Hamilton County, Tennessee
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
26
Tornado reports
168
Hail reports
85
Floods since 1996
867
All events
25
Deaths
$169.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Hamilton County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 26 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Ringgold-Apison Tornado. An EF4 tornado touched down in north Georgia and continued into southeast Hamilton county, just south of Apison, Tennessee. It tracked northeast across SE Hamilton County before moving across Bradley County and into Polk County. It had a path length of 4.…
Ground surveys and radar data suggest the tornado touched down on the south side of Fort Oglethorpe, near the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center in Catoosa County. The tornado crossed I-75 along Scruggs Road, then crossed the Tennessee/Georgia state-line somewhere between Scr…
Harrison Tornado--Segment #1. This tornado was the strongest of the day in the southeastern U.S.--rated a strong EF3 with 165 MPH maximum winds. The tornado formed on a northward-extending peninsula in Lake Chickamauga, just north of the Booker T. Washington State Park. At this p…
Waterlogged soils caused a large oak tree to fall and crush a car, killing the family of 3 within the vehicle. Calm to near calm winds were observed at the time of the incident off the nearby Chattanooga ASOS.
Standing water was estimated to be 3 feet deep near Shallowford and Gunbarrel roads, with with water going over the hood of a truck. Additionally, someone drove around police barricades and into flood waters on nearby East Brainard Road before being swept away. Unfortunately this…
COOP observer in Mowbray Mountain, TN recorded 6 inches of snowfall. A Facebook report of 4 inches of snowfall in Soddy Daisy, TN. Chattanooga Airport recorded 2 inches of mostly snow, but sleet mixed in at times. A CoCoRaHS observer just north of the airport also recorded 2 inch…
A large, uprooted tree fell across the corner of a permanent home. The tree destroyed the underlying structure of the roof and laid across an occupied bed. This damage occurred northwest of the eastern Hamilton County tornado and was associated with the heavy precipitation and co…
A 61 year old woman was swept away by flood waters while attempting to retrieve her dog. Extensive flood damages in the community around Soddy-Daisy occurred throughout the event, and the damage estimate obtained from the Emergency Manager is included in this entry.
Emergency manager reported a 63 year old male died. It was hypothermia related.
A houseboat capsized on Chickamauga Lake north of Chattanooga. A two year old female toddler and her grandmother were trapped under the boat when it capsized resulting in their deaths.
A woman was killed when a tree fell on a car the woman was trying to relocate in her driveway. Her house was in the East Brainerd area or about 6 miles ESE of downtown Chattanooga and about 2 miles south of the airport. The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee had moved northward from …
A 41-year-old woman was killed in her trailer by a falling tree. Reports stated that her husband and son were seeking shelter in a closet whereas she chose to stay out the closet. The room she in which was located is where the tree smashed the trailer. The husband and son were no…
Widespread minor street flooding began, and eventually escalated into areal and river flooding. The South Chickamauga Creek exceeded its banks and flooded surrounding areas of Chattanooga and East Ridge. The West Chickamauga Creek also contributed to flooding along the South Chic…
NWS storm survey determined an EF2 tornado with maximum wind speed of 125 mph and a length of 1.2 miles with a path width of 100 yards touched down in the vicinity of the Chickamauga Dam. Damage from the storm included a roof torn off an apartment complex, a cement plant demolish…
Significant electrical infrastructure damage in southern Chattanooga as the storm passed through southern Hamilton County. Local media cited more than 260 instances of damage to electrical wires, poles, and related power infrastructure. Damages reached over $2 million.
Over a hundred instances of powerline or utility infrastructure damage resulting in a couple thousand power outages across Hamilton County due to severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
TDOT Smartway camera photos showed significant flooding on Interstate 24 at McBrien Road. Vehicles that entered the floodwater in the recent half hour have been abandoned, with drivers crossing the interstate divider and being helped to higher. Later photos and videos from social…
Rain-induced landslide damaged or destroyed five homes near Sunset Drive and Haven Oaks Trail. Time estimated.
Several homes along Hunter Road near Ooltewah took up to several feet of water. All told, Emergency Management estimated there was three million dollars in flood damages in Hamilton County for the overall event.
