadoes)
EF-4 Putnam County Tornado
- Deadliest single tornado in Tennessee (19 deaths) since the EF-3 Sumner/Trousdale/Macon County Tornado on February 5, 2008 (22 deaths)
- Worst tornado in Putnam County on record
- Worst tornado in the Upper Cumberland since the April 3, 1974 Super Outbreak
- First deaths from a tornado in Putnam County since March 19, 2003
EF-3 Davidson/Wilson/Smith County Tornado
Major Downtown Nashville Tornado Tracks
- First tornado to strike the downtown Nashville loop since February 13, 2000
- 2 deaths in East Nashville were the first in Davidson County from a tornado since April 16, 1998
- 3 deaths in Mount Juliet were the first in Wilson County from a tornado since April 11, 1944
- 60.13 mile path length of this tornado is the longest in Middle Tennessee since official tornado records began in 1950
- Second longest known path length of any tornado in Middle Tennessee history going back to the 1800s (longest was 80 miles on May 27, 1917)
- One of the longest known tornado paths ever in the state of Tennessee
National Weather Service - Nashville, TN
For more information on the March 2-3, 2020 tornadoes...
Preliminary Tornado Track Files
KML File: Click here (updated March 18, 2020)
DAT Viewer: Click here (updated March 18, 2020)
StoryMap created by Brendan Schaper, Meteorologist at NWS Nashville. Special thanks to Sam Shamburger, Lead Forecaster, the NWS Nashville Staff, and cited sources for providing the images and data for the StoryMap.
