4 Tennessee tornadoes confirmed, with highest winds at 140 mph

Storms caused four tornadoes in Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, May 8, according to the latest damage surveys by the National Weather Service.

The strongest tornado was rated an EF-3 in Maury County and traveled just over 11 miles, with wind speeds of roughly 140 mph. At the widest portion of that tornado’s path, it stretched across an area equivalent to nine football fields.

One person died in Maury County, and the county’s Office of Emergency Management says at least 240 homes were damaged — a number that is expected to grow. The storm was at its maximum strength in the area of Blackburn and Lasea roads, where large transmission power trusses collapsed, a house was destroyed and a mobile home was swept away.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says it’s working with local governments to get the damage assessments. Once those are in, the agency will be able to tell if there’s enough to fill out a disaster declaration.

The most recent storm outbreaks in Tennessee were in December when an EF-3 tornado with winds of 150 miles per hour hit Clarksville. FEMA sent the state more than $3.5 million to the seven counties impacted by those storms.

Recovery begins

Disaster areas were initially barricaded, and people were required to get passes to join volunteer efforts. On Sunday evening, however, that requirement was relaxed. The county’s Highway Department is now beginning to clean up debris. Anyone needing help can call the cleanup hotline at 615-488-1875.

More: NWS tornado and flooding report

In Rutherford County, an EF-0 tornado was one football field wide and traveled just under 3 miles with wind speeds at 80 mph.

The community there is also monitoring updates on injuries to 10-year-old Asher Sullivan, the son of Director of Schools James Sullivan. He was caught in a storm drain and swept under neighborhood streets, sustaining brain and lung damage. He remains in critical condition.

Sunday Update from @DrJimmySullivan pic.twitter.com/ePJdxLQEhF

— RC Schools (@rucoschools) May 12, 2024

Last week, investigators confirmed an EF-1 tornado at 90 mph in Robertson County. Since then, they have also determined that Giles County experienced an EF-2 at roughly 115 mph traveling a path that was nearly 6 miles long.

This story was last updated at 2:30 p.m. Monday.