An EF1 tornado touched down at Signal Mountain. The path length was 2.2 miles and the path width from 60 to 90 yards. The max wind of 90 mph caused damage to an estimated 25 homes and numerous trees were downed.
An EF1 tornado touched down two miles north of Red Bank. The path length was 2.6 miles with an average path width from 85 to 100 yards and a maximum width of 150 yards. The maximum wind speed was 90 mph which damage at least 20 homes along with numerous trees downed by the wind.
Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Record flooding on the South Chickamauga Creek, near record flooding on the Tennessee River. Widespread flooding, road closures, damage, evacuations.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A couple trees blown down by severe thunderstorm winds on Campbell St.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
At least 3 homes and 1 apartment with trees fallen on top, numerous trees blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts resulting in blocked or partially blocked roadways, powerlines down, with a strong concentration in downtown Chattanooga. A few trees were blown down in Hixson.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees blown down on Birchwood Pike by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree blown down by severe thunderstorm gusts at Cummings HWY near the Walmart. Tree blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts at River George Drive in BlackCreek Subdivision.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts at intersection of Signal Mt Rd and Pineville Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were reported blown down in Hamilton County by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Reports of small streams out of their banks and roadway flooding issues in northern Hamilton county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts across the county.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Powerlines were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several powerlines and at least 1 tree were downed in Chattanooga by severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light snow fell in Hamilton County, with 1.3 and 1.4 inches measured in two locations near Ooltewah, the Chattanooga Airport measured 0.8 inches of snow.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Severe thunderstorm wind gusts blew down large tree branches, bringing powerlines down and causing power outages.
Lightning Lightning
A lightning strike hit a home on Kamin Road in Hixson, leading to a two-alarm fire destroying a large portion of the home.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Photos from social media posts showed street flooding along Ringgold Road in multiple locations.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding was ongoing at the Cascade Motel on Ringgold Road. A few evacuations had been done in this area.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Broadcast media shared a video that showed a large ditch and culvert overflowing with water, along with water nearly a foot deep running through the parking lot of the Northshore Village apartment complex near intersection of Memorial Drive and Altamont Road in the Red Bank area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few trees at the University of Chattanooga were blown down by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Very large branch felled by severe winds in the Hill City neighborhood.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large trees snapped at their trunks on Mountain Creek Road by potent thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees uprooted by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Small trees snapped at their trunks by potent thunderstorm wind gusts.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree branches up to 10 inches in diameter were snapped off the trees by powerful thunderstorm wind gusts. At one location, the Chattanooga Fire Department responded to a house with a large tree branch damaging the porch roof of the home. EPB of Chattanooga reported over 400…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts, resulting in power outages. Six minutes prior to this report, a 52 mph wind gust was measured by the Chattanooga ASOS.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A retail store owner reported severe thunderstorm wind gusts shattered the glass door by breaking the door's hinges during the peak of the storm. High winds entered the store, blowing merchandise around and soaking both goods and visitors.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 44 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 2023 | 27 | 1 |
| 2022 | 17 | 0 |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 |
| 2020 | 23 | 1 |
| 2019 | 16 | 0 |
| 2018 | 19 | 0 |
| 2017 | 17 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 35 | 0 |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 22 | 1 |
| 2011 | 51 | 14 |
| 2010 | 31 | 2 |
| 2009 | 27 | 1 |
| 2008 | 25 | 0 |
| 2007 | 16 | 0 |
| 2006 | 43 | 0 |
| 2005 | 20 | 0 |
| 2004 | 20 | 0 |
| 2003 | 38 | 0 |
| 2002 | 14 | 0 |
| 2001 | 26 | 0 |
| 2000 | 24 | 0 |
| 1999 | 20 | 0 |
| 1998 | 25 | 0 |
| 1997 | 16 | 1 |
| 1996 | 17 | 0 |
| 1995 | 19 | 1 |
| 1994 | 8 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 13 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 19 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 6 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 4 | 1 |
| 1976 | 7 | 0 |
| 1975 | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 | 5 | 1 |
| 1973 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Hamilton County, measured to its path.
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