2 Tornadoes Touched Down In Midstate Saturday: NWS

OLD HICKORY, TN — Two tornadoes touched down in Middle Tennessee Saturday evening, the National Weather Service confirmed, both spawning in Davidson County.

Around 4:30 Saturday afternoon, a tornado spun up in Joelton, just south of Interstate 24, causing damage mostly to trees and outbuildings on Clarksville Pike. The storm intensified as it crossed the interstate and struck neighborhoods near Union Hill Road, where at least two homes had significant roof damage and dozens of mature trees were snapped and uprooted, along with power poles. The NWS estimated winds of 100 mph in the 200-yard-wide storm that stayed on the ground for more than two miles.

About 20 minutes later, another tornado spun up in extreme southeastern Davidson County near Hampton Drive, where it caused minor damage before hopping Percy Priest Lake into extreme northwestern Rutherford County before moving into southern Wilson County. In Gladeville, dozens of trees were uprooted and outbuildings destroyed. A church suffered roof damage and lost its steeple. That storm, also estimated with 100 mph winds, had a 100-yard-wide damage path that ran for 10 miles.

November tornadoes are not unheard of in Tennessee. The state averages three significant tornadoes in November historically, though typically they occur in the first two weeks of the month. Last year, a significant outbreak tore across southern Middle Tennessee on November 29 and 30.

Image via National Weather Service