The Storm Prediction Center registered over a dozen tornado reports in Kentucky and Tennessee, labeling it a deadly tornado outbreak according to FOX Weather Center.
A deadly tornado outbreak wreaked havoc across the South on Saturday amid a potent storm system causing snow, wind, and heavy rain across the eastern U.S
Montgomery County officials confirmed three fatalities and almost two dozen injuries due to a deadly tornado outbreak ripping through Clarksville, Tennessee. Simultaneously, Nashville reported three deaths following another tornado’s path through its northern region. The first Tornado Warning was issued around 12:30 p.m. local time encompassing areas like Rutherford, Dredson, and Gleason in northwestern Tennessee. Upgraded to a “Particularly Dangerous Situation,” it stemmed from alarming radar and observation reports.
This twister’s impact zone, a two-hour drive from Nashville, prompted warnings in southern Kentucky. Gibson County’s emergency management flagged “significant” damage from a deadly tornado outbreak, causing flipped vehicles, extensive tree wreckage, and a fire station roof torn off. The exact toll of injuries remained unreported by officials in Gibson County.
Gibson Electric Membership Corporation highlighted severe damage in the Rutherford area, leaving nearly 4,500 powerless locally and 60,000 statewide
The same storm system spawned a deadly tornado outbreak in Clarksville, tracked into Kentucky, wrecking numerous homes and causing multiple casualties. “This is a day that nobody wanted or expected, but this is a day where our community shines,” stated Joe Pitts, mayor of Clarksville, urging residents to seek help via 911 but to stay indoors if safe.
With nightfall hindering search efforts, the full extent of the disaster remained unclear. The deadly tornado outbreak threat, along with damaging winds and heavy rain, persisted, shifting eastward. The forecast predicted continued storms, particularly in northeastern Georgia, parts of North Carolina, and Virginia, potentially accumulating up to 3 inches of rain by Monday.
The looming cold front set the stage for renewed storm activity on Sunday across the South and eastern U.S. Although the focus shifted away from tornadoes, the risk of severe thunderstorms lingered, posing threats of damaging winds according to the SPC.