The May 4, 2003 tornado

F4Madison and Henderson counties, Tennessee

An F4 tornado on a 39.0-mile path that killed 11 and injured 86. It was one of 81 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 12 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of May 4, 2003: 81 tornadoes in 9 states

F4 tornado · May 4, 2003

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 39.0 miles

Now in—

RatingF4

The tornado

Rating: F4; Fujita scale
Path length: 39.0 mi; Width up to 880 yards
Killed: 11; Along the whole path
Injured: 86; Along the whole path
Date and time: Sunday, May 4, 2003; 10:35 PM CST
That day: 81; tornadoes in the U.S.; every one, with a replay of the day

The National Weather Service account

Written by the local Weather Service office after its damage survey.

The tornado touched down in the southwest part of Madison county near Denmark and tracked east through the downtown section of Jackson. The tornado continued to move east and eventually crossed into Henderson county. Nine people were killed in mobile homes between Denmark and Jackson and two other persons were killed in an apartment complex in Jackson. Numerous buildings were destroyed, particularly in downtown Jackson. St. Luke Episcopal Church, one of the oldest churches in Tennessee built in 1844, was destroyed. The Carl Perkins Civic Center, Tennessee Supreme Court Building, the downtown Jackson Post Office and National Guard Armory were damaged. Also damaged was the Proctor and Gamble factory where Pringles Potato Chips are made and a Coca-Cola bottling plant was also damaged. Denmark Elementary School and Jackson Middle School were destroyed and 24 other schools in the county were damaged. The tornado caused severe damage to the local power and water utilities across the county. One of eight stone balls that were set up to commemorate the eight fatalities from the Jackson tornado of January 17, 1999 was blown across a street.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Counties on its path

Other notable tornadoes that day

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.