Humphreys County, Tenn. — A powerful storm system swept through Middle Tennessee on April 5, 2025, leaving a trail of destruction and prompting investigations from the National Weather Service (NWS). The storms, which produced a combination of tornadoes, straight-line winds, and heavy rainfall, significantly impacted several counties, including Humphreys, Dickson, and Cheatham.
EF1 Tornado in Humphreys County
Among the most significant findings was the confirmation of an EF1 tornado that struck near Buffalo, located in southern Humphreys County. The tornado, which touched down at 3:49 p.m. and lasted just two minutes, carved a 2.64-mile path with winds reaching up to 90 mph. Despite the damage, there were no reported injuries or fatalities.
The tornado began its path near Interstate 40, uprooting and snapping numerous trees, before continuing northeast along Highway 13. The storm caused additional damage to timber and Overholt’s Farm Market, a local business. The tornado is believed to have dissipated in a heavily wooded area east of Highway 13.
In addition to the tornado, survey teams identified non-tornadic wind damage across the surrounding region, which was also attributed to the powerful storm system.
Straight-Line Winds and Microbursts Cause Widespread Damage
While the EF1 tornado was the most notable tornado event, the storm system also produced widespread straight–line winds that caused significant damage across several counties. The NWS determined that the damage in Dickson and Cheatham counties, which included both timber destruction and sporadic structural damage, was the result of straight–line winds rather than a tornado.
The strongest winds in the area were linked to embedded microbursts—localized, intense bursts of wind caused by the downdraft of thunderstorms. NWS officials noted that the wind damage in these counties, particularly from near Burns in Dickson County to southern Cheatham County, resembled the impact of an EF0–EF1 tornado, with winds reaching speeds of 60–90 mph.
A detailed survey of Kingston Springs in Cheatham County revealed a swath of
