Tennessee
When is tornado season: Tennessee sees most tornadoes between March and May. What to know to stay safe
Tornado season: How to prep for it
Don’t be caught unprepared when those sirens go off. Here’s how to prepare for tornado season.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY
It’s March which means tornadoes are going to be twisting into town within the next month.
According to the National Weather Service, Tennessee sees most of its tornadoes from March to May. During this time, the seasons are changing from the cold air of winter to the warm air of spring and summer. The mixture of cold and warm winds could end up forming tornadoes and causing major damage.
One of the most common natural disasters in the U.S., tornadoes cause an average of 80 deaths across the nation each year.
Here is what to know about tornado season.
How do tornadoes form?
The National Weather Service says that tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm. They develop when wind variations support extreme rotation. While there is no clear-cut formula for developing a tornado, it is believed that the key ingredients for a tornado are warm, moist air near the ground with cooler dry air above.
Graphics: Here’s a look at how the storms form
What area of the country do tornadoes occur most?
According to the weather service, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas are the top states for tornadoes to occur in with Texas being No. 1. The most common month to see tornado activity is in April regardless of location.
The widest tornado ever recorded was in Oklahoma in 2013. The tornado had a width of 2.6 miles and was on the ground for 16.2 miles.
How many tornadoes occur in the U.S. each year?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 1,200 tornadoes hit the U.S. yearly. The official tornado record didn’t start until 1950, so the average record is based on the last 70 years. In addition to this, the way we report and spot tornadoes has changed over the last several decades, so the numbers in more recent years are likely to be the most accurate.
More: Tornado ravages Wynne, Arkansas, leaves 4 dead, trail of debris, destruction
What is the scale for tornadoes?
Tornadoes are scaled based on the speed of the winds, not the width or height. The scale used for tornadoes is called The Enhanced Fujita Scale which has been in use since 2007. There are six total rankings
- EF-0: 65-85 mile per hour winds
- EF-1: 86-110 mile per hour winds
- EF-2: 111-135 mile per hour winds
- EF-3: 136-165 mile per hour winds
- EF-4: 166-200 mile per hour winds
- EF-5: >200 mile per hour winds
Do tornadoes happen in other countries?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tornadoes can occur on any continent except for Antarctica. Outside of the United States, the two countries with the highest concentration of tornadoes are Argentina and Bangladesh.
More: Ford’s BlueOval City partners to build temporary schools for Covington post-tornado
How to stay safe during a tornado?
The National Weather Service recommends different approaches to tornado safety based on your location when the tornado warning is issued.
When inside a home or small building, the weather service recommends:
- Going to the basement or the lowest level of the building.
- If there is no basement, go to a closet, bathroom or interior hallway away from any windows. The goal is to be in the center of the home or building.
- Use blankets, pillows, cushions, sleeping bags or mattresses to protect yourself from flying debris.
When in schools, hospitals, factories or shopping malls:
- Go to designated shelter areas.
- Stay away from windows.
- Kneel on the floor against the wall and place your hands over your head to protect against flying or falling debris.
Tennessee
Former Tennessee Football Legend Accepts SEC Coaching Gig
The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the main teams when it comes to producing talent and sending talent to the NFL, which is something that has often been discovered as a standard for the football program. This is something that has been going on for quite some time and isn’t anything new to the news cycle, as the Vols have been able to produce plenty of talented prospects.
Tennessee is the home of many stars, including some of the best defensive players in SEC history. Guys like Eric Berry have found their way through the Tennessee program and onto the NFL, where they would have legendary careers. However, the defensive side of the football is the only side that has produced plenty of talent, as Tennessee has produced a lot of offensive talent as well. With the likes of Peyton Manning and company, the Vols have shown a great track record in getting talent drafted.
The Vols have produced someone who could be considered as one of the best players to play the Tide end position, as the Knoxville, Tennessee program is the home to Dallas Cowboys legend, Jason Witten. Witten is someone who made the most of his career and has been viewed as a top player at the Tide in position, and someone who is often referred to as a legend for the Cowboys, along with being a legend in the game of football as a whole.
