476
NOUS44 KMRX 231737
PNSMRX
NCZ060-061-TNZ012>018-035>047-067>074-081>087-098>102-VAZ001-002-
005-006-008-240545-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN
137 PM EDT SAT MAY 23 2026 /1237 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2026/
..NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 05/22/26 TORNADO EVENT
TORNADO #1 - NEW TAZEWELL
RATING: EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 85 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 1.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 75 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 0
START DATE: 5/22/2026
START TIME: 6:58 PM EDT
START LOCATION: 1.5 MI SSW NEW TAZEWELL / CLAIBORNE / TN
START LAT/LON: 36.4255 / -83.6078
END DATE: 5/22/2026
END TIME: 7:02 PM EDT
END LOCATION: 0 MI NEW TAZEWELL / CLAIBORNE / TN
END LAT/LON: 36.4447 / -83.5955
SURVEY SUMMARY:
A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN NEW TAZEWELL ON FRIDAY EVENING MAY 22ND,
2026, THE FIRST TORNADO FOR EAST TENNESSEE IN 2026. THE TORNADO FIRST
TOUCHED DOWN ALONG COFFEE ROAD WHERE SEVERAL HARDWOOD TREES WERE DAMAGED
AND ONE HOME HAD MINOR SIDING DAMAGE. THE TORNADO INTENSIFIED AS IT
APPROACHED DOWNTOWN NEW TAZEWELL. HERE, SEVERAL BUILDINGS SUSTAINED
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WITH ONE SUSTAINING MAJOR ROOF UPLIFT AND SUBSEQUENT
WALL COLLAPSE. ANOTHER SMALLER WOODEN STRUCTURE ALSO COMPLETELY COLLAPSED.
OTHER BUSINESSES IN THIS AREA ALSO SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. HERE THE
TORNADO WAS AT ITS WIDEST POINT OF APPROXIMATELY 75 YARDS. SEVERAL POWER
POLES WERE SNAPPED IN THIS AREA AS WELL. THE TORNADO THEN WOUND DOWN
QUICKLY WITH ONLY VERY MINOR ROOF DAMAGE NOTED ALONG HIGHWAY 33 AND 5TH
AVENUE. ALTHOUGH NOTABLE DEBRIS WAS FOUND FURTHER DOWNSTREAM OF THIS LOCATION
NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS IDENTIFIED.
EF SCALE: THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE CLASSIFIES TORNADOES INTO THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
EF0.....65 TO 85 MPH
EF1.....86 TO 110 MPH
EF2.....111 TO 135 MPH
EF3.....136 TO 165 MPH
EF4.....166 TO 200 MPH
EF5.....>200 MPH
NOTE:
THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT AND PUBLICATION IN NWS
STORM DATA.
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