A significant, late-season severe weather and tornado outbreak affected portions of the Southern United States, primarily across the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Tennessee was most affected by the outbreak, with multiple damaging tornadoes touching down, including a high-end EF1 tornado that damaged a National Guard Armory site near Dresden, a long-tracked, intense EF3 tornado that caused heavy damage in northwestern portion of Clarksville, and another strong, long-tracked high-end EF2 tornado that prompted a tornado emergency for the city of Hendersonville.

The tornadoes resulted in a total of seven deaths and injured 71 others, including 61 from the Clarksville tornado alone. The tornado outbreak scored 15 points on the outbreak intensity score, ranking it as a significant tornado outbreak. This system also caused significant winter storm impacts to the Northeastern United States.

Meteorological synopsis

On December 5, the Storm Prediction Center issued a 5-day severe weather risk ahead of predictions that strong convective instability and wind shear would occur across portions of the Southern United States, from east Texas to western Mississippi.

By December 7, a slight risk was posted in a large region from Louisiana to Kentucky. Uncertainties remained over the instability of airmass and the development of low-level flow conducive to tornado-inducing thunderstorms. By the next day, the slight risk was maintained for the same general area, and a 5% risk corridor for tornadoes was introduced for all of the northern sections of the main risk area, extending from extreme eastern Texas, south and southeastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, northwestern Alabama, western and central Tennessee, and southwestern Kentucky. In this outlook, the SPC described the atmosphere and conditions as favorable for severe weather, as convective available potential energy (CAPE) values reached 500 J/kg in the main risk area, favorable low-level wind shear ahead of the expected upper-level trough, and moderate instability were all present to allow for sustained thunderstorm development.

On December 9, the outlook was maintained at slight risk up until 1630 UTC. In this last outlook, the main 5% corridor was enlarged to include portions of extreme northwestern Georgia, most of northern Alabama, and central portions of Tennessee, all the way to the Knoxville vicinity. Elevated dew points reaching 60 °F were expected to be present ahead of the passing of an advancing cold front, which, in combination with the aforementioned factors, created a very favorable atmosphere for severe weather. However, uncertainties in the extent of the tornado threat were still sufficient to avoid a categorical upgrade. The first area of concern that the SPC identified extended from southeastern Arkansas northeastward through portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee into southwestern Kentucky. Within this area, tornadoes and large hail were expected to be the primary hazards with isolated supercells before the damaging wind potential increased as storm coverage increased. The first of what would be eight tornado watches during this event was issued shortly before this outlook, mentioning a moderate (60%) chance for tornadoes, and a low (20%) probability for strong (EF2+) tornadoes.

