Tornado rips through Jackson, Tennessee, damaging warehouse and airport area
A tornado touched down near Jackson, Tennessee, on May 20, 2025, ripping the roof off a warehouse and damaging infrastructure near the Jackson Regional Airport. The event was part of a larger outbreak that produced multiple tornadoes across Tennessee.
Tornado near Jackson Airport on May 20, 2025. Credit: Bobby Smith
Multiple tornadoes were reported across the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys on May 20, with confirmed sightings from Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), at least 13 tornadoes were reported across four states by 11:02 UTC on May 21. The SPC received two tornado reports from Arkansas, three from Tennessee and Alabama each, and five from Illinois.
A large tornado touched down near Jackson, Tennessee, with damage being reported along the I-40, McKellar Airport, and the Jackson Regional Airport.
Visuals of the tornado showed debris flying through the air as it tore through the area. The tornado ripped off the roof of the Kirkland warehouse on Smith Lane, just east of Jackson in Madison County.
Multiple tornado warnings and watches were issued across Tennessee on May 20. Jackson-Madison County Emergency Management confirmed that safe rooms at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport were opened to provide shelter during the storm.
Jackson tn moments ago as it touched down near the Jackson regional airport pic.twitter.com/5sBbuR5Wsv
— Bobby Smith (@BobbySmith89536) May 20, 2025
Two tornadoes were reported in Montgomery County’s Clarksville and Fredonia, while one was reported near Hohenwald in Lewis County.
The tornado near Hohenwald reportedly touched down at around 14:59 local time, just north of the city, and was confirmed by radar.
The Clarksville tornado touched down around 17:51 LT on May 20, with visuals showing a massive gray cloud moving north-northwest of the area. Meanwhile, the Fredonia tornado touched down at around 17:58 LT, just west of I-24 near SR-76 and highway-41A. Both tornadoes were confirmed via radar with debris signatures.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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