A small but deadly tornado outbreak affected West and Middle Tennessee on the night of March 2 and into the morning of March 3, 2020, including a high-end EF3 tornado that hit Nashville and Mount Juliet, becoming the 6th costliest tornado in United States history, and a violent EF4 tornado that impacted areas in and just west of Cookeville. A total of 25 people were killed by the tornadoes, with an additional 309 being injured, and more than 70,000 lost electricity. The path of the Nashville tornado was very similar to the one that hit East Nashville in 1998. A few additional tornadoes were also confirmed in Alabama, southeastern Missouri, and western Kentucky. Total damage from the event reached $1.607 billion according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Meteorological synopsis The threat for severe weather across Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas was poorly forecasted in advance. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) first issued a slight risk across northeastern Arkansas into the Tennessee Valley area in their 1:00 a.m. CST (06:00 UTC) March 2 outlook. In their forecast, the SPC noted that an unstable atmosphere was likely to materialize ahead of an approaching cold front, but that this environment would likely be contained by a capping inversion for most of the day.

By the afternoon hours, the SPC expected the combination of rich moisture, modest wind shear, and cold mid-level temperatures to promote the formation of supercells with a primary risk of large hail. Some tornadic activity appeared possible overnight given an increase in low-level winds. At 5:20 p.m. CST, the first tornado watch was issued from northern Arkansas northeastward into southern Indiana and western Kentucky as discrete storms began to develop.

By 11:00 p.m. CST, as a surface low progressed northeastward through southern Missouri, sustained barometric pressure falls caused supercell storms to give way to an organized storm cluster that gradually weakened as it progressed into an area of less abundant moisture. As convection weakened to the north, the SPC began to monitor areas farther south – encompassing eastern Arkansas, West Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky – for reinvigorated thunderstorm development as the northern jet stream amplified southeastward into the risk area. Strong wind shear coupled with low instability was expected to promote activity with "a risk for severe hail, strong surface gusts and perhaps potential for a tornado or two." At 11:20 p.m. CST, a localized tornado watch was issued across Middle Tennessee. In subsequent hours, a long-lived and intense supercell produced ten tornadoes along the Interstate 40 corridor. A few hours after the Tennessee event, as severe weather moved farther south, a couple weaker tornadoes touched down in central Alabama as the outbreak wound down.

Tennessee supercell At 10:12 p.m. CST, the first tornado produced by the supercell touched down in Gibson County in West Tennessee. This tornado was rated EF1 and was followed minutes later by a stronger and longer-tracked EF2 tornado which traveled across much of Carroll County. A tornado warning was not issued for the first two tornadoes; the first tornado warning was issued prior to the development of third tornado. After causing minor to moderate damage with these two tornadoes, the supercell quickly produced a third tornado, also rated EF2, that touched down north of Camden in Benton County. This tornado produced significant damage along a nearly path, killing one person in Benton County before crossing Kentucky Lake into Humphreys County in Middle Tennessee. It continued to produce damage until dissipating just north of Waverly at 11:31 p.m. CST. A fourth tornado, rated EF0, caused sporadic damage minutes later in the McEwen area.

+ Outbreak death toll State Fatalities County FatalitiesTennessee25 Benton 1 Davidson 2 Putnam 19 Wilson 3 Upon crossing into Dickson County, the supercell began to weaken somewhat, with a marked decrease in rotation as the cell moved through Dickson and into Cheatham County. However, very large hail was reported in the Charlotte area as the cell passed through. After passing just north of Pegram, the supercell immediately began showing signs of better organization as a well-defined hook echo reappeared on radar. Just after entering Davidson County, the fifth tornado associated with the cell commenced at 12:32 a.m. CST, approximately northeast of Pegram. A tornado warning was issued for Downtown Nashville three minutes later as the tornado crossed the Cumberland River and impacted the John C. Tune Airport, as well as the nearby headquarters and terminal of truckload carrier Western Express, Inc. It would go on to produce widespread EF2 to high-end EF3 damage in the communities of North Nashville, Germantown, East Nashville, Donelson, Hermitage, and Mount Juliet while traveling through Davidson, Wilson, and Smith counties, also causing heavy damage in Lebanon and Gordonsville. Five people were killed by the tornado, two in East Nashville and three near Mount Juliet, and 220 people were injured. After lifting, a sixth tornado, rated EF0, was quickly produced along the Smith–Putnam county line. It moved across areas north of Buffalo Valley, dissipating as it tried to ascend the Highland Rim.

The seventh tornado was a violent EF4 tornado that caused catastrophic damage in Putnam County near Baxter and in the western part of Cookeville, resulting in 19 deaths and 87 injuries. It touched down northwest of Baxter at 1:48 a.m. CST, just as a tornado warning was issued for the area. The tornado moved toward the Double Springs community and quickly intensified. Producing a narrow swath of EF3 to EF4-strength damage, the tornado moved along U.S. 70N, causing catastrophic damage in neighborhoods along the path. The tornado abruptly dissipated just before reaching downtown Cookeville after a path of nearly . This abrupt dissipation was due in part to a southern circulation developing within the cell to the south of Interstate 40, which later resulted in the eighth tornado, a brief EF0, southeast of Cookeville in Goffton.

