7 Confirmed Tornadoes Ripped Across the Tennessee Valley Last Weekend

Written by Mary Wasson, Meteorologist

Last updated 12/17/2023, 12:43:15 AM

This time last week people were cleaning up from devastating tornadoes that ripped across the Tennessee Valley killing 6 people, including one toddler.

The National Weather Service confirmed that 7 tornadoes touched down in Tennessee and Kentucky on Saturday, December 9th. There were two EF-1 tornadoes, four EF-2 tornadoes, and one EF-3 tornado.  

Tornado # 1: Stewart and Montgomery counties, EF-1, 1:20 p.m.-1:30 p.m., 7.10 miles.

Tornado # 2: Montgomery, Todd, and Logan counties, EF-3, 1:41 p.m.-1:56 p.m., 42.91 miles, 3 fatalities. 

This was the first December tornado on record in Montgomery County and the deadliest tornado since April 29, 1909, which resulted in 4 deaths.

Tornado # 3: Dickson County, EF-2, 3:29 p.m.-3:39 p.m., 5.83 miles.

Tornado # 4: Dickson and Cheatham counties, EF-2, 4:03 p.m.-4:24 p.m., 14.29 miles.

Dickson County has reported 4 tornadoes during December, 3 on 12/11/21 which were EF-2s. This was the first tornado in Cheatham County since 12/11/2021.

Tornado # 5: Robertson County, EF-2, 4:19 p.m.-4:24 p.m., 3.5 miles.

This was the first tornado on record in December in Robertson County. 

Tornado # 6: Davidson, Sumner, and Trousdale counties, EF-2, 4:39 p.m.-5:27 p.m., 35.02 miles, 3 fatalities.

This was the deadliest tornado in Davidson County since March 14, 1933, where 11 people died.  There have been 7 tornadoes on record in Davidson County and 4 in Sumner County in December.

Tornado # 7: Clay and Monroe counties, EF-1, 6:07 p.m.-6:11 p.m., 2.51 miles.

Overall, there were 142 severe weather reports on that day, 25 tornadoes, 47 wind, and 70 hail. 

Some amazing stories have come out of this terrible situation, including a 4-month-old baby found alive in a tree and a business saving a man when he was outside during the tornado.

Another bit of good news, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available for four Middle Tennessee counties impacted by last weekend’s tornadoes. This news comes after President Joe Biden approved an expedited federal disaster declaration for the areas in the Volunteer State affected by the tornado outbreak.