Power Outage in Germantown, TN

Power poles and power lines were knocked down on Riverdale Road and on Houston Levee Road.

NWS meteorologists determined that straight-line winds impacted portions of southern and southeast Shelby County on the evening of March 31. Strong winds developed in the forward flank downdraft of a supercell thunderstorm and caused considerable tree damage and downed power lines in the area. Peak winds were estimated at 85 mph. A tree fell on a house near the Memphis International Airport resulting in the 3 fatalities.

Large tree and power lines downed near the intersection of Riverdale Road and Oak Run Drive.

Trees and power-lines down countywide. Several of them on cars. Many buildings damaged by falling trees. Over 180,000 people without power.

Straight line winds knocked some trees down in Germantown and Collierville. A power line was knocked down and a traffic signal was damaged in Collierville.

Straight line winds knocked down many trees and power lines across Memphis. Three trees fell onto a couple of vehicles. In addition, several trees fell on houses, especially near the University of Memphis and nearby Sherwood Forest neighborhood. Major damage occurred to a home on Philwood Avenue. Three traffic lights were damaged.

Straight line winds knocked down numerous trees and power lines across Shelby County. Several roads were blocked. The dugout roof of the Bartlett Baptist Church ball field was blown about 40 feet. The traffic signal was knocked down at the intersection of Danny Thomas and Washington. A very large oak tree was knocked on to a house about one half mile south of the Memphis Botanic Gardens. Two neighboring homes also suffered moderate damage.

Straight line winds knocked down numerous trees and power lines in Germantown. A railroad crossing arm was blown away and wrapped around a power pole at Hacks Cross Road and Poplar Pike.

A tornado continued northeast from DeSoto County, Mississippi. After the tornado crossed into Tennessee, several warehouses sustained damage. The DSC warehouse near Clarke Road was struck causing EF-2 damage. Three people were killed inside the warehouse. Hardy Bottling Company sustained substantial damage as well. Tractor-trailers were tossed about in the area. Windows were shattered in the Willow Lake Business Park and utility poles and trees were snapped in the area. A utility substation sustained severe damage along Clarke Road causing major power outages in the area. The tornado then continued northeast and struck homes along Maple Tree Drive and Pinbranch Court. Five homes received major damage and had to be condemned. Other homes sustained roof damage. The tornado continued northeast and struck the Hickory Ridge Mall causing a wall to collapse at the Sears Department Store. Six injuries occurred at the mall. This damage was estimated at EF-1. The tornado then struck a Taco Bell along Winchester Road before lifting. Thirteen people in all were transported to an area hospital due to injuries sustained from the tornado.

Straight line winds knocked a railroad crossing arm down on a power line at Poplar Avenue and Mendenhall Road. In addition, a power line was knocked down at Walnut Grove Road at Baptist East Hospital.