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| == Meteorological synopsis == | == Meteorological synopsis == | ||
| {{Main|2020 Nashville tornado outbreak}}The threat for severe weather across Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas was not forecast well in advance. The ] (SPC) first issued a ] across northeastern Arkansas into the ] area in their 1:00 a.m. ] (06:00 ]) March 2 outlook. In their forecast, the SPC noted that an ] was likely to materialize ahead of an approaching ], but that this environment would likely be contained by a ] for most of the day.<ref /> | |||
| {{Main|2020 Nashville tornado outbreak}} | |||
| By the afternoon hours, the SPC expected the combination of rich moisture, modest ], and cold mid-level temperatures to promote the formation of ] with a primary risk of large hail. Some tornadic activity appeared possible overnight given an increase in low-level winds.<ref /> At 5:20 p.m. CST, the first ] was issued from northern Arkansas northeastward into southern Indiana and western Kentucky as discrete storms began to develop.<ref /><ref /> | |||
| By 11:00 p.m. CST, as a ] progressed northeastward through southern Missouri, sustained ] falls caused supercell storms to give way to an organized storm cluster that gradually weakened as it progressed into an area of less abundant moisture.<ref /> As convection weakened to the north, the SPC began to monitor areas farther south – encompassing eastern Arkansas, West Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky – for reinvigorated thunderstorm development as the northern ] amplified southeastward into the risk area. Strong wind shear coupled with low instability was expected to promote activity with "a risk for severe hail, strong surface gusts and perhaps potential for a tornado or two."<ref /> At 11:20 p.m. CST, a localized tornado watch was issued across Middle Tennessee.<ref /> In subsequent hours, a long-lived and intense supercell produced ten tornadoes along the ] corridor. A few hours after the Tennessee event, as severe weather moved farther south, a couple weaker tornadoes touched down in central ] as the outbreak wound down. | |||
| == Tornado summary == | == Tornado summary == | ||
Revision as of 20:51, 21 August 2024
 EF4 damage to homes along North McBroom Chapel Road and Hensley Drive, just west of Cookeville. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 3, 2020, 1:48 a.m. CST (UTC−06:00) |
| Dissipated | March 3, 2020, 1:56 a.m. CST (UTC−06:00) |
| Duration | 8 minutes |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 175 mph (282 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Casualties | 19 fatalities, 87 injuries |
| Damage | $100 million (2020 USD) |
Part of the Tornadoes of 2020 and 2020 Nashville tornado outbreak | |
In the early morning hours of March 3, 2020, a fast-moving, violent and extremely destructive tornado tracked across Putnam County, Tennessee, directly impacting the cities of Baxter and Cookeville. The National Weather Service forecast office in Nashville, Tennessee, rated the worst of the damage from the tornado EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale with winds estimated at 175 miles per hour (282 km/h).
The tornado extensively damaged Cookeville, producing an 0.8-mile long swath of high-end EF4 damage. 19 people were killed, 87 were injured, and the tornado caused an estimated $100,000,000 (2020 USD) in damages.
Meteorological synopsis
Main article: 2020 Nashville tornado outbreakThe threat for severe weather across Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas was not forecast well in advance. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) first issued a slight risk across northeastern Arkansas into the Tennessee Valley area in their 1:00 a.m. CST (06:00 UTC) March 2 outlook. In their forecast, the SPC noted that an unstable atmosphere was likely to materialize ahead of an approaching cold front, but that this environment would likely be contained by a capping inversion for most of the day.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).
By the afternoon hours, the SPC expected the combination of rich moisture, modest wind shear, and cold mid-level temperatures to promote the formation of supercells with a primary risk of large hail. Some tornadic activity appeared possible overnight given an increase in low-level winds.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page). At 5:20 p.m. CST, the first tornado watch was issued from northern Arkansas northeastward into southern Indiana and western Kentucky as discrete storms began to develop.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).
By 11:00 p.m. CST, as a surface low progressed northeastward through southern Missouri, sustained barometric pressure falls caused supercell storms to give way to an organized storm cluster that gradually weakened as it progressed into an area of less abundant moisture.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page). As convection weakened to the north, the SPC began to monitor areas farther south – encompassing eastern Arkansas, West Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky – for reinvigorated thunderstorm development as the northern jet stream amplified southeastward into the risk area. Strong wind shear coupled with low instability was expected to promote activity with "a risk for severe hail, strong surface gusts and perhaps potential for a tornado or two."Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page). At 11:20 p.m. CST, a localized tornado watch was issued across Middle Tennessee.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page). In subsequent hours, a long-lived and intense supercell produced ten tornadoes along the Interstate 40 corridor. A few hours after the Tennessee event, as severe weather moved farther south, a couple weaker tornadoes touched down in central Alabama as the outbreak wound down.
Tornado summary
The tornado touched down 0.8 miles east of Cedar Hill in Robertson County, directly east of U.S. Route 70 North at 1:48 am CST, and began to track eastward, aligning with Baxter. Trees along Thompson Ridge Road were uprooted at EF0 intensity, and a home located on Bidwell Lane sustained heavy roof damage on the outer edge of the tornado's path, with windspeeds estimated to be around 75 mph (121 km/h) at that location. As the tornado moved across Byers Road, it uprooted more trees and damaged an outbuilding at retained EF0 intensity. It breifly moved parallel to U.S. Route 70, narrowly avoiding the Upperman High School, located on the eastern edge of Baxter. A home located less than a mile from the high school sustained heavy damaged, and another house was partially deroofed.
