Tennessee

When is tornado season: Tennessee sees most tornadoes between March and May. What to know to stay safe

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2 years ago

March 1, 2024

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When is tornado season: Tennessee sees most tornadoes between March and May. What to know to stay safe

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.

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Tennessee

What channel is Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee on today? Time, TV schedule to watch game

Published

52 minutes ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

What channel is Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee on today? Time, TV schedule to watch game

Vanderbilt baseball is back home in SEC play against Tennessee, beginning on March 27 at Hawkins Field.

The Commodores (14-12, 2-4 SEC) were swept at Mississippi State last weekend to fall below .500 early in league play.

Tennessee (18-7, 3-3) lost the Friday opener to Missouri last weekend, then rebounded with two wins to take the series.

Here’s how you can watch Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee:

Vanderbilt baseball vs Tennessee on March 27 will be televised on SEC Network.

Game 1 start time: 7 p.m on March 27, ESPNU
Game 2 start time: 1 p.m. on March 28, SEC Network
Game 3 start time: 11 a.m on March 29, ESPN2

Feb. 13: vs. TCU in Arlington, Texas, L 5-4
Feb. 14: vs. Texas Tech in Arlington, Texas, W 13-3 (8 innings)
Feb. 15: vs. Oklahoma State in Arlington, Texas, L 11-1 (8 innings)
Feb. 17: Eastern Michigan, W 13-2 (7 innings)
Feb. 18: Eastern Michigan, W 16-2 (8 innings)
Feb. 20: Marist, W 16-5 (8 innings)
Feb. 21: Marist, W 12-1 (7 innings)
Feb. 22: Marist, W 8-1
Feb. 24: Evansville, W 15-3 (7 innings)
Feb. 27: vs. UC Irvine in Las Vegas, L 9-4
Feb. 28: vs. Arizona State in Las Vegas, L 5-1
March 1: vs. Oregon in Las Vegas, L 6-4
March 3: Central Arkansas, L 5-4
March 4: Troy, W 4-1
March 6: North Dakota State, W 14-2 (7 innings)
March 7: North Dakota State, W 10-0 (8 innings)
March 8: North Dakota State, L 5-2
March 10: Indiana State, W 14-6
March 13: LSU, W 13-12
March 14: LSU, W 11-3
March 15: LSU, L 16-9
March 17: Indiana, L 5-1
March 20: at Mississippi State, L 4-2
March 21: at Mississippi State, L 7-2
March 22: at Mississippi State, L 17-7 (7)
March 24: Tennessee Tech, W 15-5 (8)
March 27: Tennessee, 7 p.m on ESPNU
March 28: Tennessee, 1 p.m on SEC Network
March 29: Tennessee, 11 a.m on ESPN2
March 31: Belmont
April 2-4: at Texas A&M
April 7: EKU
April 9-11: Oklahoma
April 14: Lipscomb
April 17-19: Kentucky
April 21: Xavier
April 24-26: Texas
April 28: MTSU
April 30-May 2: at Alabama
May 5: Louisville
May 8-10: at Missouri
May 14-16: South Carolina

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Tennessee basketball legend Chris Lofton enjoying unexpected Vol Network role | Estes

Published

13 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee basketball legend Chris Lofton enjoying unexpected Vol Network role | Estes

CHICAGO – As Tennessee basketball’s newest Sweet 16 team was on the court at the United Center, prepping for Iowa State, the best pure shooter in the building sat on the side in a hoodie.

Chris Lofton, as always, was looking for his shot.

“I’m ready to shoot now, you know?” he said with a laugh. “When they start stretching, I’ll get a shot up or two for sure. I tell Mike (Keith) all the time, ‘If we go to the gym and there’s a basketball, I have to shoot it.’ That’s just a rule. I’ve got to shoot at least once.”

Though his last professional basketball game was in 2019, Lofton still gets on the court occasionally, and when he does, he can still shoot it.

Tennessee star freshman Nate Ament can confirm. He’s seen it.

“Really good,” Ament said of Lofton. “Even now.”

He’s a radio guy now, though.

Lofton is finishing a season back in Knoxville as part of the newly built Vol Network crew for men’s basketball games. He has been working with new play-by-play man Mike Keith, the former voice of the Tennessee Titans, among those tasked with replacing longtime Vols duo of Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp.

“Mike has been great,” Lofton said, “teaching me a lot. I’m learning so much. It’s been fun just to be back around Tennessee basketball as much as I’ve been this year. I’m VFL. I bleed orange. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

In a game of horse, I’d still take Lofton against anyone. Vols fans old enough to remember watching him play for Tennessee (2004-08), I’d imagine many of y’all would, too.

This guy is a myth, a Tennessee legend. Unforgettable because of magical moments during games as “the best bad-shot-maker I’ve ever coached,” said former Vols coach Bruce Pearl, and because of his inspirational personal story. The circumstances of Lofton’s final UT season, during which he played through a secret cancer diagnosis, comprised a recent ESPN documentary.

The old heads know. And I’ve got something to make those old heads feel a bit older:

Lofton is about to turn 40.

The last day of his 30s, in fact, was practice day at the United Center on the eve of 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament regional games there. He’ll celebrate while working. Lofton’s 40^th birthday will be March 27, same day that Tennessee faces Iowa State in the Sweet 16.

