A series of severe thunderstorms swept across portions of East and Middle Tennessee Thursday afternoon, prompting multiple warnings from the National Weather Service offices in Morristown and Nashville.

At 4:39 PM EDT, a dangerous storm was located 9 miles west of Spring City, moving east at 20 mph. This storm, affecting northeastern Rhea, Meigs, and Bledsoe counties as well as southwestern Roane County, packed ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Communities including Spring City, Rockwood, Grandview, Ten Mile, and Piney Falls State Park were in the path of the storm, which also impacted Interstate 40 between mile markers 341 and 343.

Earlier, at 4:24 PM EDT, another severe thunderstorm developed near Wartburg in Morgan County, heading northeast at 20 mph. The storm threatened parts of central Morgan and southern Scott counties with radar-indicated ping pong ball-sized hail and damaging wind gusts. Areas at risk included Wartburg, Sunbright, Frozen Head State Park, and Robbins.

Meanwhile, at 3:29 PM CDT, forecasters in Nashville issued a warning for a separate storm system targeting northwestern Overton County, Pickett County, northeastern Clay County, and northwestern Fentress County. Moving east at 25 mph, this storm was capable of producing quarter-size hail and 60 mph wind gusts. Locations affected included Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Pall Mall, and Wolf River Dock.

Residents in all affected areas were urged to seek shelter immediately in a sturdy structure away from windows, as these storms were capable of causing significant damage to roofs, trees, siding, and vehicles.