As the tornado entered the city limits of Baxter, it crossed Millie Lane, where it uprooted trees at EF0 intensity. Several more homes located a short distance east, on Stephanie Lane, were heavily damaged, and an outbuilding was obliterated at EF1 intensity. The tornado continued to move eastward, deroofing 2 homes located on Big Ben Circle and damaging several others.
The tornado continued to move eastward toward Cookeville, and uprooted trees at EF1 intensity before crossing Bloomington Road. Several homes located in the area sustained varying levels of damage, and an outbuilding was completely destroyed at EF3 intensity. More homes were heavily damaged as the tornado moved across Clemmons Road, and the tornado had estimated windspeeds of 150 mph (240 km/h) shortly before entering heavily populated neighborhood in western Cookeville.
The tornado gained intensity and became violent for the first time as it tore through the southern end of Charlton Square, where several homes were slabbed at high-end EF3 intensity and another residence was obliterated at EF4 intensity. A person who was occupying house in the area was pinned under rubble and injured, and another occupant was unhurt. The damage rating for the home was initially lowered, but was moved back up to EF4 damage after an analysis of the structure was conducted. An adjacent home was destroyed at EF4 intensity, and the tornado retained this intensity for 0.8 miles.
As the tornado moved across Plunk Whitson Road, it destroyed a home at EF3 intensity and left only a small room standing, where 5 occupants survived. 4 children and 7 adults who lived in the area were killed as the tornado tore through the subdivision. A residence located across the street was completely destroyed, and the tornado had estimated windspeeds of 170 mph (270 km/h) in this area. The tornado continued to move through heavily populated areas, before running parallel to Hensley Drive, where every structure located on the southern half of the street were destroyed at EF4 intensity. A couple who were residing in one of the homes survived, and 4 members of a family sustained minor injuries.
The tornado curved slightly southward on North McBroom Chapel Road, where high-end EF4 damage was documented to a home and several others were damaged at various intensities. Up to 70 people were unaccounted for in this area in the hours after the tornado had hit. The tornado then moved across Mockingbird Hill Circle, where trees were debarked and several structures were destroyed at EF3 and EF4 intensity. It continued to move in a straight path, crossing a creek before directly impacting a 3-story apartment. The apartment was obliterated, with the top 2 stories completely destroyed and debris strewn across the property.
The tornado then directly impacted Echo Valley Drive, where another group of houses were completely destroyed at high-end EF4 intensity, and an Exxon gas station located on the adjacent street was obliterated. As the tornado crossed West Broad Street, it produced largely EF2 damage, where a home sustained roof damage and another was shifted off its' foundation. A metal building system nearby was also destroyed in 145 mph (233 km/h) windspeeds. The tornado then moved over Locust Grove Road, where a row of houses located on the adjacent street were either heavily damaged or destroyed at high-end EF3 intensity.
As the tornado exited the eastern side the residential subdivisions of northwest Cookeville, it crossed Tennessee Avenue, where multiple hardwood trees were snapped at EF2 intensity. Multiple structures were damaged or destroyed as the tornado crossed Miller Road, and a home was slid off its' foundation on an adjacent street. It then rapidly strengthened, reaching EF3 intensity as it impacted a home located off of West Broad Street. Multiple nearby buildings were partially deroofed, and an outbuilding was destroyed at EF2 intensity. Another home located nearby was hit and damged at EF2 intensity, and an occupant was killed while on the stairwell. A row of houses located on Crescent Drive sustained EF1 and EF2 damage, with one home sustaining heavy roof damage.
As the tornado weakened, it partially deroofed multiple structures on Vinson Avenue and damaged the siding of another home near Braswell Avenue. Trees were uprooted at EF1 intensity as the tornado crossed Buck Avenue, and the tornado again weakened to EF0 intensity as it entered into another residential area, located due west of the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. The tornado then rapidly dissipated as it neared the medical center, uprooting small trees and damaging the siding of an outbuilding before lifting at 1:56 am CST on Laurel Avenue.
Aftermath
Damage
Fatalities
19 died - 14 adults - 5 children
Visit by Donald Trump
See also
External links
References
- ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "March 2-3, 2020 Tornadoes and Severe Weather". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- Sadler, Megan (2020-09-04). "Putnam Co. tornado caused $100M in damage, says mayor". WVLT. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- "Putnam County mayor: March tornado caused $100M in damages". News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF). 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "The devastating Nashville tornado path through Tennessee in March 2020". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- "Couple Speaks Out on 'Flying in the Air' During Deadly Tenn. Tornado: 'No Clue How We Survived'". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- "'No walls, no roof, nothing around us': Cookeville residents pick up after the tornado". wbir.com. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- Staff, WZTV (2023-03-03). "Three years later: Tennesseans remember lives lost in deadly March tornado". WZTV. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- "First responders honored at Cookeville Regional Medical Center for work during tornadoes". wbir.com. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2024-08-21.