Nashville, Tennessee – Strong storms are sweeping across Tennessee and neighboring states Friday evening, with a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect through midnight CDT. Wind gusts nearing 70 mph, hail up to ping-pong size, and frequent lightning are the primary hazards stretching from Florence, Alabama through Nashville, all the way to Richmond, Kentucky.
According to the National Weather Service, these storms are forming ahead of a slow-moving cold front and may organize into clusters that rapidly intensify. The watch includes western and middle Tennessee, central and eastern Kentucky, far northwest Alabama, far northeast Mississippi, and even parts of western Virginia.
Cities at risk include Jackson, Columbia, Winchester, La Follette, Knoxville, and London, KY. Roads like I-65, I-40, and I-75 could see reduced visibility and falling debris as gust fronts push through. Over 4.2 million residents, 1,300+ schools, and 125 hospitals lie within the watch zone.
Residents are urged to avoid non-essential travel, secure outdoor items, and ensure cell phones are fully charged in case of power outages. Spotty hail and flash flooding in low-lying areas may occur, especially in urban corridors.
Severe thunderstorm warnings could follow rapidly — stay tuned to local alerts and weather radios for updates.
