Tornadoes
Tornadoes are violent and rapidly rotating columns of air that form inside thunderstorms. They connect with the ground, via a funnel, to the cloud. Tornadoes typically last only a few minutes, but sometimes they can last for more than an hour. They can also travel short distances (0.5 miles), but some can be ‘on the ground’ for upwards of 100 miles.
From 1950-2016, 1176 tornadoes have been recorded in Tennessee. There has been 3 EF-5 (winds over 200 mph) tornado observed in the state, and there have been 32 EF-4 (166 - 200 mph) and 92 EF-3 (136 - 165 mph) rated tornadoes.
Source: TornadoHistoryProject.com
Did You Know?
The three EF5 tornadoes to impact Tennessee took place during the Tornado Outbreaks of 1973, 1998, and 2011. Two of the tornadoes originated in Alabama and crossed the state line into Tennessee. Only the ‘Forgotten F5’ in 1998 made its initial touchdown in the state.