The Final Undocumented Tornado of the 3 April 1974,
Super Tornado Outbreak: F2 Tornado in Williamson & Davidson counties, TN
(72)
Timothy W. Troutman, National
Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office, Riverton, Wyoming
Mark A. Rose, National
Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office
William Overby, NASA,
Marshall Space Flight Center
Abstract:
The Super Tornado Outbreak of
3 April 1974 resulted in 148 documented tornadoes in 13 states, within a broad
area extending north from Alabama to Michigan. Upon examining historical
tornado footage, the authors have found that a strong, undocumented F2 tornado
occurred during the mid-afternoon of 3 April 1974 in Williamson and Davidson
counties, TN. Recorded video, storm damage photos, and event description
documents indicate that a tornado first touched down in northeast Williamson
County and moved into southern Davidson County before dissipating. An analysis
of the event, including WSR-57 radar imagery and NASA satellite imagery,
verifies the occurrence of the tornado and its track. A hook echo can also be
identified in the radar imagery. Eyewitness reports further corroborate and
detail the well-defined track of the analyzed F2 tornado. Based on the event
analysis, this tornado will be added to the 3 April 1974 historical event
documentation and NOAA Storm Data.