24th anniversary of Middle Tennessee’s powerful F5 tornado in 1998

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — In Center Tennessee, on April 16, 1998, a twister outbreak consisting of greater than 20 supercells and 10 confirmed tornadoes struck the realm. Nashville was hit with three tornadoes — one rated F3 and two rated F2. It was the primary time in 65 years {that a} tornado struck downtown.

Within the intensive protection of town’s onslaught, a a lot bigger, extra harmful F5 twister in Lawrence County was almost overshadowed.

On this planet of climate reporting, tornadoes are rated on a scale — the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) — from F0 to F5.

When tornadoes attain the extent of F5 on the EF Scale, it means its winds have reached speeds of 260-318 mph. F5s are extremely violent.

Within the historical past of Tennessee, solely 4 instances has any twister ever been rated F5. As soon as in 1952, twice in 1974, and eventually in 1998. However some meteorologists have efficiently argued that solely the 1998 F5 has legitimately earned such a rating.

This makes April 16 the anniversary of Tennessee’s solely formally documented F5 twister within the historical past of the state. Luckily, nobody was killed.

The 1998 F5 twister grew to be one mile vast and touched down in largely rural areas of Lawrence County for 23 miles.

Nicely-constructed properties within the space had been fully leveled, with foundations cleaned. A number of bushes had been debarked and a one-ton pickup truck was hurled greater than 109 yards, roughly the size of a soccer discipline.

The twister weakened to an F4 as soon as it reached Giles and Maury Counties, however it continued to supply harm for 17 extra miles.

As we keep in mind the highly effective drive that hit in 1998, you will need to take note of updates when threats come up in Tennessee’s peak twister season.

In line with the Nationwide Climate Service, Tennessee’s twister season peaks in February, March and April, however the state is kind of accustomed to twister threats 12 months spherical. A second, fall twister season can also be typical round November.