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2015 Featured Fewest Tenn. Tornadoes Since 2007

Posted at 10:37 AM, Jan 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-07 11:37:17-05

The National Weather Service said 2015 featured the worst Cumberland Plateau ice storm in state history and the fewest Tennessee tornadoes since 2007.

Thousands of trees and power lines were knocked down in the February storms, blocking many roads including Interstate 40. More than 35,000 people lost power, some for up to a month. Officials said the icy weather was to blame for 21 deaths around the state, including 11 from hypothermia.

Despite the winter storms, the average temperature of 61.2 degrees in Nashville made it the 14th warmest year since record keeping began in 1870. The city's hottest day was August 4, when it was 97 degrees. January 8 was the coldest day at 4 degrees.

Nineteen tornadoes occurred in 2015, including only three during the peak spring season.