As the northern circulation dissipated over Overton County, the southern circulation became dominant as the supercell climbed the Cumberland Plateau into Cumberland County. An EF2 tornado, the ninth from the cell, began near Rinnie, north of Crossville, and moved east into the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, producing extensive tree damage. After apparent dissipation in wilderness near the Cumberland–Morgan county border, a tenth tornado—rated EF0—produced minor damage a few miles east, just to the west of Lancing in East Tennessee. The final tornado produced by the cell dissipated at 3:40 a.m. EST (2:40 a.m. CST), four and a half hours after the first tornado in Gibson County.

Confirmed tornadoes

March 2 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, March 2, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1SW of Crofton to NW of Fruit HillChristianKY02:00–02:06A meteorologist observed this tornado, which crossed U.S. Route 41 just south of Crofton. Four farm structures and two garages were either damaged or destroyed, and several homes sustained minor roof, window, and siding damage. Numerous trees were uprooted along the path. EF1Idlewide to NW of TrezevantGibsonTN04:12–04:23The first tornado produced by the long-tracked Nashville supercell damaged several homes and grain bins south of Bradford. Trees were downed as well. A tornado warning was not issued for this tornado. EF0ESE of Broadwater to W of RiscoNew MadridMO04:15–04:18A narrow tornado was on the ground approximately three minutes, and was confirmed by chaser via photograph. The tornado remained over an open field and produced no damage. EF2S of McKenzie to N of Hollow RockCarrollTN04:41–04:57The second tornado from the Nashville supercell moved due east across Carroll County. Homes, barns, and grain bins were damaged or destroyed along the path. A few of these homes had their roofs torn off, and one sustained collapse of its exterior walls. Numerous trees were downed as well. A tornado warning was not issued for this tornado. EF2NNW of Camden to N of WaverlyBenton, HumphreysTN05:05–05:311 death – Several homes sustained significant damage, some of which sustained roof loss and some collapse of exterior walls. A mobile home was destroyed, and multiple outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed as well. Hundreds of trees were downed along the path, especially as the tornado crossed the Kentucky Lake into Humphreys County. Two people were also injured in Benton County. This was the third tornado from the long-tracked Nashville supercell. EF0McEwen to NNE of Few ChapelHumphreysTN05:42–05:48This tornado, the fourth tornado from the Nashville supercell, touched down just northwest of McEwen and moved off to the east, damaging a small barn and causing roof damage to a house. Several trees were downed along the path.

March 3 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, March 3, 2020EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF2N of Allen Springs to SSW of Raley FordWarren, AllenKY06:15–06:18A brief, but strong low-end EF2 tornado embedded within a larger area of straight-line wind damage destroyed three barns, and caused significant roof and siding damage to two houses southeast of Alvaton. A horse trailer was thrown , and over 500 trees were knocked down in all directions. EF3W of Nashville to Lebanon to SE of GordonsvilleDavidson, Wilson, SmithTN06:32–07:355 deaths – See article on this tornado – The fifth tornado from the long-tracked Nashville supercell, this was the 6th costliest tornado in United States history with $1.504 billion in damage. 220 people were injured. EF0NNW of Buffalo Valley to S of GentryPutnamTN07:38–07:42The sixth tornado produced by the Nashville supercell touched down three minutes after the Nashville EF3 tornado lifted and moved across hilly terrain just north of Buffalo Valley. It caused roof damage to several homes in the St. Mary's and Rock Springs communities of Putnam County before dissipating near the Buffalo Valley Dragway. Several outbuildings were damaged and numerous trees were downed as well. EF4NW of Baxter to CookevillePutnamTN07:48–07:5619 deaths – See article on this tornado – This was the seventh tornado from the long-tracked Nashville supercell. 87 people were injured. EF0GofftonPutnamTN08:05–08:06The eighth tornado from the Nashville supercell briefly touched down along U.S. Route 70N in the Dry Valley area southeast of Cookeville and caused roof damage to a house, a metal garage, and an outbuilding. Several trees had large branches broken as well. EF2SW of Rinnie to NNE of Fairfield GladeCumberland, MorganTN08:25–08:35This was the ninth tornado produced by the Nashville supercell. It touched down along U.S. Route 127, causing roof damage to a mobile home. It then destroyed two outbuildings, caused roof damage to two homes, and pushed over a power pole. Two more outbuildings were destroyed before the tornado continued into the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, where extensive tree damage warranted a low-end EF2 rating. The tornado weakened as it approached the Morgan County border and dissipated in Morgan County. EF0W of LancingMorganTN08:40–08:42The tenth and final tornado produced by the Nashville supercell snapped or uprooted numerous trees and flipped a metal carport. EF0S of GreensboroHaleAL12:04–12:12A high-end EF0 tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees along its path. Some homes suffered damage to shingles and siding, as well as some minor structural damage. EF1LawleyBibbAL12:28–12:38A high-end EF1 tornado blew a manufactured home off its foundation, displaced a vehicle, and snapped or uprooted several dozen trees. A few houses were damaged, and more trees were downed in a wooded area and near the Lawley Fire Department and Community Center.