A major tornado outbreak impacted Middle Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours of December 9, 2023. With a surface low pressure system situated over the Great Lakes area, a cold front was oriented north-to-south from the Great Lakes southward into the southeastern United States. Ahead of this cold front, southerly flow advected plenty of moisture into Middle Tennessee as the atmosphere destabilized. Meanwhile, a potent low-level jet resulted in an abundant amount of wind shear. This helped to set the stage for organized thunderstorms with a tornado threat. Thunderstorms began to cross the Tennessee River into the mid-state during the early afternoon hours. The first tornado of the day touched down in Indian Mound in Stewart County. That same supercell spawned another, more significant, tornado in Montgomery County that impacted Clarksville. This was the strongest tornado of the event, causing EF-3 damage before it continued its path into Kentucky. In total, six tornadoes were confirmed from this event, including another long-track EF-2 tornado that impacted Davidson, Sumner, and Trousdale counties which was warned with a Tornado Emergency. Unfortunately, seven people were killed during this event.

Tornado in DICKSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:03:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAYLICK
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 1.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in the Claylick community in eastern Dickson County, snapping and uprooting several trees and destroyed an outbuilding. It quickly intensified to low-end EF-2 strength as it crossed Nosegay Road and demolished a single-story manufactured home. The tornado continued to Pack Annex Road where it did minor damage to the tops of high-tension powerlines and continued to snap large trees as it moved northeast into Cheatham County. The tornado weakened and caused sporadic tree damage as it moved into Cheatham Wildlife Management Area. It strengthened once more, causing prolific tree damage and structure damage to homes along Dry Creek Road south of Ashland City. Just before leaving Cheatham County, the tornado caused minor outbuilding damage and snapped a few trees near River Road. At this point, the tornado Crossed into Davidson County and crossed the Cumberland River. On Pecan Valley Road, some structural damage was observed, but damage was consistent with a weakening tornado with maximum winds of 90 mph. The tornado lifted after crossing Old Hickory Boulevard, just north of Ashland City Highway.

Tornado in CHEATHAM, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:10:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRIFFINTOWN
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 700.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in the Claylick community in eastern Dickson County, snapping and uprooting several trees and destroyed an outbuilding. It quickly intensified to low-end EF-2 strength as it crossed Nosegay Road and demolished a single-story manufactured home. The tornado continued to Pack Annex Road where it did minor damage to the tops of high-tension powerlines and continued to snap large trees as it moved northeast into Cheatham County. The tornado weakened and caused sporadic tree damage as it moved into Cheatham Wildlife Management Area. It strengthened once more, causing prolific tree damage and structure damage to homes along Dry Creek Road south of Ashland City. Just before leaving Cheatham County, the tornado caused minor outbuilding damage and snapped a few trees near River Road. At this point, the tornado Crossed into Davidson County and crossed the Cumberland River. On Pecan Valley Road, some structural damage was observed, but damage was consistent with a weakening tornado with maximum winds of 90 mph. The tornado lifted after crossing Old Hickory Boulevard, just north of Ashland City Highway.

Tornado in DAVIDSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:24:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTTSBORO
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This tornado touched down in the Claylick community in eastern Dickson County, snapping and uprooting several trees and destroyed an outbuilding. It quickly intensified to low-end EF-2 strength as it crossed Nosegay Road and demolished a single-story manufactured home. The tornado continued to Pack Annex Road where it did minor damage to the tops of high-tension powerlines and continued to snap large trees as it moved northeast into Cheatham County. The tornado weakened and caused sporadic tree damage as it moved into Cheatham Wildlife Management Area. It strengthened once more, causing prolific tree damage and structure damage to homes along Dry Creek Road south of Ashland City. Just before leaving Cheatham County, the tornado caused minor outbuilding damage and snapped a few trees near River Road. At this point, the tornado Crossed into Davidson County and crossed the Cumberland River. On Pecan Valley Road, some structural damage was observed, but damage was consistent with a weakening tornado with maximum winds of 90 mph. The tornado lifted after crossing Old Hickory Boulevard, just north of Ashland City Highway.

