EF2 tornado in Morgan County, Tennessee

This tornado first formed in Fentress County before tracking into heavily forested and rugged areas of Morgan County. Aerial imagery from Tennessee Highway Patrol indicated the tornado produced tree damage as it moved through the forests of Morgan County. The tornado continued to moved southeast where it produced EF-2 damage by destroying two manufactured homes, and damaged multiple barns and outbuildings near the intersection of Twin Bridge Rd and Thurman Lavender Rd. At this location is where the two fatalities and two injuries occurred, both fatalities were inside a manufactured house that was completely destroyed by the tornado. At a separate family residence, a dozen chickens were reported killed along with their coop, a tool shed, and a barn destroyed. Thousands of trees were felled within the debris path, with shredded housing strewn amongst the trees. As the tornado continued southeast, it snapped the top of trees consistent with EF-1 damage near the convergence of Highway 62 and Deer Lodge Highway. At this location at least 35 acres of trees were blown down in a fairly straight and non-convergent pattern facing north relative to the damage swath. Minor roof damage was also noted at this intersection, with small outbuildings destroyed. The tornado continued southeast into forested areas before dissipating prior to Highway 27.

Warm front lifted north into Kentucky and severe thunderstorms, including discrete supercells, moved ahead of the cold front into East Tennessee, producing multiple hazards. Two tornadoes occurred in this event, an unusual occurrence for February in East Tennessee. The Morgan County tornado was the first confirmed February tornado in the county and the strongest February tornado in our area since 1993. The 2nd tornado occurred in Grainger County and was only the 4th confirmed tornado in recorded history in Grainger. These tornadoes were the first February tornadoes in our area since 2011.