NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — National Weather Service officials say Sunday's line of storms was likely the worst straight-line wind event in Middle Tennessee since 2004.
They say it will likely be considered a d"derecho" which is a line of intense, widespread storms that causes severe wind damage over hundreds of miles.
MORE: Strong storms down trees and power lines across the mid-state
Sunday's storms killed a man Spring Hill when a tree fell on him and caused widespread wind damage across nearly every Middle Tennessee county. NWS officials say it was "likely the worst straight-line wind event across Middle Tennessee since the July 13, 2004 derecho."
Some of the worst damage occurred across the Nashville metro area, where winds between 60-80 mph knocked out power to over 130,000 customers - the worst power outage on record for the city.
Officials said a peak wind gust of 71 mph was measured at the Nashville International Airport, which is the 5th highest on record at that location.
Smith, Dickson, Lewis, Lawrence, Maury, Bedford, and Coffee Counties also saw severe wind damage which included a loss of power for tens of thousands of customers.