Tornado in ROBERTSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:16:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRINGFIELD
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This EF-2 tornado touched down north of C.M. Martin Road to the west of Highway 431 where it blew down a few trees. The tornado crossed Highway 431 south of Main Street where it knocked over some power poles, then continued to blow down trees east of the highway. The tornado moved into southern Springfield near Fairway Trail and Kemper Court, snapping and uprooting trees along many residential streets and causing minor damage to a few homes. More significant damage to homes occurred further northeast on Rudolph Street and Brentlawn Drive. The tornado strengthened as it crossed Highway 41 near the Kroger shopping center, with numerous businesses damaged from high-end EF1 to low-end EF2 intensity (110-115 mph). 25 vehicles in the Kroger parking lot were flipped with some thrown into nearby ditches. The tornado then crossed the railroad tracks behind Kroger and reached its peak intensity as it entered an industrial area, where multiple warehouse structures were heavily damaged. With the majority of these metal building systems having Grade 5 bolts holding down the columns, winds were estimated at EF-2/120 mph in this area. The tornado then struck a fire department and strip mall (EF-1/110 mph) and bent a steel transmission pole at a power substation (EF-2/115 mph) on the east side of the industrial park. As the tornado continued northeast, it significantly weakened but still uprooted trees and caused minor roof damage to homes on Greystone Drive and Sloan Lane. On Roy Pitt Road, the tornado destroyed a two car garage and rolled a trailer on its side (EF-1). The tornado continued to blow down trees as it moved northeast across Highway 76E near Oakland Road before finally lifting north of Sloan Road.

Tornado in DAVIDSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:39:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISON
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This strong EF-2 tornado touched down just to the east of I-24 on Brick Church Lane in Davidson County. There were a few trees down and shingle damage to several homes in this area. The tornado strengthened in the Madison area causing EF-2 damage with winds up to 120-125 mph. The heaviest damage was confined to two areas, off of East Campbell Road as well as Nesbitt Lane. Multiple mobile homes were destroyed on Nesbitt Lane, and this is where three fatalities occurred. Multiple single family homes and a church off of East Campbell Road were missing large sections of their roofs with some exterior walls collapsed. Several metal power poles in the area were bent as well. Nearby, an apartment complex off Palmer Avenue sustained damage. As the tornado moved further northeast, substantial damage was found to houses in a cul-de-sac on Stoney River Lane. Two buildings were toppled and several others damaged in an industrial complex off of Myatt Drive. The tornado then continued across the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake, coming onshore again in the immediate dam vicinity. It is this location in which the strongest winds were found, up to 130 miles per hour, due to substantial damage to a grove of hundreds of trees in which all of them were either snapped, uprooted, or missing major branches. The tornado persisted into Hendersonville, downing hundreds of trees and causing roof damage to multiple homes. It damaged many businesses along Main Street. The tornado continued northeast into Gallatin where EF-2 damage with maximum winds of 115 mph was found to a few homes in the Club at Foxland Harbor as we as the Foxland Harbor Golf and Country Club. At this point, the tornado began to weaken though EF-1 damage was found as it crossed Highway 109 and Steam Plant Road. Several trees were still found to be uprooted along with minor roof and shingle damage to a couple of homes as the tornado crossed Hartsville Pike. Scattered trees continued to be blown down along Lauderdale Lane and Homer Scott Road before the tornado crossed Highway 231 into Trousdale County. Trees continued to be blown down on Browning Branch Road and a home suffered significant roof and porch damage on Hawkins Branch Road. Trees continued to be blown down until the tornado lifted near Shephard Hollow Lane. Around 600 homes and businesses were damaged in Sumner County.

Tornado in SUMNER, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:50:00 to 09-DEC-23 17:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKLAND
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 10.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This strong EF-2 tornado touched down just to the east of I-24 on Brick Church Lane in Davidson County. There were a few trees down and shingle damage to several homes in this area. The tornado strengthened in the Madison area causing EF-2 damage with winds up to 120-125 mph. The heaviest damage was confined to two areas, off of East Campbell Road as well as Nesbitt Lane. Multiple mobile homes were destroyed on Nesbitt Lane, and this is where three fatalities occurred. Multiple single family homes and a church off of East Campbell Road were missing large sections of their roofs with some exterior walls collapsed. Several metal power poles in the area were bent as well. Nearby, an apartment complex off Palmer Avenue sustained damage. As the tornado moved further northeast, substantial damage was found to houses in a cul-de-sac on Stoney River Lane. Two buildings were toppled and several others damaged in an industrial complex off of Myatt Drive. The tornado then continued across the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake, coming onshore again in the immediate dam vicinity. It is this location in which the strongest winds were found, up to 130 miles per hour, due to substantial damage to a grove of hundreds of trees in which all of them were either snapped, uprooted, or missing major branches. The tornado persisted into Hendersonville, downing hundreds of trees and causing roof damage to multiple homes. It damaged many businesses along Main Street. The tornado continued northeast into Gallatin where EF-2 damage with maximum winds of 115 mph was found to a few homes in the Club at Foxland Harbor as we as the Foxland Harbor Golf and Country Club. At this point, the tornado began to weaken though EF-1 damage was found as it crossed Highway 109 and Steam Plant Road. Several trees were still found to be uprooted along with minor roof and shingle damage to a couple of homes as the tornado crossed Hartsville Pike. Scattered trees continued to be blown down along Lauderdale Lane and Homer Scott Road before the tornado crossed Highway 231 into Trousdale County. Trees continued to be blown down on Browning Branch Road and a home suffered significant roof and porch damage on Hawkins Branch Road. Trees continued to be blown down until the tornado lifted near Shephard Hollow Lane. Around 600 homes and businesses were damaged in Sumner County.

