Tornado unleashes catastrophic damage in Selmer, Tennessee, as 4 deaths reported across state

SELMER, Tenn. – The tiny Tennessee municipality of Selmer awoke connected Thursday to scenes of utter devastation, the aftermath of a brutal tornado that pulverized homes into piles of debris.

Radar painted a terrifying representation of the monolithic and deadly tempest that struck soon aft midnight, extinguishing the lights and unleashing catastrophic harm that present scars the community. Nighttime tornadoes, statistically the deadliest, struck the municipality with devastating force.

TORNADO OUTBREAK KILLS 3 IN TENNESSEE, INJURES DOZENS IN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AS STATES OF EMERGENCY DECLARED

Selmer, Tennessee, sustained extended harm aft being struck by a tornado aboriginal Thursday morning.

(Petramala/WxChasing)

Adding to the tragedy, the Tennessee Health Department has confirmed astatine slightest 2 deaths successful the state, with 1 occurring successful McNairy County, wherever Selmer bore the brunt of the storm, and different successful Obion County. 

Two different deaths were confirmed by FOX Weather to person occurred successful Fayette County, involving a 48-year-old begetter and his 16-year-old girl aft their modular location was struck by a tornado.

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Before the sun roseate successful Selmer connected Thursday, video obtained by FOX Weather showed roofs and exterior walls wholly torn apart, with what appeared to beryllium a multi-story flat analyzable suffering extended damage. Cars were besides tossed astir similar toys.

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One nonmigratory told FOX 13 successful Memphis that helium was fortunate to beryllium live aft waking to the dependable of the tornado and utilizing his mattress to instrumentality cover. 

"It came done existent fast," Sammy told FOX 13 successful Memphis. "When I got up and looked astatine everything, it was bad. Everything was conscionable gone."

Lightning chopped done the acheronian aboriginal Thursday greeting successful Selmer, Tennessee, revealing dense tempest clouds.

(Genny Borden)

The destructive tornado outbreak unfolded Wednesday, spawning aggregate tornadoes from Kansas to Kentucky. The storms besides produced precise ample hail and utmost wind gusts. 

Highlighting the severity, the severe weather lawsuit was categorized arsenic a uncommon Level 5 retired of 5 "high risk" – lone the 2nd specified designation this twelvemonth and the archetypal clip since 2021 with aggregate Level-5 days. 

As the storms intensified, they generated respective much tornadoes and wide damaging winds. Notably, a tornado adjacent Lake City, Arkansas, approached the way of the devastating EF-4 from December 2021. 

Massive tornado spotted successful Arkansas

FOX Weather exclusive Storm Tracker Brandon Copic captured video of a monstrous tornado connected the crushed adjacent Lake City, Arkansas, connected Wednesday.

The southeastern Missouri and occidental Kentucky portion reported astatine slightest a twelve tornadoes (though the nonstop fig of unsocial events is inactive being determined). Tornadoes were besides reported successful parts of Indiana and bluish Kentucky.