While the tornado that swept through East Nashville just a few months ago ravaged Five Points, and caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes and businesses, it is not the first terrible tornado to hit Tennessee. In 1974, Tennessee was hit, along with a number of other states, with what is called a “super outbreak,” a cluster of tornadoes in succession within a twenty-four-hour period. Almost fifty victims of this cluster died in that twenty-four-hour period in Tennessee alone.

In 1984, marked the enigma outbreak after two months of torrential rain had turned Western Tennessee into a sludgy mess. When the rains finally broke on February 19th, many Tennesseans were relieved to see the sunshine. Then, suddenly as the sun had appeared, temperatures began to drop, eventually reaching below zero in many areas, and low rumbling clouds began to form. While deaths due to the 37 tornados that were counted are unknown, the carnage was significant and over 10,000 structures in the Southeast were damaged.

Historically, tornado touchdowns have been few and far between, however, when they hit Tennessee, and the wider Southeastern United States, they have tended to hit hard. As our climate begins to change, and we are witnessing more extreme weather across the globe, it’s important to remember that extreme weather can and will occur in Tennessee, which is why it’s so important for us to stay informed and safe.



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