Jackson County hit by EF-1 tornado, NWS confirms

JACKSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — An EF-1 tornado hit Jackson County as a severe storm moved across the region Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Crews with NWS Nashville were to sent to Jackson County Friday morning to survey the damage. In a preliminary report, officials determined that an EF1 touched down east of Highway 56 north of Center Grove.

Wind speeds reportedly reached up to 110 miles per hour, snapping hundreds of trees and causing roof damage to a single family home.

According to storm surveyors, the tornado continued northeast and caused “significant roof damage” to a home along JC Johnson Lane.

As the tornado continued to move eastward, hundreds of more trees were uprooted and significant damage was found along Lynn Hill Road, per NWS. The weather service added the tornado destroyed a barn along Zion Road before dissipating.

In East Tennessee, NWS confirmed an EF-2 touched down in Morgan County, resulting in the death of at least two people and leaving several injured.

Governor Bill Lee will reportedly survey storm damage in Morgan County on Friday, Feb. 7.