The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a "tornado emergency," the highest level of warning, as a massive twister tore through Tennessee on Wednesday, resulting in at least two fatalities.
Severe weather has ravaged the nation over the past week, spawning significant tornadoes in states like Oklahoma and Texas. AccuWeather reported at least four tornadoes in Tennessee on Wednesday. A video captured the immense power of one tornado as it swept through the state, leading to a "tornado emergency" in Spring Hill, TN, located south of Nashville along I-65, as shared by the social media account @WeatherNation.
"A tornado emergency was declared for a confirmed extremely large, violent, damaging tornado that's on the ground #Columbia | #Tennessee," posted account @rawsalerts.
Residents in the path of the confirmed large and extremely violent tornado heading toward Spring Hill TN, Chapel Hill TN, and Eagleville TN were urged to seek shelter immediately. Storm chaser Reed Timmer shared a video of the tornado, noting the intense sound it produced, often likened to the roar of a train.
Meteorologist Brittney Whitehead told Newsweek that while the tornado's rating had not been determined, a team would assess the damage on Thursday, with a likely rating by Thursday evening. The tornado watch for middle Tennessee was canceled early on Thursday, but flood alerts, including a flash flood warning, remain in effect.
AccuWeather reported hundreds of tornadoes in the U.S. this year as of May 6, with Texas leading in tornado reports at 62, followed closely by Iowa at 58. Tennessee had experienced three tornadoes before Wednesday, excluding the four allegedly occurring on that day.