NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — February is right around the corner and it looks like it will feel a little more like spring in Middle Tennessee.
The forecasted thaw should serve as a reminder that the area is entering one of the most active times of year for severe weather — including tornadoes. Historically, February has been the fourth most active month in the Volunteer State. Since 1811, there have been 74 tornadoes that have touched down in Tennessee.
Many of those tornadoes occurred during a single tornado outbreak. The Super Tuesday tornado outbreak of 2008 produced more than 87 tornadoes across several states on Feb. 5 and 6. In Middle Tennessee, 14 tornadoes touched down, which made it the eighth largest tornado outbreak on record.
It was the seventh deadliest tornado outbreak with a total of 22 people killed. All deaths associated with this outbreak were caused by the EF-3 tornado that impacted Sumner, Trousdale, and Macon counties in Middle Tennessee. That tornado also affected Monroe and Cumberland counties in Southern Kentucky.
The 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak accounted for nearly 20% of the total February tornadoes that have touched down in Tennessee. The chance of another outbreak of this magnitude occurring in February is extremely low.
As we head into spring, we need to start paying closer attention to the weather. As of publication, our area isn't under the threat of severe weather or tornadoes. However, there is a severe weather threat for folks to our south and west this week.
Fortunately, the system that's going to bring the threat of severe thunderstorms to Louisiana and Arkansas will weaken by the time it gets here.
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