Confirmed tornadoes

December 9 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, December 9, 2023EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1NNE of Yorkville to S of Sharon to SSE of DresdenGibson, WeakleyTN17:32–18:03This long-tracked tornado was the first one associated with the long-lived Clarksville supercell. The tornado touched down at mid-EF1 intensity as it began snapping hardwood trees. A home was heavily damaged near the beginning of the path and its carport was demolished. Trees next to the home were snapped. As the tornado passed northwest of the town of Rutherford, it ripped the roof and some walls off of two homes. After crossing US 45 to the north of Rutherford, an outbuilding was severely damaged and several hardwood trees were snapped at high-end EF1 intensity. In this area, the tornado also damaged the Gibson County Rescue 9 fire station and flipped a semi-truck and a van. After continuing to the northeast, the tornado continued damaging multiple homes, tearing roofs off and snapping hardwood trees for several miles. The tornado then entered the community of Kimery at low-to-mid EF1 intensity, damaging several structures. After exiting Kimery, the tornado passed south of Sharon, where it reached its peak intensity as it snapped several wooden utility poles and hardwood trees with winds estimated at . As the tornado passed south of Dresden, it maintained EF1 intensity and caused a stretch of concentrated damage along Summers Road. A double-wide mobile home was rolled off its foundation, injuring two people inside. Several homes and businesses were damaged before the tornado struck the National Guard Armory on SR 22, causing minor damage. The tornado dissipated soon after impacting the armory. In total, the tornado injured three people. EF1Indian Mound to S of Fort CampbellStewart, MontgomeryTN19:19–19:32This tornado, which was the second one associated with the long-lived Clarksville supercell, touched down just east of the Cumberland River at EF1 intensity, snapping several hardwood trees and causing minor damage to a home. The tornado began moving northeast towards the community of Indian Mound, snapping dozens of trees and uprooting several others. As the tornado entered Indian Mound, it damaged several structures, including a church overhang awning, greenhouses, barns, and outbuildings. On the northeastern side of Indian Mound, the tornado reached its peak intensity as it snapped several hardwood trees at high-end EF1 intensity with winds estimated at . For several miles, the tornado crossed and/or paralleled Gillum Hollow Road, where it struck dozens of structures and snapped or uprooted dozens of trees at EF1 intensity. The tornado lifted close to US 79. EF3Northern Clarksville, TN to Southern Allensville, KY to SE of Auburn, KYMontgomery (TN), Todd (KY), Logan (KY), Simpson (KY)TN, KY19:41–20:494 deaths – See article on this tornado – 62 people were injured. EF1Southern Bowling GreenWarrenKY21:07–21:13This tornado destroyed a greenhouse, inflicted roof and siding damage to numerous homes, two metal warehouses, and a hotel, and snapped or uprooted trees. The last produced by the Clarksville supercell, the tornado maintained low-EF1 intensity though most of its track, damaging several structures. Winds were estimated to be . The tornado tracked just south of the path of the deadly EF3 tornado nearly two years earlier. EF2N of Cumberland FurnaceDicksonTN21:29–21:39A strong tornado developed over a rural area before eventually striking multiple residences, toppling exterior walls and demolishing a double-wide mobile home. Two people were injured. EF2N of White Bluff to WNW of NashvilleDickson, Cheatham, DavidsonTN22:03–22:27This strong tornado, the first associated with the Hendersonville supercell, touched down in eastern Dickson County, snapping and uprooting several trees and destroying an outbuilding. It quickly intensified to low-end EF2 strength as it demolished a single story manufactured home. It then minorly damaged high-tension power lines and continued to snap large trees as it moved into Cheatham County. Uprooted trees and minor roof damage occurred in the Griffintown area of Cheatham County. Sporadic tree damage was noted as it moved into the Cheatham Wildlife Management Area. It strengthened once more, causing severe structural damage to homes along Dry Creek Road south of Ashland City. It then crossed into Davidson County, crossing the Cumberland River, where additional homes sustained damage before it dissipated. EF2Southern SpringfieldRobertsonTN22:16–22:25The tornado, which was produced by the same storm that spawned the Cumberland Furnace EF2 tornado, touched down next to the NorthCrest Medical Center and began moving to the northeast, where it caused minor damage to several homes. It snapped or uprooted several softwood trees in this area. As it crossed US 41, it quickly strengthened as it struck several businesses, causing low-end EF2 damage to five businesses and high-end EF1 damage to several others. A large Kroger store sustained mid-EF1 damage from the tornado, and 25 vehicles in the parking lot were flipped by the tornado, with some being thrown into a nearby ditch. The tornado reached its peak intensity after striking the Kroger as it impacted the Burley Stabilization Corporation (BSC) building, which was destroyed, with winds estimated at . The National Weather Service noted the support columns holding the warehouse-like building up had grade 5 bolts anchoring them. EF1 damage occurred to nearby businesses and a metal utility pole was bent. It then weakened as it entered a subdivision along Greystone Drive, where it caused only minor damage to a few homes. After impacting the subdivision, the tornado strengthened back to EF1 intensity as it struck a few homes and vehicles along Roy Pitt Road. The tornado dissipated near Oakland Road and SR 76. In total, the tornado injured four people. EF2WSW of Madison to Hendersonville to NW of HartsvilleDavidson, Sumner, TrousdaleTN22:39–23:313 deaths – See article on this tornado – 22 people were injured. EF1SE of Gamaliel, KYClay (TN), Monroe (KY)TN, KY00:07–00:11This brief tornado was the last one produced by the Hendersonville supercell. A home had its porch destroyed, numerous trees were blown down, and chicken barns were damaged. EF0N of Braxton to S of PuckettSimpson, RankinMS03:18–03:35This tornado, which closely straddled the Simpson-Rankin county line, damaged trees, one of which was toppled onto power lines. EF0W of RaleighSmithMS03:44–03:49This tornado developed soon after the previous one occluded, causing damage to trees and vegetation, one of which included a fallen tree, which fell onto a house. EF1NNW of Montrose to EnterpriseJasper, ClarkeMS04:04–04:42This small but long-lived tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees in its path. The tornado then crossed into Clarke County, passing near Enterprise, where both trees and power lines were downed before it dissipated. The path was inaccessible at certain points due to the lack of roads.

December 10 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, December 10, 2023EF#LocationCounty / ParishStateStart Coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax width EF1HomewoodJeffersonAL06:09–06:12A tornado embedded within a larger area of straight-line wind damage heavily damaged a five-story office building, blowing out the windows, and heavily damaged a tire business. Two hotels, several stores, and a few apartment buildings sustained roof damage, a hotel sign was blown out, and a vehicle was flipped. Much of the path consisted of many snapped or uprooted trees falling on homes, vehicles, and power lines. The tornado dissipated near Samford University. EF1Homewood to Mountain BrookJeffersonAL06:13–06:15A second tornado embedded within a larger area of straight-line wind damage developed just east of Samford University, and moved across US 31 and US 280 near Brookwood Village. Numerous trees were downed, with several falling on homes and power lines. EF0N of Clopton to S of BakerhillBarbour, HenryAL07:19–07:37Sporadic tree damage was observed, and a chicken farm was damaged. EF0SSE of AuburnLeeAL10:36–10:39This brief tornado caused roof damage to one home, and minor tree damage along its path. EF1NE of Westville to NNE of CaryvilleHolmesFL11:30–11:37This tornado remained over rural areas, snapping numerous trees and tree branches along its path. EF1GarnerWakeNC17:28–17:32A high-end EF1 tornado snapped and uprooted dozens of trees, some of which damaged homes, and tossed lawn furniture.