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Raus tornado rated EF-0

By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com
Posted 12/9/21

A small tornado struck the Raus Community Center early Monday, the National Weather Service in Nashville has determined.

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Raus tornado rated EF-0

Posted

A small tornado struck the Raus Community Center early Monday, the National Weather Service in Nashville has determined.

Survey team members issued a report Wednesday stating the twister first touched down near the intersection of Elijah Parker Road and Smith Chapel Road intersection at Raus, blowing down a wall at the center. The historic building, dating to the late 1800s, is undergoing renovation.

The tornado was rated EF-0 on the Fujita scale at that point and throughout its path through far southeast Bedford County, the NWS said. EF-0 tornadoes are classified as “weak” with winds of 40-72 miles per hour.

Several trees were knocked down on Powell Hollow Road before the twister crossed into Moore County, according to the report.

The tornado strengthened to EF-1 at that point and damaged several buildings and homes in Moore County and northwest Tullahoma before lifting.

Surveyors determined the tornado’s winds peaked at 90 miles per hour. It was on the ground for just over 8 miles, touching down in Raus at 7:40 a.m. and lifting 2 miles northeast of Tullahoma at 7:48. Times are determined by Doppler radar data. Its maximum width was 100 yards, approximately the length of a football field.

A tornado warning had been issued by the NWS offices in Nashville and Huntsville, Ala., both of which cover portions of the affected areas.

No December tornado has been previously reported in Coffee County, the NWS said. Monday’s twister was one of five reported in Middle Tennessee.