The April 27, 2011 tornado

EF4Sequatchie, Bledsoe and Rhea counties, Tennessee

An EF4 tornado on a 40.2-mile path that killed 4 and injured 12. It was one of 210 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 35 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened Part of the outbreak of April 27, 2011: 210 tornadoes in 16 states

EF4 tornado · April 27, 2011

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 40.2 miles

Now in—

RatingEF4

The tornado

Rating: EF4; Enhanced Fujita scale
Path length: 40.2 mi; Width up to 880 yards
Killed: 4; Along the whole path
Injured: 12; Along the whole path
Date and time: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; 7:06 PM CST
That day: 210; 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.

New Harmony Tornado. A NWS storm survey reported an EF2 tornado initially developed near Dunlap. It tracked northeast across Sequatchie, Bledsoe and into Rhea County. It had a path length of 7.9 miles in Sequatchie county and a 1/2 mile path width. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed and a few homes suffered some damage. The tornado intensified to an EF4 in Bledsoe County. While in Sequatchie County...the tornado initially started on a more northerly track then turned to almost straight northeast at about 35.377N/85.380W.

The storm system that day

Favorable atmospheric conditions resulted in a deadly tornado outbreak across east Tennessee on the 27th. The thunderstorms produced more than 50 tornadoes across the east Tennessee area with 32 deaths and more than 200 injured. The tornadoes produced from light to heavy damage to hundreds of homes and businesses. Hail as large as baseballs was also reported.

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.