I’ve always been fascinated with meteorology. And in East Tennessee, we have an abundance of interesting weather – to our distinct and dedicated four seasons to the rapidity with which our weather conditions can and do change.
Another interesting facet to our weather – not a pleasant one – is how we have a second season for severe weather each November. According to the National Weather Service, in Middle Tennessee alone, November is the fourth most active month of the year in terms of tornadoes.
In East Tennessee, we are less likely to see a twister, but after the unprecedented storms of last spring, it seems anything is possible.
I remember just such a tornado outbreak that scared and threatened my family. It occurred on November 10, 2002.
We were busy that fall as we had just put our previous house on the market. That day, we decided we wanted to take a break from house selling. The four of us drove over to Nashville to see the Titans game.
We had no idea what an adventure we’d be in for that day.
It was an incredibly warm, balmy day as we settled into our seats and proceeded to watch the Titans defeat the Texans by the score of 17-10. But as the day unfolded, you could tell the atmosphere was becoming more and more unsettled. Late in the game, the skies became dark and ominous and soon it started to rain.
Paul and I were seated away from where Lisa and Holly were. I called Lisa in the 4th quarter and told her I thought we should probably head to our car. She concurred. It turned out to be a really good move. About the time we reached the car, the rain really started to pour. When we reached the outskirts of town, we turned on the radio to hear the post-game report and what we heard was not the usual rundown of scores and stats.
There were tornado warnings in the area and as we sped eastward, it seemed like each time we hit a new county line, that county was added to the warning area. Literally, it seemed like the line of tornadoes was following us home.
As it turns out, I guess it was.
Meanwhile, back home, a couple looked at our house. By the time we made it to Cumberland County, they had submitted a formal offer on the house. We pulled over long enough to call our real estate agent to get the details. But, there was no time to celebrate. The storms were west of us but approaching.
We pulled out of the parking lot in Crossville around 6; at 6:20 a tornado touched down in Morgan County just to the northeast. And by the time we got back to our house in East Tennessee, we learned there was a full fledged outbreak. Around 8:30 that evening, a supercell storm brought a strong F3 tornado to Mossy Grove, in Morgan County. When it touched down, it brought damage and destruction to that community and was responsible for seven fatalities and 28 injuries.
At the end of an epic day, we were on an emotional high because of the great news about the impending sale of our house but our happiness was tempered by knowing that others in East Tennessee had lost their homes or worse-even some had lost loved ones.
That Tennessee tornado outbreak was nine years ago. According to today’s weather reports, it looks like there was some more November severe weather brewing in the Southeast today from Louisiana to Georgia. Fortunately for those of us in the Tennessee Valley, it looks like the worst stuff stayed to the south of us.
JG
Originally posted 11/16/2011
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