Draft:2025 Selmer tornado

Draft:2025 Selmer tornado

High-end EF3 damage in Selmer, Tennessee after the tornado
Meteorological history
Formed	April 3, 2025, 12:34 a.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
Dissipated	April 3, 2025, 1:07 a.m. CDT (UTC–05:00)
Duration	33 minutes
EF3 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Max width	650 yards (0.37 mi; 0.59 km)
Path length	29.45 miles (47.40 km)
Highest winds	160 mph (260 km/h)
Overall effects
Fatalities	5
Injuries	14
Damage	$27.6 million (2025 USD)
Areas affected	Selmer, Southern Tennessee
Part of the Tornado outbreak and floods of April 2–7, 2025 and Tornadoes of 2025

During the early morning hours of April 3, 2025, a deadly and destructive tornado impacted the town of Selmer, Tennessee.

Meteorological synopsis

Main article: Tornado outbreak and floods of April 2–7, 2025 § Meteorological synopsis

Starting on March 28, 2025, the Storm Prediction Center began monitoring the risk of a severe weather event on April 2. Following a lack of expected severe potential the previous day, strong moisture return and the development of an upper-level system was discussed, with a 15% risk for severe weather being outlined over much of the middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. The next day, as forecast models came into greater agreement about the mode and timing of the system, a 30% risk was introduced over parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, with forecasters describing that confidence existed for "a widespread, potentially substantial severe event". On March 30, the forecast was expanded to include parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Michigan in the risk area, as forecasted shear supported a primarily supercell-focused storm mode.

Three days out from the event, on the morning of March 31, an enhanced (3/5) risk was outlined over an area overlapping the previous 30% zone, now also including small parts of Oklahoma, Iowa, and Alabama, while now covering the majority of Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, and Indiana. The system, now described as a negatively-tilted trough, was expected to produce a widespread outbreak of severe weather over the region. A large warm sector over the Great Lakes region, a powerful jet streak of 100 kn (120 mph; 190 km/h), and an intense cold front, were all expected to contribute to the event, with the forecast outlining the risk for significant tornadoes, strong wind, and large hail. A higher risk category for the forecast was discussed over the middle Mississippi Valley, fueled by the threat of "multiple long-lived significant supercells", but was ultimately decided against due to a lack of confidence in how the storm system developed throughout the day.

An outlook on April 1 introduced a moderate (4/5) risk over small parts of Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana, driven by the threat of "significant to intense tornadoes", as outlined in updated model guidance. Due to significantly less uncertainty regarding the development of the storms, the Storm Prediction Center issued a high risk (5/5) convective outlook over southern Illinois, eastern Missouri, western Kentucky and Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and extreme northwest Mississippi for "multiple EF3+ tornadoes".

A mid-level trough was positioned over the central United States and will move northeastward, while at the surface, a strong surface cyclone will move through the upper Mississippi Valley, accompanied by a jet streak ejection of 120 knots (140 mph; 220 km/h), while a cold front moves through much of the region. A moist airmass was moving into the Ozarks and middle Mississippi Valley region, which was expected to rapidly destabilize throughout the day while convection along the cold front continued. MLCAPE, a measure of atmospheric instability, was forecast to reach 2,500–3,500 J/kg in the middle Mississippi Valley, while a rapid ejection of the mid-level jet will bring strong ascent into the warm sector, conducive for intense storm development. The initiation of discrete storms was initially expected to occur east of the cold front inside of an unstable airmass, a region expected to – around 4 to 7 p.m. CDT – harbor around 400 m²/s² of storm-relative helicity in the first 3 kilometers of the atmosphere, alongside deep-layer shear of 60 knots. These conditions will be conducive to the development of discrete tornadic supercells, the strongest of which were expected to be capable of producing intense (EF3–EF5) tornadoes. Multiple intense tornadoes were forecasted throughout the evening. More supercells, potentially producing tornadoes, were outlined as a risk in the southern Ozarks and lower Ohio River valley.

More supercells, focused on the threat of strong winds exceeding 70 mph (110 km/h) and large hail exceeding 2 in (5.1 cm) were expected to develop in the region extending from Texas through the Great Lakes region, which were expected to develop bowing line segments producing further severe wind gusts as storms develop. Atmospheric recovery across the Red River valley in Texas had the possibility to support further supercells producing large hail after the main event concluded in the region.

Tornado summary

The tornado first touched down along Locke Road west-southwest of Selmer at 12:34 a.m. CDT. Moving east-northeastward at EF1 intensity, the tornado mainly snapped or uprooted trees, although one home did suffer roof damage. As it approached Sulphur Spring Road, it intensified to low-end EF2 intensity, uprooting numerous trees. Further intensification to high-end EF2 strength occurred as the tornado crossed Sulphur Springs Road at the Dee Moore Road intersection. Multiple homes in this area were heavily damaged, with exterior walls knocked down, a manufactured home was obliterated, outbuildings were destroyed, and more trees were snapped or uprooted. Continuing east-northeastward at EF2 intensity, the tornado snapped or uprooted swaths of trees as it approached Selmer. It then destroyed another manufactured home, and unroofed and knocked down exterior walls of more homes as it approached and then crossed US 45/US 64 at the New Bethel Road intersection. The tornado then rapidly intensified to EF3 strength as it entered Selmer along New Bethel Road. Several homes suffered severe damage, including one home that was flattened, manufactured homes were obliterated and swept away, a group of apartment buildings sustained heavy exterior wall and roof damage, vehicles were flipped, and trees were shredded. The tornado then moved through the northwestern part of the city and across US 64 Bus. Many homes and businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed, more apartment buildings were damaged, and trees were snapped and uprooted. After briefly weakening to EF2 strength, the tornado reached its peak intensity of high-end EF3 along the Adams Extension on the north side of the city, where two homes were flattened, another one had most of its exterior walls knocked down, and a fourth was shifted off its foundation. Other homes nearby were also damaged, and trees were uprooted as well. The tornado then crossed the West Tennessee Railroad and exited Selmer.

The tornado then continued east-northeastward and crossed Bethesda Purdy Road at high-end EF2 strength. It destroyed a metal building system, caused severe roof and exterior wall damage to a home, heavily damaged an outbuilding, and uprooted and snapped trees. The tornado then moved through mainly forested areas, snapping and uprooting large swaths of trees at EF1-EF2 strength. It also damaged homes and outbuildings along more rural roads near Purdy as well as along SR 224 near Adamsville and destroyed a concrete power pole. This was the second time in three years that a strong tornado had moved through this area; another deadly EF3 tornado had struck this region on March 31, 2023. North of Adamsville, a metal building system along SR 22 was heavily damaged at EF1 intensity; another home nearby was also damaged. Mainly tree damage occurred afterward as the tornado crossed into Hardin County and crossed SR 69. It briefly reached EF2 strength again as it crossed Coffee Landing Road, snapping and uprooting trees. The tornado continued to snap or uproot trees as well as damage or destroy outbuildings at EF1 intensity before dissipating west of Hookers Bend at 1:07 a.m. CDT.

The tornado traveled 29.33 mi (47.20 km) in 33 minutes and reached a peak width of 650 yd (590 m). It killed five people and injured 14 others. The tornado caused $27.6 million in damage in McNairy County alone.

See also

• 2023 Bethel Springs–Adamsville tornado – Another EF3 tornado that struck the same areas almost exactly 2 years earlier
• List of F3, EF3, and IF3 tornadoes (2020–present)