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December 2023 Tennessee tornado outbreak

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  • Comment: Notable and well written,(though some sections are blank) thank you Ozzie10aaaa (talk) 13:16, 11 December 2023 (UTC)

Tornado outbreak of December 9–10, 2023
NEXRAD radar screenshot of the Hendersonville, Tennessee tornado.
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes7
Maximum ratingEF3 tornado
Highest winds150 mph (Clarksville, Tennessee on December 9, 168 mph recorded by radar in Hendersonville, Tennessee)
Overall effects
Fatalities6
Areas affectedSoutheastern United States
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2023

A late-season tornado outbreak and severe weather event affected portions of the Southern United States, primarily across the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi.[1] Multiple tornadoes have been reported, including one that damaged a National Guard Armory site near Dresden,[2] a long-tracked, damaging tornado that caused heavy damage in the town of Clarksville,[3] and an intense, massive tornado that prompted a tornado emergency for the city of Hendersonville, all in Tennessee.[4] The tornadoes killed at least six people and injured 65 others, including 62 from the Clarksville tornado.[5][6][7]

Meteorological synopsis

The tornado outlook issued by the SPC on the afternoon of December 9 (20:00 UTC)

On December 5, the Storm Prediction Center issued a Day 5 severe weather risk ahead of predictions that strong convective instability and wind shear would occur across portions of the Southern United States, from east Texas to western Mississippi.[8] By December 7, a slight risk was posted in a large region from Louisiana to Kentucky. Uncertainties remained however over the instability of airmass, and the development of low-level flow conducive to tornadic thunderstorms.[9] By the next day, the slight risk was maintained for the same general area, and a 5% risk corridor for tornadoes was introduced for all of the northern sections of the main risk area, extending from extreme eastern Texas, south and southeastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, western and central Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky.[10] In this outlook, the SPC described the atmosphere and conditions as favorable for severe weather, as convective available potential energy (CAPE) values reached 500 J/kg in the main risk area, favorable low-level wind shear ahead of the expected upper-level trough, and moderate instability were all present to allow for sustained thunderstorm development.[10]

On December 9, the outlook was maintained at slight risk up until 1630 UTC. In this last outlook, the main 5% corridor was enlarged to include portions of extreme northwestern Georgia, most of northern Alabama, and central portions of Tennessee, all the way to the Knoxville vicinity. Elevated dew points reaching 60s °F were expected to be present ahead of the passing of an advancing cold front, which in combination with the aforementioned factors, created a very favorable atmosphere for severe weather. However, uncertainties in the extent of the tornado threat were still sufficient to avoid a categorical upgrade.[11] The first of what would be multiple tornado watches was issued shortly before this outlook, mentioning a moderate (60%) chance for tornadoes, and a low (20%) probability for strong (EF2+) tornadoes.[12]

Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita rating
EFU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5 Total
0 2 3 1 1 0 0 7

December 9 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, December 9, 2023[a]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width
EF1 NNE of Yorkville to S of Sharon to SSE of Dresden Gibson, Weakley TN [to be determined] 17:32–18:03 25.27 mi (40.67 km) 600 yd (550 m)
This long-tracked tornado became the first associated with this long-lived supercell, which would eventually produce the EF3 that impacted Clarksville. A home was heavily damaged near the begenning of the path, and its carport was demolished. After passing close to the town of Rutherford, the tornado continued inflicting damage to multiple homes, tearing roofs and snapping trees. It then caused damage a fire station and multiple additional homes, before crossing into Weakley County. It then passed south of Sharon, before entering the Dresden area. A double-wide mobile home was rolled off its foundation, injuring two people inside. Additional homes sustained roof damage, before the tornado impacted a National Guard Armory site, causing severe roof damage, and dissipating soon after. Preliminary information.[13]
EF3 N of Clarksville, TN to Allensville, KY to SSE of Russellville, KY Montgomery (TN), Todd (KY), Logan (KY) TN, KY [to be determined] 19:42–20:42 42.98 mi (69.17 km) 600 yd (550 m)
3 deaths – See article on this tornado – 62 people were injured.[13]
EF2+ N of Hendersonville to S of Gallatin Davidson, Sumner TN 36°15′10″N 86°47′21″W / 36.2529°N 86.7892°W / 36.2529; -86.7892 (Davidson (Dec. 9, EF2)) [to be determined] 10 mi (16 km) 400 yd (370 m)
3 deaths – This strong tornado was observed by numerous storm spotters and residents tracking through areas of the Nashville, TN metro.[5][14][15]
EF1 Southern Bowling Green Warren KY [to be determined] 19:42–20:42 2.24 mi (3.60 km) 125 yd (114 m)
This low-end EF1 tornado came from the same storm that produced the deadly Clarksville EF3 tornado. It destroyed a greenhouse, inflicted roof and siding damage to numerous homes, two metal warehouses, and a hotel, and snapped or uprooted trees. Preliminary information.[13]
EF0 N of Braxton to S of Puckett Simpson MS 32°03′N 89°59′W / 32.05°N 89.99°W / 32.05; -89.99 (Braxton (Dec. 9, EF0)) 03:18–03:35 13.96 mi (22.47 km) 75 yd (69 m)
A supercell developed south of the main risk area, producing this tornado, which closely straddled the Simpson-Rankin county line. Damage was confined to trees, one of which was toppled into power lines.[13]
EF0 W of Raleigh Smith MS 32°01′N 89°37′W / 32.02°N 89.62°W / 32.02; -89.62 (Raleigh (Dec. 9, EF0)) 03:45–03:48 3.71 mi (5.97 km) 75 yd (69 m)
This tornado developed soon after the previous one occluded, causing damage to trees and vegetation, one of which included a fallen tree, which fell onto a house.[13]

