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New details on two tornadoes in Friday's storms

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Posted: Sun 3:12 PM, May 10, 2009

UPDATED 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 10 (WVLT) -- The National Weather Service in Morristown released more information on the second confirmed tornado from Friday's storms.

The two confirmed affected counties are Scott and Claiborne, but Weather Service officials are working to confirm other possible tornadoes.

An EF2 tornado also caused damage in Scott County, with maximum wind speeds of 135 miles an hour.

It occurred around five miles Southeast of Huntsville. It initially touched down just West of the Fairview Community, with a maximum wind speed of 90 miles per hour (which is an EF1), and with a width of 100 yards.

The tornado continued in an East path and increased in size and intensity to an EF2, with a maximum wind speed of 135 miles per hour and a width of 200 yards.

Several large trees were snapped off, near trunk level, and a free standing cell phone tower was collapsed and twisted by the winds.

Extensive damage occurred in a concentrated path, at least 80 yards in length at the EF2 level.

The tornado continued its East movement and finally weakened to an EF1, as it dissipated at the foothill of Gray Mountain.

At least seven homes suffered minor to moderate wind damage along the 4.5 miles path of the tornado in Scott County.

Read on for details from the National Weather Service about the Claiborn County tornado. And Volunteer TV and VolunteerTV.com will continue to update you, as more information is available about other possible tornadoes.
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UPDATED 11:00 p.m. Saturday, May 9 (WVLT) -- The National Weather Service tells Volunteer TV that they have also confirmed an EF2 tornado in Scott County, Tennessee. Details of that storm will soon be available from the NWS, and VolunteerTV.com will bring that information as soon as it becomes available.

The National Weather Service in Morristown is also looking into possible tornadoes in Grainger, Monroe, and Sullivan Counties.

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WVLT PINPOINT 8 WEATHER CENTER -- The National Weather Service in Morristown has completed an assessment of the damage that occurred in Southwest Claiborne County on Friday Afternoon.

It was determined that an EF2 tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 110 miles an hour, occurred around 5 miles Southwest of Tazewell.

The tornado initially touched down along Cole Road and quickly produced 110 mile per hour winds.

It lifted the roof off of a home along Cole Road, moved East across the road and destroyed 2 large wood barns, carrying debris up to a half of a mile away. Several trees were also snapped in half.

The tornado continued in a 2.2 mile path before finally breaking up.


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