A powerful and deadly storm crossing Middle Tennessee spawned a tornado that swept through Nashville early in the morning on Tuesday, cutting a strip of destruction that crossed the city for miles.

Two people in East Nashville were killed in the storm, according to Nashville police.

The extent of the storm’s physical damage was discordant – even before sunrise Tuesday morning – and forecasters said more storms could occur.

At least 40 structures have collapsed around the city, according to the Nashville Fire Department. In addition, windows were blown and power lines were torn down in an area that stretched from the Germantown neighborhood, north of downtown, in the Five Points area of ​​East Nashville and more than 30 kilometers east of Mt. Juliet.

Officials rushed to open emergency shelters around the metropolitan area as emergency sirens continued to moan and the smell of natural gas persisted in the air.

NWS: More storms are underway

Although the tornado has passed, the National Weather Service warns that there could be more bad weather ahead. Storms are expected until 5 am, said Faith Borden, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Nashville.

“There are more storms crossing the Tennessee River, (so we) can’t say we are out of the woods,” said Borden. “There are also rapidly rising cracks. We ask people to beware.”

The agency advises people to stay put if they can.

“If you are in an area that is not damaged, we advise you not to travel and be alert for the next wave of storms,” ​​said Borden.

At 2:45 a.m., approximately 24,000 Nashville Electric Service customers were without power in the city.

Damage reports

In East Nashville, Main Street was closed after the storm and covered with half-fallen trees and other debris.

Part of a building had collapsed on Fifth Street and Main Street.

Water was flowing from the lights of a building on Main and Ninth streets. The power lines were down and the glass covered the floor. A truck was on the nearby side.

Residents of Stacks On Main on Main Street near the Nissan stadium reported that their windows were shattered during high winds, sending shards of glass throughout their apartment, as well as minor flooding.

Buildings in the area have experienced power outages. The apartment complexes off Main Street had siding, concrete slabs and other building materials torn from the structures.

Damaged homes have been reported in East Nashville and Donelson.

Police are blocking northbound lanes on Cockrill Bend Boulevard and westbound lanes on the centennial, said Lt. John Wheeler, with the Metro Nashville Police Service.

“Right now, we have multiple power lines in both directions on Centennial Boulevard, which blocks the roads,” said Wheeler.

Police and firefighters work to get to John C. Tune Airport. Damage has been reported, but no injuries confirmed to date. Wheeler said that “everyone at the airport, as far as we know, is fine at the moment. We asked them to take shelter there until we can reach them.”

The storm also caused damage in Wilson County.

In Mt. Juliette, emergency personnel continue to assess the damage, said Tyler Chandler, a spokesperson for Mt. Juliette Police Department. Homes have been damaged around Central Pike, Triple Crown, Clearview, Old Lebanon Dirt Road and Pleasant Grove Road, said Chandler.

Injuries were also reported and officers knocked on the doors on foot.

Gas lines are leaking and power lines are down, Chandler said.

Mt. Juliet Road is closed from Old Lebanon Dirt Road to Interstate 40.

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