LOCAL NEWS — Local weather officials are warning residents across Tennessee and north Alabama to be weather aware Friday night leading into Saturday as severe weather heads back into the area for the second time this week. Moore County is included in a Hazardous Weather Outlook statement from the National Weather Service office in Huntsville along with Lincoln and Franklin counties.
On Monday, the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Coffee County before crossing into Moore County and then into Bedford County – causing significant damage in Tullahoma along the way. High winds destroyed numerous outbuilding and grills at Lowes as well as the Walmart sign on North Jackson Street in Tullahoma near the airport.
Wind speeds of that tornado reached as high as 86 miles per hour. The tornado stayed on the ground for around two minutes – touching down around 7:42 a.m. Multiple down trees could be spotted in the north east part of the county near the Ledford Mill area. Uprooted trees and downed powerlines scattered through out and multiple homes and businesses were without power for several hours. Other tornadoes touched down in Trousdale, Overton, and Pickett counties – marking the first-ever on record December tornadoes in the state of Tennessee.
The National Weather Service office in Huntsville issued a Severe Weather Outlook statement on Thursday anticipating strong to severe thunderstorms from Friday night around 10 p.m. into Saturday morning. A warm, unstable air mass will move into the area ahead of a cold front with predictable results. The biggest chance for severe weather will be from midnight Friday until 12 p.m. on Saturday. The storms may produce damaging winds and/or tornadoes. Since there is an enhanced risk of severe weather overnight while most of Moore County will be sleeping, it’s a good idea to keep a weather radio handy, take Do Not Disturb off your cell phones, and have your tornado plan in mind.
Right now the highest threat of severe weather exists west of Moore County but the forecast continues to evolve every hour. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}