EF4 Tornado — Bledsoe, Tennessee

2011-04-27 · near Hendon, Bledsoe, Tennessee

Event narrative

New Harmony Tornado. A NWS storm survey reported a tornado path in Sequatchie county and continued its track northeast into and across southeastern Bledsoe County. It had a path length of 16.3 miles in Bledsoe county and a 1/2 mile path width. The 190 mph wind destroyed several homes up on Waldens Ridge, with continuous damage noted into Rhea county. Numerous trees and barns were also downed in the path of the large tornado. Vehicles were picked up and thrown.

Four people died in the Pitts Gap area just before the tornado reached New Harmony. The fatalities included a married couple--a 43 year old woman and a 39 year old man in their mobile home. A man, his wife (64 years old), and her sister (70 years old, visiting from Nashville) were in a camper, camping on Waldens Ridge when the tornado struck, killing the two sisters, and injuring the man. Another 10 people were injured.

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 → (35.3969, -85.3253)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 300460. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.