“I’m telling you,” Lofton said, “it goes by fast.”

The opportunity “came out of nowhere,” said Lofton. He’d been through the NBA’s coaching program a couple of years ago, and he was close to landing a scouting job with the Boston Celtics last year.

Lofton hadn’t envisioned a detour through media until he got the call in October – and he recoiled initially. “I’ll get back to you,” Lofton told them at the time, all the while thinking, “Talking on the radio? That’s not me.”

But Lofton thought more about it, figuring “Why not? What else do I have to do?” Since then, Lofton has thrown himself into the role.

“Just like he was as a basketball player,” Keith said, “he wants to be good at it.”

This season’s Vol Network hoops team included Keith, Lofton, former UT player Steve Hamer and John Wilkerson, the play-by-play man for Vols baseball.

Since baseball season started for Wilkerson, Lofton has consistently been a part of Tennessee’s broadcasts despite jumping in short-notice to a new career path with no previous experience.

“What Chris has done has been amazing,” Keith said. “Nothing short of amazing, considering his background in (radio) – which was non-existent – his sort of knowledge of how it works and his interest in it before he was contacted in October. …

“If you listen to him from a broadcast in November or December to now, it’s a totally different guy.”

Keith added that “it’s going to be off the charts” for Lofton in Year 2, given how much he has improved.

All Lofton has decided for his post-playing future is that wants to stay in basketball. He hasn’t ruled out a career in coaching or scouting.

But he does love what he’s doing now, he said.

“I open to whatever, honestly,” Lofton said. “I love what I do now. I would love to be more involved on the court, for sure, but it might just be here (on radio).”

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

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Tennessee gas prices keep climbing. Is this the highest they’ve ever been?

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee gas prices keep climbing. Is this the highest they’ve ever been?

Gas prices have risen by over $1 nationally following a conflict with Iran.
Tennessee’s highest recorded average gas price was $4.64 per gallon on June 12, 2022.
Recent gas prices in Tennessee have increased to $3.65 for regular as of March 24.

Gas prices remain a significant issue as the conflict with Iran persists, prompting the United States government and individual states to take action against the rising costs.

On Feb. 28, President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran, which the country then responded to by closing the Strait of Hormuz. This blocked about a fifth of the world’s oil from moving to global markets, including the United States.

Since the war began last month and the Strait was closed, gas prices across the country have risen by over $1, and in Tennessee, they have increased by $1.10. While these prices may seem exorbitant, it was only a few years ago that the entire nation saw its highest recorded gas prices.

Here’s the record for the highest gasoline price in Tennessee.

What is the highest price for gas in Tennessee?

According to the AAA gas price tracker, the highest recorded price for a gallon of regular gas was on June 12, 2022, at $4.64. Diesel hit its record high three days later at $5.64.

This is the recorded high for the state average; however, localities have different records, all established around the same time.

Here are the highest recorded prices for gas in Tennessee’s major cities:

Chattanooga: $4.60 on June 10, 2022, for regular; $5.52 on June 14, 2022, for diesel.
Clarksville: $4.71 on June 9, 2022, for regular; $5.71 on June 15, 2022, for diesel.
Jackson: $4.69 on June 16, 2022, for regular; $5.70 on June 21, 2022, for diesel.
Johnson City: $4.62 on June 10, 2022, for regular; $5.70 on June 11, 2022, for diesel.
Kingsport: $4.60 on June 12, 2022, for regular; $5.66 on June 12, 2022, for diesel.
Knoxville: $4.65 on Sept. 15, 2008, for regular; $5.66 on June 10, 2022, for diesel.
Memphis: $4.65 on June 14, 2022, for regular; $5.60 on June 18, 2022, for diesel.
Morristown: $4.63 on June 13, 2022, for regular; $5.67 on June 20, 2022, for diesel.
Nashville: $4.68 on June 10, 2022, for regular; $5.68 on June 15, 2022, for diesel.

How high are gas prices in Tennessee now?

Here are the recently tracked dates for the prices of a gallon of gasoline in Tennessee:

March 11: $3.20 for regular, $4.78 for diesel
March 19: $3.59 for regular, $5 for diesel
March 24: $3.65 for regular, $5.27 for diesel

A month ago, a few days before the United States and Israel initiated the war with Iran, regular gas was $2.55, and diesel was $3.40.

DeKalb County has the highest regular gasoline price at $3.86 on March 25. Hancock County has the lowest price at $3.50.

Of the state’s major metropolitan areas, Knoxville has the cheapest regular gas at $3.60. Chattanooga and Memphis follow at $3.62 and $3.64, respectively. Nashville has the highest price at $3.69.

What is the gas tax in Tennessee?

In the United States, there are two taxes added to gasoline when you go to fill up your vehicle. The first tax is the national tax, and the second is the state tax.

In the United States, the federal government collects a flat rate of 18.4 cents per gallon from residents in every state. This tax is included in the price seen at the pump.

According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the gasoline tax in Tennessee is 26 cents, effective July 1, 2019. For diesel fuel, the tax is 27 cents.

Tennessee House Democrats are urging a statewide gas and diesel tax holiday to lower pump prices. In a March 24 press release, State Representatives Bo Mitchell and John Ray Clemmons asked Governor Bill Lee and their Republican colleagues to set aside funding in the FY26-27 Budget Amendment currently being discussed for prompt tax relief for families.