The 1998 Nashville tornado outbreak was a two-day tornado outbreak which affected portions of the Midwestern United States, Mississippi, and Tennessee Valleys on April 15 and April 16, 1998, with the worst of the outbreak taking place on the second day. On that day, at least ten tornadoes swept through Middle Tennessee—three of them touching down in Nashville, causing significant damage to the downtown and East Nashville areas. Nashville became the first major city in nearly 20 years to have an F2 or larger tornado make a direct hit in the downtown area.John D. Gordon, Bobby Boyd, Mark A. Rose, and Jason B. Wright (2000). "The Forgotten F5: The Lawrence County Supercell", National Weather Service paper. Visited May 8, 2005.
Confirmed tornadoes
April 15 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, April 15, 1998F#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary F0N of HoopoleHenryIL20:50Brief tornado caused minor damage to a corn field. F0W of ViolaMercerIL22:00Brief touchdown with no damage. F0W of Red BudMonroeIL22:47–22:48Brief touchdown in an open field with no damage. F0S of MarissaSt. ClairIL23:12Bleachers in a baseball field were destroyed, a dumpster was blown damaging the side of a building, and a few trees were downed. F0NE of Coulterville (1st tornado)WashingtonIL23:32–23:33Brief tornado in open country. F0NE of Coulterville (2nd tornado)PerryIL23:32Brief tornado videotaped moving through open fields. F0SE of Waterloo to FayettevilleMonroe, St. ClairIL00:05–00:25An ambulance was overturned and several trees were downed. F1E of HoyletonWashingtonIL00:30–00:40A barn and a few farm buildings were destroyed, and several trees were downed. F2ESE of Irvington to N of Walnut HillJefferson, MarionIL00:43–00:50Several outbuildings and barns were destroyed, nine homes sustained major damage, and several mobile homes were overturned. Several trees were downed. A man was injured when his tractor-trailer was picked up and overturned. F2NE of Walnut HillMarionIL00:52–01:00At least ten homes were damaged, and over a dozen barns and farm buildings and two mobile homes were destroyed. Two tractor-trailers were overturned as well. F1NW of Kell to SE of IukaMarionIL01:05–01:20Eight homes were damaged, a mobile home was destroyed, and 18 barns and farm buildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed. Many trees were downed along the path. F1SW of MarquandMadisonMO01:39–?A barn and several outbuildings were damaged, and many trees were downed. F2SW of Flora to NW of Clay CityClayIL01:45–02:00The tornado moved through Flora, derailing 60 to 70 train cars, destroying a set of railroad crossing signals, caused roof and structural damage to numerous homes, and destroyed a mobile home and several garages and sheds. The mobile home was moved around . On the east side of Flora, 40 to 50 condominiums were damaged, ten businesses in an industrial park were damages, and power poles were downed. Several vehicles in the area were damaged from falling trees and debris, numerous trees were downed, and a mobile home was overturned northwest of Clay City. Eight people sustained minor injuries. F0NE of CrosstownPerryMO01:50Brief touchdown with no damage. F2NW of Clay City to N of OlneyClay, RichlandIL02:00–02:25A mobile home and a shed were destroyed, and numerous trees were downed. F0W of De SotoJacksonIL02:36Brief tornado with no damage. F0ClintonVan BurenAR02:45–02:46Several trees and tree limbs were knocked down, causing roof damage to a home and knocking down a power line. An outbuilding sustained minor shingle damage as well. F0SW of De SotoJacksonIL03:34Brief tornado with no damage observed by law enforcement. F0NW of PocahontasCape GirardeauMO04:43–04:44Brief touchdown with no damage. F2NW of OtwellPikeIN05:15–05:20Two barns and a few outbuildings were destroyed, two farm houses sustained significant damage, and several trees and power poles were snapped.
April 16 event