Tornado in TROUSDALE, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 17:24:00 to 09-DEC-23 17:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: TEMPLOW
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This strong EF-2 tornado touched down just to the east of I-24 on Brick Church Lane in Davidson County. There were a few trees down and shingle damage to several homes in this area. The tornado strengthened in the Madison area causing EF-2 damage with winds up to 120-125 mph. The heaviest damage was confined to two areas, off of East Campbell Road as well as Nesbitt Lane. Multiple mobile homes were destroyed on Nesbitt Lane, and this is where three fatalities occurred. Multiple single family homes and a church off of East Campbell Road were missing large sections of their roofs with some exterior walls collapsed. Several metal power poles in the area were bent as well. Nearby, an apartment complex off Palmer Avenue sustained damage. As the tornado moved further northeast, substantial damage was found to houses in a cul-de-sac on Stoney River Lane. Two buildings were toppled and several others damaged in an industrial complex off of Myatt Drive. The tornado then continued across the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake, coming onshore again in the immediate dam vicinity. It is this location in which the strongest winds were found, up to 130 miles per hour, due to substantial damage to a grove of hundreds of trees in which all of them were either snapped, uprooted, or missing major branches. The tornado persisted into Hendersonville, downing hundreds of trees and causing roof damage to multiple homes. It damaged many businesses along Main Street. The tornado continued northeast into Gallatin where EF-2 damage with maximum winds of 115 mph was found to a few homes in the Club at Foxland Harbor as we as the Foxland Harbor Golf and Country Club. At this point, the tornado began to weaken though EF-1 damage was found as it crossed Highway 109 and Steam Plant Road. Several trees were still found to be uprooted along with minor roof and shingle damage to a couple of homes as the tornado crossed Hartsville Pike. Scattered trees continued to be blown down along Lauderdale Lane and Homer Scott Road before the tornado crossed Highway 231 into Trousdale County. Trees continued to be blown down on Browning Branch Road and a home suffered significant roof and porch damage on Hawkins Branch Road. Trees continued to be blown down until the tornado lifted near Shephard Hollow Lane. Around 600 homes and businesses were damaged in Sumner County.

Tornado in CLAY, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 18:07:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLEMENTSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A brief EF-1 tornado touched down just south of the Kentucky border in Clay County where it blew down a few trees on Barber Shop Road. The tornado intensified to an EF-1 as it moved northeast into Kentucky.

Hail in DICKSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 15:57:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHARLOTTE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

A social media user reported estimated half dollar size hail near Charlotte.

Thunderstorm Wind in WAYNE, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 18:01:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLLINWOOD
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree in the yard of a home near Collinwood. Damages are estimated for the tree.

Hail in ROBERTSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:01:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: CEDAR HILL
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Dime size hail was reported southwest of Cedar Hill.

Hail in DAVIDSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 16:37:00 to 09-DEC-23 16:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: MADISON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Dime size hail was reported near Madison.

Hail in TROUSDALE, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 23:50:00 to 09-DEC-23 23:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: TEMPLOW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Estimated one inch hail fell from a severe thunderstorm about one mile north of Chipman Road and U.S. Highway 231.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAWRENCE, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 18:43:00 to 09-DEC-23 18:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: LIBERTY GROVE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree onto a car in the 1100 block of Lexington Highway southeast of Loretto. Damages are estimated.

Hail in COFFEE, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 20:12:00 to 09-DEC-23 20:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLOWERTOWN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Estimated one inch hail fell from a severe thunderstorm along Riley Creek Road between Normandy Lane and Tullahoma.

Thunderstorm Wind in HUMPHREYS, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 15:11:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: SYCAMORE LNDG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Strong winds from a supercell snapped trees west of Hurricane Mills near the Tennessee River. Damages are a rough estimate.

