EF1 Tornado — Franklin, Tennessee

2025-04-06 · near Cowan, Franklin, Tennessee

Event narrative

A tornado touched down in Cowan on Franklin Street, causing several uprooted and split trees before continuing eastward. As the tornado continued just south along Sewanee Highway, sporadic tree damage was observed. It peaked in intensity along Saint Marys Lane where several large hardwood trees were uprooted and split. Structural damage to the roof of a brick shelter was also noted at this location due to the uprooting of the tree that was directly above it. The track continued southeastward across Sherwood Road before a secondary large area of damage was observed along Rattlesnake Spring Road. At this point, multiple hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped in multiple directions. The tornado continued south-southeast towards Gudger Road, following along the ridgeline uprooting another tree before lifting.

Wider weather episode

A line of severe thunderstorms roared east-northeast through southern middle Tennessee during the late evening of the 5th to just after Midnight on the 6th. An EF-1 tracked nearly 9 miles in Franklin County from Cowan to southeast of Sewanee. Thunderstorm winds produced several areas of damage in Lincoln County as well. Also, flash flooding resulted in multiple water rescues due to excessive rainfall in a short period of time.

Flash flooding Lincoln County CAD reports in Q drive.

Flash flooding reports in Franklin County CAD report in Q drive (pdf).

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.1673, -86.0169)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1258172. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.