Today, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) announced it continues to work with local officials and federal partners to conduct damage assessments following severe weather over the last week across West and Middle Tennessee.
TEMA continues to support joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) with local and federal partners in impacted counties. As of this release, PDAs have been conducted in 10 counties. The results of these assessments help determine whether the damage meets the requirements, as defined by law, for a federal major disaster declaration to be requested. A declaration is typically based on the severity and magnitude of the event, and whether the affected areas are unable to recover without external support.
Damage assessments are ongoing and will be validated to determine if federal requirements have been met. The results of the damage assessments help determine whether the damage meets the requirements, as defined by law, for a federal major disaster declaration. A declaration is typically based on the severity and magnitude of the event, and whether the affected areas are unable to recover without external support.
On April 2, an impactful storm system entered the area and stalled until moving out of the state on April 6. During that time, an unprecedented period of severe weather and prolific rainfall occurred in several waves of thunderstorms across West and Middle Tennessee. The National Weather Service has completed preliminary surveys of EF-3 damage in McNairy and Hardeman counties and EF-1 damage in Franklin, Hardin, Humphreys, Weakley, and Wilson counties. There are still many areas remaining to be surveyed. Significant rainfall has resulted in catastrophic flash flooding and continued moderate to major river and areal flooding. Flooding is expected to continue in the coming days.
Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms moved through West and Middle Regions throughout the day into the night. A bowing storm segment in West Region had significant wind gusts and potentially embedded tornadoes. Additional thunderstorms due to significant heavy rainfall, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued for the Memphis Metro area, along with many flash flood warnings across most of the state.
Multiple waves of significant severe weather and catastrophic flooding will continue through Sunday morning. A moderate risk of severe weather has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for southwest Tennessee with the possibility of significant strong tornadoes and damaging winds exceeding 75 mph. The severe threat should diminish after sundown.
Over the night, activity with the current weather calmed down, though some areas continued to have heavy rainfall throughout the night. Severe weather and flooding is still expected to impact much of West and Middle Tennessee over the next couple of days. It is forecasted that some areas will see up to eight inches of rainfall.
The past 24 hours have been very active, with flash flooding and impactful severe weather continuing this afternoon along this axis of rain. The National Weather Service issued over 70 severe thunderstorm warnings, over 50 tornado warnings (with seven of those having reported/observed tornadoes and damage), and 21 flash flood warnings.
The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville remains activated at a Level 3 – State of Emergency status to support local response and requests amid severe weather and heavy rainfall, and to continue Tropical Storm Helene recovery.
Today, at the direction of Governor Bill Lee, TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan issued a State of Emergency ahead of expected significant severe storms and flooding. Additionally, Gov. Lee has requested an Emergency Declaration for Tennessee ahead of the forecasted severe weather.
Several rounds of significant severe weather impacted Tennessee March 14 - 15, 2025. The National Weather Service issued more than 60 watches and warnings for hazardous weather, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flooding.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) encourages all Tennesseans to monitor National Weather Service forecasts and take preparedness steps as multiple rounds of significant severe weather, including the threat of damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes, are expected to impact the state from late Friday (March 14) through Saturday night (March 15).
Several rounds of significant severe weather impacted Tennessee on February 15, 2025. There are areas of the state that have seen weather-related flooding impacting homes and damaging roads. The National Weather Service Memphis has surveyed and confirmed an EF-2 tornado that touched down in Gibson County.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) encourages all Tennesseans to monitor National Weather Service forecasts and take preparedness steps as multiple rounds of heavy rainfall continue to impact the state.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is partnering with the National Weather Service (NWS) to increase awareness about the risks associated with severe weather threats for Tennesseans ahead of spring.