Tennessee tornado triggers large explosion and fireball at power substation

Devastating tornadoes in Tennessee, including an EF3 in Clarksville and an EF2 in Madison, claimed six lives on December 9, 2023, and caused a major power station explosion in Nashville, leaving thousands without power.

The Nashville Electric Service (NES) reported a dramatic explosion at their North substation located in Madison. This explosion, which was caused by the tornado impacting the substation’s control building and internal structure, led to widespread power outages. Initially, the power disruptions affected approximately 45 000 customers. More than 4 000 customers remained without electricity days after the event.

The hardest-hit areas included Madison, Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, Saundersville Road, and the vicinity of Old Hickory Lake. NES disclosed that the storm broke at least 150 poles, complicating restoration efforts. The repair work was further challenged by freezing temperatures, but NES teams were committed to working continuously to fix the damaged substations and transmission systems.

Featured image credit: Phillip Lee Dixon (stillshot)