December 10 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, December 10, 2023[b]
EF# Location County / Parish State Start Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Max width
EF1 Garner Wake NC 35°41′N 78°39′W / 35.69°N 78.65°W / 35.69; -78.65 (Garner (Dec. 10, EF1)) 10:28–10:32 1.42 mi (2.29 km) [to be determined]
This high-end EF1 tornado caused major tree damage. Preliminary information.[13]

Clarksville, Tennessee / Allensville–Russellville, Kentucky

Clarksville, Tennessee / Allensville–Russellville, Kentucky
Meteorological history
FormedDecember 9, 2023, 1:42 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00)
DissipatedDecember 9, 2023, 2:42 p.m. CST (UTC−06:00)
Duration1 hour
EF3 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds150 mph (240 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities3[16][17]
Injuries62[16][18]
Main article: 2023 Clarksville tornado

A long-track and deadly tornado touched down in northwest areas of Clarksville. A church building was destroyed and dozens of homes were completely flattened to the northeast. A strip mall was completely destroyed as the tornado crossed US 41A/SR 12 and multiple homes were destroyed with some wiped off their slabs on Whitehall Dr. The tornado then impacted homes around the West Creek School area, destroying and wiping more homes off their foundations. Multiple apartment buildings lost roofs and walls here as well. The tornado continued through suburbs of Clarksville, before crossing the Tennessee-Kentucky border into mainly open farmland. The tornado then tracked directly through the town of Allensville at EF2 strength, damaging structures and snapping trees, before dissipating far south of southeast of Russellville.[13] The tornado killed three people and injured 62 others along its path of 43 miles (69 km) while reaching a maximum width of 600 yards (550 m).[16][13][19]

Non-tornadic effects

A winter storm in relation to the system closed I-29 from Fargo, North Dakota to the Canadian border.[20]


Strong storms affected the Northeastern United States on December 10-11. The heaviest rain in the New York metropolitan area was on Long Island, where over 4 in (100 mm) of rain fell in certain spots. High winds were also reported, with gusts reaching 48 mph (77 km/h) in Kew Gardens and 46 mph (74 km/h) at Orient. Light backend snow also was observed in Sullivan County.[21] On December 10, daily rainfall records were set at Philadelphia, Atlantic City and Wilmington.[22] Further south, light snow at Dulles International Airport accumulated to 0.4 in (1.0 cm), but that was more snow then fell for the entirety of the previous winter. 0.1 in (0.25 cm) of snow was recorded at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.[23]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  2. ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.

References

  1. ^ "SPC Severe Weather Event Review for Friday December 01, 2023". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Storm causes damage in Weakley Co". WBBJ-TV. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Clarksville sees severe tornado damage Saturday afternoon". News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF). December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hendersonville Tornado Damage: Tennessee Twister Moving Fast, Gallatin And Goodlettsville Alerted | Video". TimesNow. December 10, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Rose, Andy; Dewberry, Sarah; Raffa, Elisa (December 10, 2023). "At least 6 people confirmed dead, dozens injured as tornadoes strike Tennessee". CNN. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Latham, Angele (December 9, 2023). "Damage from tornadoes, severe weather reported in Middle Tennessee". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Edmonds, Colbi; McGee, Jamie (December 10, 2023). "Six Dead and More Than 60 Injured After Severe Weather in Tennessee". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Day 4-8 Severe Weather Outlook Issued on Dec 5, 2023". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  9. ^ "Dec 7, 2023 0830 UTC Day 3 Severe Thunderstorm Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Dec 8, 2023 1730 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "Dec 9, 2023 1630 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tornado Watch 714". Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Damage Assessment Toolkit". Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "UPDATE: Death toll from Tennessee tornadoes rises to 6, including 3 in Clarksville and 3 in Nashville". X (formerly Twitter). December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Confirmed casualties so far from the tornadoes in Tennessee:- Clarksville: 3 dead, 23 injured - Nashville: 3 dead (Madison area) - Hendersonville: Injuries reported". X (formerly Twitter). December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s preliminary damage survey by county:
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNN was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Latham, Angele; Mazza, Sandy; Puente, Kelly; Young, Nicole; Humbles, Andy; Shoup, Craig (December 10, 2023). "Tennessee tornado outbreak updates: NWS says EF3 tornado hit Clarksville; EF2 hit Madison". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Edmonds, Colbi; McGee, Jamie (December 10, 2023). "Six Dead and More Than 60 Injured After Severe Weather in Tennessee". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  20. ^ NDDOT closes I-29 from Fargo to Canadian border, ValleyNewsLive, December 9, 2023
  21. ^ Storm clears out on Monday leaving cold but dry week ahead, NBC New York, December 11, 2023
  22. ^ Wild weather weekend saw 3 record daily rainfall maximums in Delaware Valley, CBS News, December 11, 2023
  23. ^ Washington sees first snow of season as wind, rain push off Northeast coast on Monday, Fox Weather, December 11, 2023


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