NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A cold front ran into very warm air over Tennessee which triggered tornado watches and warnings on Monday.
The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for southeastern Franklin County until 1:30 p.m. and for east central Franklin County until 1 p.m.
A tornado warning expired for southern Coffee County, Grundy County, southwestern Van Buren County, southeastern Warren County and northeastern Franklin County at 12:45 p.m.
The warning for northern Franklin County and Moore County was in effect until 12:30 p.m.
A warning for Cannon County, western DeKalb County and central Rutherford County expired at 12:15 p.m.
Heavy downpours of rain have been reported, but Dean Fleenor at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said there have been no reports of serious damage.
By noon, the watches concerning violent weather had been canceled for all of West Tennessee, except for counties along the Alabama border, which remained under a tornado watch.
In Middle Tennessee, a tornado watch was in effect for the southern Cumberland Plateau, while heavy rain had caused the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for the rest of the region, including the northern plateau.
A tornado watch was in effect up the Tennessee River Valley from Chattanooga through Knoxville and the Tri-Cities.
A tornado warning was issued for east central Bedford County and northern Coffee County until 10:15 a.m. The National Weather Service canceled the warning before it expired.
Tornado warnings for southwestern Hickman County, northwestern Lewis County and central Perry County expired at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
Central Decatur County and southeastern Henderson County were under a warning until 7 a.m.
The areas covered early Monday include most of West Tennessee and the northwestern corner of Middle Tennessee. The watches are in effect until midmorning, but could be extended and moved on eastward as the line of storms moves through.
Weather Warnings/Advisories
Some school systems delayed the start of classes because of the stormy weather.
School Closings
Forecasters with the National Weather Service said there is a moderate risk of severe storms in the state.
Because of the strength of the storm system and the instability in the atmosphere, the main threats will be high winds, hail and tornadoes.
HD Doppler Radar
Temperatures before dawn were in the 70s, but were expected to fall into the lower 30s by late Monday night and early Tuesday.
Forecasts
Tornado watches are in effect until midmorning Monday across a broad area of Kentucky.
A flash flood watch was issued for five counties on the Tennessee border because of heavy downpours of rain. The watch extends from the Land Between the Lakes area to east of Hopkinsville.
The National Weather Services says the safest place to be during a tornado is in a storm shelter. If no storm shelter is available, seek shelter on the lowest floor of the building in an interior hallway or room such as a closet. Use blankets or pillows to cover your body and always stay away from windows.
(The Associated Press Contributed To This Report)
