Tennessee tornado outbreak may mark deadliest December ever. What we know.

Shiann Arnold packs up Christmas decorations next to a sign that blew into their home in Clarksville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Tornadoes struck Middle Tennessee on Saturday, killing at least six people and leaving more than 160,000 Middle Tennessee residents without power.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Saturday’s severe weather system that pushed through Middle Tennessee with multiple tornadoes may mark the deadliest December on record for Middle Tennessee’s tornado disasters, according to the Nashville Weather Service.

Six people were confirmed dead Saturday night in Clarksville and Madison.

Middle Tennessee previously recorded a total of eight tornado deaths in the month of December, with that total spanning decades of separate tornado disasters.

In addition to fatalities, Clarksville officials reported 62 people went to local hospitals, with nine of those transferred on Sunday to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical, unstable condition.

How many tornadoes in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency confirmed “preliminary reporting” of 13 tornadoes across the state.

NWS confirmed storm survey findings Sunday evening, with the Clarksville tornado rating as an EF-3, with winds of 150 mph, and the Madison/Hendersonville/Gallatin tornado with a preliminary rating of EF-2, and winds of 125 mph.

Where in Tennessee did the tornadoes hit?

While reports of damage are still rolling in, TEMA reported that affected counties include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Weakley and Wilson. 

National Weather Service confirmed that an estimated nine counties were impacted by tornado damage, with counties affected by severe weather damage being “likely double” that.

Read More