Lightning Strikes, High Winds and Rescues Reported After Severe Storms

Issue #716

April 28, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☁️ Columbia’s Wednesday Weather - Cloudy w/ high of 71, low of 47

📰 Lightning Strikes, High Winds and Rescues Reported After Severe Storms

⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Middle Tennessee Until 1 AM

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Lightning Strikes, High Winds and Rescues Reported After Severe Storms

Overnight storms brought lightning, high winds, downed trees, fires road closures and power outages across parts of Maury and Lawrence counties.

From Maury County Fire Department’s post: “Members responded to 12 calls overnight, with most of them coming after midnight. Units operated on a working house fire on auto aid to Columbia before the storms arrived. Just as members were getting equipment back in service from the fire, calls began to come in related to the storm which included fire alarms, reported house fires, and electrical lines on fire. The attached video is 3:30am this morning as Engine 21 is responding to a lightning strike and fire alarm. We are proud to serve Maury County.”

Overnight winds also ripped apart part of a gas station canopy near the Maury-Lawrence County line, knocking out at least two pumps.

In Lawrence County, two separate wind events moved through early Tuesday morning - the first around 2 a.m., followed by a second shortly after 3 a.m. The northern two-thirds of the county were impacted, with significant damage reported in the Summertown and Ethridge areas.

Emergency responders began working as the first wind event hit and continued through the morning. Power lines were knocked down and trees were ripped apart, prompting multiple rescue calls.

One person was injured after a tree fell on a vehicle in the Summertown area. Rescue crews also responded to a report of a person trapped in a car after a tree came down and another person trapped in a camper.

Strong winds brought down trees and blocked roadways across the area. Numerous trees were reported down along Tennessee 20, Barnsville Road, and nearby areas, creating hazardous travel conditions. Multiple agencies were dispatched to several locations, with additional teams assisting in debris removal.

More than 5,500 Lawrenceburg Utility System customers were without power as crews worked to clear debris so damaged infrastructure could be restored.

A mobile command post was established at the Summertown High School ball field to coordinate response efforts. At least one injury has been reported. Lawrence County Schools announced closures to some campuses due to storm damage.

This post from Weather Down in Mule Town gathered photos from local damage in the comments.

There are more storms to come… everyone stay weather aware! Be sure to follow Weather Down in Muletown for updates.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Middle Tennessee Until 1 AM

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 176
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
5:25 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Southern Kentucky & Middle Tennessee.

  • Effective this Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning from 525 PM until 100 AM CDT.

  • Primary threats include...

    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible
    A tornado or two possible

SUMMARY: A line of thunderstorms approaching the region from the west is expected to continue northeastward over the next several hours. Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible within this line, with damaging gusts as the primary risk. A low-probability risk for a brief line-embedded tornado exists as well.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles north and south of a line from 40 miles southwest of Clarksville TN to 25 miles southeast of London KY. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER... A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes.

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 169...WW 170...WW 171...WW 172...WW 173...WW 174...WW 175...

AVIATION... A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 24035.

Click for more info

Upcoming Local Events

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Wednesday, April 29th

Thursday, April 30th

Friday, May 1st

Saturday, May 2nd

Sunday, May 3rd

*Stay Tuned For More Events!

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🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, April 30
Todd Ciprian - Tito’s, 6–9 PM
Yonder Grove - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM

Friday, May 1
Tommy Wheatley - Buck & Board, 6–8 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Scott Southworth & The Honky Tonk Anonymous Band - Puckett’s - 6:30–8 PM
Golden Soul Revue - Grinder’s Switch - 7–9 PM
Scott Burt Big Band Series - Riverwalk Park (Free, bring a chair) - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Covered Wagon - Twisted Copper Brewing Company, 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Vintage Voltage - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM
Lost in Paradise - Puckett’s, 8:30–9:30 PM

Saturday, May 2
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7–9 PM
Writers Round Curated by Lance Carpenter - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
The Zmed Brothers - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Box of Rox - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
TBA - River Terrace, 6–8 PM
Christian Music Nights - Songwriters Round - 104 E. 6th St., 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Sunday, May 3
Breeze Cable - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Fractured Rose - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 4–7 PM

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