Jason Witten Accepts TE Coach Position For Oklahoma
Witten is now taking a new gig, which has him in a huge role inside the Southeastern Conference. The Vols legend is now the tight end coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners have had some success out of their tight ends in the past, but the sky is the limit with a guy like Witten coaching up the players. Witten has the opportunity to do really well, as coaching tight ends won’t be an issue, and you have to imagine that he will be able to recruit very well, considering he has a huge name around him, as this is something that we have seen from positional coaches as well as head coaches who have done great work in the league. You have to imagine that the Vols will now have stiff competition for his son, Cooper, who is a five-star recruit for the upcoming 2027 class at the linebacker position.
More Vols News
Tennessee
Tennessee Football DB Transfer Boo Carter Visits the Vols Rival
The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to land many of the nation’s best players in the transfer portal to replace the players who have already announced they are transferring away from Tennessee. One of the players they lost very early on to the portal, and his plans of entering the portal is Boo Carter.
Carter is someone who has quickly made a name for himself, as he played for the Vols as a freshman. He also played for the Tennessee Vols this past season before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Carter entered the portal and left an announcement on his X page for those interested. Here is what was said.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank The University of Tennessee Coaches, administrators and fans for a wonderful 2 years. Unfortunately my season has been cut short due to injury. I have decided to enter the transfer portal and I am excited about the opportunities going forward!-Boo Carter”
Boo Carter Visits Vanderbilt
Now that the portal is here, he has started to hear from many teams, including a team many anticipated to be in the picture. The Vols DB heard from the Vanderbilt staff and is now reportedly visiting them. This is a school where many of his friends go currently, and a school that has been doing well, but it is no secret that this is one of the Vols’ biggest rivalries.
He is undecided on a possible commitment somewhere, but the reports have started to indicate that the Commodores are a team to watch moving forward. This will be one to watch for the Vols, as there is a good chance they may see Carter next season.
“Dynamic athlete who quickly made an impact on defense and special teams as a true freshman … Earned the starting STAR position and shined while becoming a dangerous weapon as a punt returner as a true freshman in 2024 … Saw action as a slot receiver as well during 2025 spring practices … Early enrollee in January 2024 who participated in Citrus Bowl practices and spring practice before his true freshman season … Has compiled 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception on defense in his career … Dynamic punt returner who averages 16.0 yards per return in his career … Played in 21 career games and made five starts,” the Tennessee Vols athletics website stated.
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Tennessee
Tennessee Football Misses on Major Transfer Portal Target
The Tennessee Volunteers have been looking to land the best of the best when it comes to the transfer portal, and they have been targeting the best, but as of recently, all it has been is a bunch of swings and misses.
The Vols have missed yet again, as they have failed to land one of their top targets on their board when it comes to the college football transfer portal at a position that they currently need more than any. That position is the cornerback position, which is one that they need very badly.
The player that they failed to land in this go-around is Troy cornerback Jaquez White. White is one of the better players that the portal has seen at the position, as he was easily named as a top portal target for many. He was seriously looking at Tennessee, and the Vols were ready to bring him in, but instead, he has opted to commit to the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have done a decent job in the portal thus far, but their portal class has definitely improved following the addition of White.
Whether this is a money thing or the Vols just couldn’t do enough convincing, the point is that they have missed on guys left and right recently. The vision isn’t clear, but fans are hopeful that it will be soon.
Here is what White did in his 2025 season according to the Troy website.
Jaquez White’s 2025 Season
“Earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors … Ranked third in the league (seventh nationally) with 14 total passes defended and fourth (15th nationally) with 11 pass break ups … Started 12 games and played in all 14 contests … Returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in Troy’s victory over Louisiana; added interceptions against Nicholls and in Sun Belt Championship Game at James Madison … Finished season with 67 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack … Sack came in Troy’s win over South Alabama; added five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a pass break up in the game … Season-best seven tackles against Memphis … Broke up four passes in win at ULM and had a pair at Southern Miss … Troy’s top-rated defender per PFF with an 87.6 rating … Played 879 defensive snaps, second most on the team … Third-rated cornerback in the country (min. 700 snaps) per PFF and fourth-rated cover corner … Held opponents to a 54.5 reception percentage (36-of-66).”
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