Tornado in STEWART, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:19:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEAR SPG
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado first touched down just east of the Cumberland River near Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge off of Commissary Hollow Road. Minor damage was observed to trees with a home sustaining significant roof damage.  the tornado continued east-northeast where dozens more trees were snapped and uprooted along Lower Cross Creek Road.  Once the tornado entered Indian Mound, more trees were either uprooted or snapped along Highway 46.  The tornado then intensified on Red Top Road and Gillum Hollow Road where a church overhang awning and greenhouses were damaged.  A few more barns and outbuildings were damaged along Gillum Hollow Road with several instances of uprooted and snapped trees along its path including a tree falling onto a residence. The tornado finally began to weaken as it entered into far western portions of Montgomery County where only a few trees and large branches were broken. The tornado then lifted southeast of the Indian Mound Road and Liverpool Road intersection.

Tornado in MONTGOMERY, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:29:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: OAKWOOD
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado first touched down just east of the Cumberland River near Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge off of Commissary Hollow Road. Minor damage was observed to trees with a home sustaining significant roof damage.  the tornado continued east-northeast where dozens more trees were snapped and uprooted along Lower Cross Creek Road.  Once the tornado entered Indian Mound, more trees were either uprooted or snapped along Highway 46.  The tornado then intensified on Red Top Road and Gillum Hollow Road where a church overhang awning and greenhouses were damaged.  A few more barns and outbuildings were damaged along Gillum Hollow Road with several instances of uprooted and snapped trees along its path including a tree falling onto a residence. The tornado finally began to weaken as it entered into far western portions of Montgomery County where only a few trees and large branches were broken. The tornado then lifted southeast of the Indian Mound Road and Liverpool Road intersection.

Tornado in MONTGOMERY, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 13:41:00 to 09-DEC-23 13:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOODLAWN
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 20.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This EF-3 tornado first touched down on Fort Campbell just north of the Sabre Airfield with mostly minor tree damage. It quickly intensified as it crossed Walnut Grove Road and destroyed a building next to a church. The tornado then continued northeast and damaged dozens of homes in a neighborhood along Garrettsburg Road near Purple Heart Highway. The tornado then went through a heavily wooded neighborhood south of Britton Springs Road where dozens of mobile and manufactured homes were destroyed. The tornado crossed into another neighborhood, causing heavy damage in and near Eva Drive with several houses shifted off their foundations that were only attached with straight nails (EF-2 damage). The tornado intensified to EF-3 with maximum winds of 140 mph as it crossed Highway 41 and struck several commercial businesses, including a vacant fast food restaurant and strip mall where only the interior remained. Just east of Highway 41 north of Ringgold Road, another neighborhood was struck with several homes sustaining significant damage. As the tornado continued northeast, it strengthened further to EF-3 with maximum winds of 150 mph, destroying four two-story brick and vinyl siding homes on Henry Place Boulevard. Debris was blown across the field towards West Creek Elementary School where the school sustained roof damage. As the tornado cross Preachers Mill Road, two dozen brand new two-story brick apartment homes were severely damaged with roofs missing on at least a dozen of these structures. Dozens more houses suffered significant roof damage along and near Needmore Road and Tiny Town Road with EF-2 damage. The tornado then crossed I-24 at Trenton Road where numerous cedar trees were uprooted. Continuing across Tylertown Road, the tornado caused EF-1 to EF-2 roof and siding damage to dozens of homes across three neighborhoods before moving into Kentucky. A total of nearly 1,000 homes were impacted by the tornado, including 114 homes destroyed and 268 homes with major damage. Unfortunately, four people were killed and 62 others were injured.

Tornado in DICKSON, TENNESSEE
From 09-DEC-23 15:29:00 to 09-DEC-23 15:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOODS VLY
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

This EF-2 tornado touched down southwest of the intersection of Woods Valley Road and Bone Road, then moved east-northeast where it snapped a few pine trees and caused roof damage to a home. Continuing east-northeast, the tornado damaged a mobile home and outbuilding on Gamble Hollow Road. The tornado intensified to EF-2 as it crossed Highway 48, causing the most significant damage along its path as it completely removed the top level of a home, leaving only the lower exterior walls in place. Winds were estimated at 125 mph in this area. The tornado maintained its strength as it continued toward Freeman Loop, striking an A-frame house and ripping off the top half of the home. As it continued eastward, the tornado did substantial damage to another mobile home and snapped and uprooted dozens of trees along Freeman Loop before finally lifting after crossing Barton's Creek.