Thunderstorm Wind in White County, Tennessee

Severe thunderstorm winds downed several trees at Skyline Drive and Redbud Trail in Sparta. Damages are a rough estimate.

A line of thunderstorms moved through Middle Tennessee during the late morning and early afternoon hours of August 7, 2023. Damaging straight-line winds were the primary threat with this line, especially for areas roughly along and south of Interstate 40. While this line of thunderstorms was severe as it crossed the Tennessee River, it significantly strengthened as it moved east of Interstate 65 with estimated winds of 70 to 95 mph across the Cumberland Plateau. Numerous reports of downed trees and powerlines were received with many of these also damaging homes and vehicles as well. The worst damage occurred across Cannon, Coffee, Warren, and Van Buren counties. Six separate microbursts and downbursts were identified that caused most of the significant damage in this area.