National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

May 27, 2017 Severe Storms
 

Downburst Statistics
# Counties Location Max Winds Time (CDT) Fatalities Injuries
1 Putnam/Cumberland Cookeville/Mayland 95 mph 816 PM 0 0
2 Overton/Putnam Rickman/Monterey 85 mph 826 PM 0 0
3 White Doyle 80 mph 828 PM 0 0
4 Cumberland Lake Tansi 85 mph 839 PM 0 0

 

Overview
A late Spring storm system brought several waves of strong to severe thunderstorms to Middle Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours on May 27. One supercell thunderstorm developed during the afternoon across Wilson County, then moved east-southeast across Smith, Putnam, White, and Cumberland Counties, producing very photogenic wall clouds and several reports of hail. Later in the day, two lines of severe thunderstorms called Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) moved southeast out of western Kentucky across the region, producing widespread wind damage and several reports of large hail. The worst damage occurred across Putnam, Jackson, Overton, Fentress, White, and Cumberland Counties, where straight-line winds up to 95 mph caused major wind damage. The second line of severe thunderstorms caused less severe but still widespread wind damage across Humphreys, Hickman, Maury, and Perry Counties. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma stated that each of these two damaging lines of thunderstorms may be classified as a "derecho", which are long lived, damaging wind storms that travel hundreds of miles.

 

Reports & Outlooks
SPC Storm Reports SPC Event Archive Local Storm Reports

 

Storm Surveys
May 27, 2017 Severe Storms

 

Radar
Derecho radar progression
Radar mosaic showing the progression of the damaging line of severe thunderstorms that affected the Upper Cumberland, which the Storm Prediction Center says was a derecho

 

Cookeville Downburst
Counties: Putnam
Time: 808-825 PM
Estimated Peak Winds: 95 mph
Damage Path Length: 15 miles
Damage Path Width: 1-2 miles
Fatalities: 0
Injuries 0

Storm Survey:

A NWS storm survey found a severe 15 mile long by 1 to 2 mile wide downburst caused major damage across Cookeville and surrounding areas of central Putnam County. Damage was first reported east of Bloomington Springs where trees and power lines were blown down, with scattered tree and power line damage continuing to the southeast to near the Nashville Highway. More significant and widespread damage occurred across the center of Cookeville, where the roof was blown off a business on Oak Avenue and the canopy was blown off another business on Whitney Street. Dozens of very large trees were also snapped and uprooted with several falling on homes and vehicles and the majority of roads in the city blocked. One tree fell through and destroyed much of a home on Briargate Way. Numerous power lines were blown down and power poles snapped with power knocked out to up to 60 percent of the city. Farther to the east, numerous trees and power lines continued to be blown down on Buck Mountain, in the Poplar Grove area, and around City Lake. Wind speeds were estimated to range from 75 mph up to 95 mph.

The bow echo that produced all of the damage in and around Cookeville continued eastward into Cumberland County and also caused severe wind damage around the Mayland area.

Radar:

Cookeville Radar

OHX Base Reflectivity (Left) / Base Velocity (Right) radar loop showing bow echo with severe straight-line winds up to 95 mph (bright yellow pixels) passing over the center of Cookeville

Storm Survey Damage Photos:

Cookeville Damage
Cookeville Damage
Cookeville Damage

 

Rickman/Monterey Downburst
Counties: Overton/Putnam
Time: 815-833 PM
Estimated Peak Winds: 85 mph
Damage Path Length: 17 miles
Damage Path Width: 1 mile
Fatalities: 0
Injuries 0

Storm Survey:

A NWS storm survey found a severe 17 mile long by 1 mile wide downburst caused major wind damage along the Putnam/Overton County border southeast to around Monterey. Damage was first reported on Cindy Lane in northern Putnam County where trees were blown down. Numerous more trees were snapped and uprooted along Ben Mason Road just north of the county line in Overton County. The roof was blown off a large warehouse at a flea market on Highway 111, and a nearby outbuilding lost many wood panels on the outside walls. Dozens of large trees were also snapped and uprooted along Spring Creek Road in Rickman, with several falling on homes and vehicles. Farther to the east, a barn lost much of its roof on Highway 84 near Lewis Lane, and numerous trees and power lines were blown down along Highway 84 south of Boswell Road. Large trees were blown down and playground equipment destroyed in Whittaker Park in Monterey, and several more trees were blown down on Clinchfield Drive and Meadow Creek Road southeast of Monterey. Wind speeds were estimated up to 85 mph.

Radar:

Rickman & Monterey Radar

OHX Base Reflectivity (Left) / Base Velocity (Right) radar loop showing bow echo with severe straight-line winds up to 85 mph (bright yellow pixels) passing along the Putnam/Overton County border area

Storm Survey Damage Photos:

Barn damage on Highway 84
Tree damage on Highway 84 northwest of Monterey

 

Lake Tansi Downburst
Counties: Cumberland
Time: 839-845 PM
Estimated Peak Winds: 85 mph
Damage Path Length: 3 miles
Damage Path Width: 1/2 mile
Fatalities: 0
Injuries 0

Storm Survey:

A NWS storm survey found the rear flank downdraft of a supercell thunderstorm caused severe wind damage in a 3 mile long by 1/2 mile wide swath across Lake Tansi. Dozens of trees and power lines were blown down from Ona Road east-southeast across Cravens Drive, the Lake Tansi Golf Course, Seminole Loop, Cheyenne Drive, Pawnee Road, Pomo Circle, Piute Road, Natchez Trace, and Flathead Road. Many roads were blocked and some trees fell onto homes and vehicles. Wind speeds were estimated up to 85 mph.

Radar:

Lake Tansi Radar

OHX Base Reflectivity (Left) / Base Velocity (Right) radar loop showing a supercell thunderstorm that caused severe straight-line winds up to 85 mph (bright yellow pixels) passing over Lake Tansi

Storm Survey Damage Photos:

Lake Tansi Damage
Lake Tansi Damage