Tennessee Tornadoes on January 24, 1997, a

Tennessee Tornadoes On January 24, 1997, a supercell resulted in a tornado outbreak that spurred 13 tornadoes across middle Tennessee with an estimated damage in excess of nine million dollars across the counties of Rutherford, Cannon, Wilson and Smith with more than 300 buildings damaged or destroyed completely which included homes, businesses, and public facilities. Reports state that 31 individuals were injured during the tornados, which are reported to have ranged from F2 to F4 in intensity. There were amazingly, no fatalities.

The following table shows the Tennessee Counties in which Tornados occurred on January 24, 1997, with corresponding information on damages caused by the Tornados. Figure 1 - Tennessee January 24, 1997, Tornado History Project Description of the Event and Responsiveness of Media Personnel Reports state that severe weather was identified as a threat early in the afternoon of January 23, 1997 and that a special weather statement was issued reporting the threat to middle Tennessee for the following afternoon of January 24.

Additionally, a special weather statement was issued early in the day of January 24 to ensure that the public was alerted to the severe weather potential. The tornado outbreak is reported to have "unfolded quickly across middle Tennessee during the early afternoon of January 24. Doppler radar indicated a tornado at approximately 3:30 P.M. when a funnel cloud was reported just east of Centerville, Tennessee and a tornado warning followed at 3:33 P.M.

For Williamson and Maury Counties in Tennessee." (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, p.1) The tornado moved toward the area of Franklin, which was heavily populated. At 3:44 P.M. another tornado warning was issued for Maury County when Doppler radar indicated a tornado in western Maury County, approximately 15 miles west of Columbia, Tennessee. At 4:04 P.M. A severe weather statement warned of the tornado that was anticipated to move through Boston, Thompson, Station, Spring Hill and hear the area of Franklin by 4:30 .m.

Short-term forecasts (NOWs) are reported to have been issued during the tornado event but stated to be "written in a broad-brush manner for the several counties warned and did not indicate specific storms." (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, p.1) Severe weather statements (SVSs) are reported to have replaced the NOWs for the purpose of maintaining the awareness of the public of the locations and movements of the tornados.

(National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, paraphrased) Both Maury and Williamson County public was warned extensively with each county having a reported "37 minute lead time before large hail occurred at 4:10 P.M. Additionally, phone calls were made to sheriffs' offices both to ensure the warnings were received and to exchange information regarding the tornadoes." (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, p.1) A tornado was issued for Rutherford County at 4:22 P.M. with the warning for Williamson Country extended until 5:15 P.M.

Doppler radar indicated tornados from approximately 10 miles northeast and five miles west of Franklin and additionally along the county line between Mary and Williamson county. During this time there were stated to be "several weather spotters, amateur radio operators, and sheriffs' deputies were maintaining contact with NWSO Nashville and provided excellent updates of the tornadoes, which coincided with Doppler radar indications." (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, p.1) Just as 4:30 P.M.

A severe weather statement was issued emphasizing the occurring tornados in Williamson County and included a statement making provision of critical information relating to the areas included in the Nashville metropolitan area in the paths of the tornados, which included areas such as Murfreesboro located in a heavily populated area of Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Reports state that at 4:40 P.M., the "northernmost tornado about 5 miles northeast of Franklin continued to maintain itself, prompting a tornado warning for Wilson county valid until 545 PM." (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, p.1) At 4:54 P.M. another critical severe weather statement was issued indicating the locations of the tornados and pinpointing specific towns along the paths of the tornados. This statement made mention of the fact that tornados would be moving near to Murfreesboro between the time of 5:00 and 5:15 P.M.

And just southeast of Lebanon by approximately 5:15 P.M. At 5:00 P.M. An F2 hit in Smyma in Rutherford County leaving behind damage and moving southeast of Lebanon in Wilson County with Rutherford County residents having a 48-minute lead-time and Wilson county having a lead time of 20 minutes. The tornado in southeast Williamson County evolved into a F4 tornado in the Barfield community, which had a 41-minute lead-time. The South Ridge subdivision in the Barfield community was practically leveled by the tornado. At 5:05 P.M.

A tornado warning was issued for Cannon County and the tornado touched down at 5:56 P.M. In Cannon County with widespread damage and some injuries. This county had a 51-minute lead-time. II. Lessons Learned Lessons learned by those in Tennessee include that learned by Middle Tennessee State University, which had only one warning siren in 1997, but reports having six warnings sirens in the present. In addition, there is now a system that calls and automatically texts the school's 26,000 students should a tornado warning be issued.

In addition the students are now assigned specific safe locations in the school buildings to seek shelter in the event of a tornado. According to Buddy Peaster, M.T.S.U. Chief of Police "I think we are exponentially ahead. we are way ahead of where we were in 1997 there were not some of the technological advances at that time that allowed people to do their own thing and to make themselves self-aware." (Fox 17 WZTV News Nashville, nd) III.

Emergency Responders Effectiveness Reports state that the media was "greatly impressed with the actions taken by the NWSO Nashville Staff. Television and radio personalities commented that the information received was accurate, timely, and life saving during this destructive tornado event.

The local Nashville television weathermen, Bill Hall, from the NBC affiliate WSMV-TV, Davis Nolan, from the ABC affiliate WKRN, and Ron Howes, from CBS affiliate WTVF, all praised the lead times provided the warned counties." (National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Nashville, TN, 1997, p.1) It was stated that if the warnings and special weather statements had not been issued with the extensive lead times the chances of many deaths due to the extensive nature of the damage across the Tennessee Counties of Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Cannon counties would have been great with a high number of deaths likely.

However, it is stated that due to the long lead times in the issuing of special weather statements and warnings that many lives were saved in Tennessee on that day in January 1997.