FACT CHECK: Did A Tornado Strike Knoxville, TN On Feb. 15?
A video shared on Facebook purports to show a “portal” inside a tornado that purportedly struck Knoxville, