EF4 Tornado — Blount, Tennessee

2011-04-27 · near Chilhowee, Blount, Tennessee

Event narrative

Chilhowee EF4 Tornado. An NWS survey team reported an EF4 tornado touched down west of Chilhowee Lake in northern Monroe County. The max wind of 170 mph smashed a TVA transmission tower in the Lake, and ground up miles of forest in both Cherokee National Forest, then in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

This tornado started in northern Monroe County in the Cherokee National Forest, then crossed Chilhowee Lake where it smash the tower, entering into Blount County. On the far shore of the lake (now in Blount County and also entering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park), it took a right turn at 33.5574/84.0061, traveled ENE deeper into the park, towards Cades Cove. Before getting to Cades Cove it took a left turn near 35.5794/83.9878 and headed to the NE. It finally dissipated about 4 miles north of Cades Cove, still in the Park. Its total path was 14.5 miles long.

Wider weather episode

Favorable atmospheric conditions resulted in a deadly tornado outbreak across east Tennessee on the 27th. The thunderstorms produced more than 50 tornadoes across the east Tennessee area with 32 deaths and more than 200 injured. The tornadoes produced from light to heavy damage to hundreds of homes and businesses. Hail as large as baseballs was also reported.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.5459, -84.0274)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 300456. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.