Severe Tornadoes Confirmed in Middle Tennessee with More Rain Expected

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The National Weather Service confirmed four tornadoes struck Middle Tennessee early Monday morning, resulting from a severe weather system that affected the region starting Sunday night. An EF-1 tornado was reported in Humphreys County, featuring winds reaching 95 mph, measuring 150 yards wide and lasting 1.7 miles.

The confirmed tornadoes included an EF-2 in Hampshire, Maury County, and an EF-1 in Mount Pleasant, along with an EF-0 near the Hickman–Williamson County line and another EF-1 in McEwen, Humphreys County. The NWS reported that the storm damage assessments are still ongoing in areas including Perry, Maury, Humphreys, Williamson, Rutherford, and Cannon counties.

Preliminary assessments indicate significant property damage in Maury County, while in Humphreys County, a homeowner described the storm as having separated the roof from their house.

In response to the continuing severe weather threat, a First Alert Weather Day has been issued from Wednesday through Saturday, forecasting multiple rounds of rain and storms affecting the Midstate.

The situation escalated Wednesday as a larger storm system moved through the Midwest and South, leading to one fatality and numerous injuries across several states. A person was killed in Missouri due to storm-related incidents, while individuals were reported injured in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Indiana. The Kentucky emergency management director emphasized the importance of safety during severe weather.

As of late Wednesday, more than 23 million people were under tornado watches stretching from Texas to Ohio as the National Weather Service warned of a potential “tornado outbreak.” Forecasters anticipated the formation of long-track EF3 tornadoes and a historic flash flood event.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced the activation of the National Guard to assist in the storm response as widespread destruction was reported in several communities.

Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee also declared a state of emergency Wednesday, warning citizens to prepare for ongoing severe weather conditions through the coming days.

Rainfall predictions indicated that some areas could receive between 10 to 15 inches of rain throughout the weekend, with the National Weather Service calling it a “life-threatening and potentially historic flash flood event.” Residents are advised to prepare for significant disruptions as heavy rainfall and storms continue to impact daily life in the region.