May 24-26, 2000 Tornadoes

Summary of Storm Survey Findings, May 24-26, 2000

An F1 tornado struck Benton County near the Holladay area [at] 230 AM Thursday, May 25. Path length [was] about 6 miles.

Another F1 tornado struck Benton County around 610 PM Friday, May 26. Path length was 5.8 miles. Several homes had damage from trees falling on them. Other homes had shingles peeled off roofs. The hardest hit areas were on New Hope Road, Fanning Road, and Morris Wheatley Road.

A third and final F1 tornado this time struck the New Hope Road and Valentine Road area on Saturday, May 27 [at] 240 PM and continued onto near the Lick Creek Access Road region and crossed the Tennessee River. The tornado entered Houston County and reached the Tennessee Ridge area at 300 PM. This tornado had an intensity of F3 in Houston County and caused about 1.3 million dollars worth of damage. Roofs and some walls were torn off well constructed houses in Houston County. Many trees were snapped or uprooted. The NWS appreciates the assistance from the Houston County Executive.

The Nashville National Weather Service storm survey team determined that 3 tornadoes from the same storm struck Maury County early Thursday morning. The first two touchdowns were rated F1 while the final touchdown was rated F2.

The first touchdown occurred in western Maury County approximately 2.5 miles south southwest of Williamsport. Specifically, the tornado tracked along southern portion[s] of Greenfield Bend Road in extreme western Maury County, near the Duck River. The track of the tornado had a path length approximately 1 mile and the path width was 220 yards. there was also quarter size hail 1 mile south of Williamsport.

The second touchdown occurred approximately 1 mile north of Cross Bridges, or about 8 miles west of Columbia. Specifically, the tornado tracked near the intersection of Morel Road and Cross Bridges Road along the creek. The track of the tornado had a path length approximately 2.5 miles and the path width was 220 yards.

The third and last touchdown occurred in the Fountain Heights community approximately 2.5 miles east southeast of Columbia. Specifically, the tornado started near Goose Creek on Old Highway 50. The intermittent track of the tornado was 2.5 miles and the path width was 220 yards.

The last tornado demolished a garage just west of the Fountain Heights community. In addition, it uprooted numerous large trees, including many well established oak trees. The majority of the fallen trees are facing east southeast, however, in the Fountain Heights community, some of the trees are snapped and facing south and north.

The tornadoes affected Maury County from 320 AM to 350 PM.

The Nashville National Weather Service has determined an F1 tornado struck the Crieve Hall area of Nashville around 1245 PM, Friday, May 26. The tornado started around Hill Road and Overton Road and ended at Marchant Drive, near the Ellington Agricultural Center. The tornado had a path length of 1.3 miles.

The hardest hit area[s], with some shingles lost on roofs and uprooted and snapped trees, were on Oakley Drive, Rochelle Drive, Manley Drive, and Hogan Road.

The National Weather Service would like to thank the Davidson County Office of Emergency Management for its assistance.

The Nashville National Weather Service has determined there were 2 F1 tornadoes. There was one tornado that occurred 8.8 miles southwest of Dover on East Fork Leatherwood Road. There was another tornado 5.4 miles southwest of Dover on Standing Rock Road. One tree was uprooted and fell on a house on Standing Rock Road.

Most of the damage from these tornadoes were numerous downed trees at these locations. Several trees were also snapped.

The Nashville National Weather Service storm survey team determined an F2 tornado struck Hickman County. The track of the tornado was from about 4.1 miles southeast of Centerville to 11.9 miles [southeast] of Centerville. The intermittent track of the tornado had a path length [of] 7.8 miles, and the path width was 440 yards. The tornado demolished a mobile home on Mobley Ridge Road. [Three] people were injured. Many trees were blown down, especially on the Natchez Trace Parkway. The tornado affected Hickman County from 300 AM-314 AM.

There were 2 weak F1 tornadoes in Nashville that occurred from 1158 PM Wednesday, May 24 through 1204 AM Thursday, May 25. These tornadoes blew down some trees around Belmont Avenue, Woodmont Boulevard, and Caldwell. The NWS thanks the Davidson County Office of Emergency Management for its assistance in preparing this report.

Jerry Orchanian
Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Ralph Troutman
Data Acquisition Program Manager

John Gordon
Lead Forecaster