Tornadoes in Knoxville: Why they’re more likely to happen at night | Know Your Knox

If you’re ever jarred awake from a deep sleep by a blaring tornado alarm and swirling winds, do not ignore the warning just because you're in Knoxville!

There’s a regional myth that Knoxville is protected from tornadoes because of its geographical location. In fact, about 90% of East Tennesseans believe the region is protected by the hilly terrain and the Great Smoky Mountains, according to a 2019 study by University of Tennessee researchers.

But does the old tale really hold true?

“No. We are not protected just because of our location down in the valley,” said Morristown-based National Weather Service meteorologist Sam Roberts. “We can get tornadoes and we can get them at any time of the year.”

How many tornadoes have hit East Tennessee?

Fifteen tornadoes touched down in Knox County between 1950 and 2022, according to the National Weather Service. There have been 252 tornadoes in East Tennessee since 1950, including at least six so far in 2023.

The Morristown National Weather Service office highlights a handful of significant tornado outbreaks in East Tennessee dating back to 1995. The stronger ones include an EF-3 (a mid-size tornado with 136-165 mile-per-hour wind gust speed) in Chattanooga in 2012 and two EF-2 tornadoes in Scott County (2021). An EF-1 (gust speed of 86-100 mph) touched down in Fountain City in 1995.

Are tornadoes less common in East Tennessee than other regions?

Peak season for severe weather and possible tornadoes in the Knoxville area is March-May, Roberts said. “Don't let your guard down,” he added, because there’s a secondary peak in the fall during October and November.

On average, East Tennessee does get fewer tornadoes than the middle and western parts of the state. That’s because those other areas are flatter and more exposed, University of Tennessee climatology professor Kelsey Ellis explained to the Tennessean in 2021.

But the number of Tennessee tornadoes reported is increasing, and living in East Tennessee doesn't make you safe from twisters. The annual average number of tornadoes reported in the state grew from 11.3 for 1980-1999 to 18.1 for 2000-2019.

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The dangers of nighttime tornadoes

Nearly half of East Tennessee tornadoes occur during the night, according to the 2019 UT study. Nocturnal tornadoes are more likely to cause fatalities than those occurring during daytime because they are harder to detect and it's harder to alert the public while most people are sleeping.

“Why we see those systems at night, it's just due to a timing thing,” Roberts explained. It’s because of “where the storms are initiating in the Plains and how long it takes for them to travel this far east.”

Systems often originate out West toward the Rocky Mountains and progress eastward. They’re strongest during the daytime, hitting West and Middle Tennessee first, and passing through East Tennessee overnight. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they weaken.

Roberts also noted strong storms can occur overnight, which could result in those late-night tornadoes.

There have been 58 tornado-related deaths in East Tennessee since 1950, according to NWS data. This includes two in 2020 and 31 in 2011, the largest single year total.

Weather radios save lives

Using weather radios is the most reliable way to get overnight warnings and updates when severe weather hits, Roberts said. They can even be programmed for your specific location, instead of a large coverage area.

Tornado alerts are pushed to smartphones as well. But Roberts noted that some people might get them while others won’t because of phone company and contact variables.

He also advised paying close attention to local weather forecasts when stormy weather is in the area.

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Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email [email protected]. Twitter @dturner1208.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Do the Great Smoky Mountains protect Knoxville from tornadoes?