RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — In the midst of cold weather across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky this month, it’s hard to believe that 28 years ago a winter tornado outbreak occurred and injured 31 people.
That outbreak included what was known as “the Barfield tornado” in Rutherford County.
On Jan. 24, 1997, seven tornadoes struck and affected Rutherford, Wilson, Marshall, Bedford, Cannon, DeKalb, Smith, Putnam and Sumner counties. By far the strongest was just south of Murfreesboro in the Barfield community, which was confirmed as an F4 with winds recorded up to 260 miles per hour. The tornado was rated before the implementation of the EF scale.
Six homes were totally destroyed in the Barfield area was west of Highway 231 in the Southridge subdivision. The tornado also struck a large apartment complex west of Highway 231. The tornado continued across Highway 231 Interstate 24 before lifting. A total of 44 homes were destroyed and another 48 were damaged.
No one was killed, though 18 people were injured. The devastation of the Barfield Tornado serves as a reminder that winter tornadoes sometimes occur, so everyone should be prepared year-round.
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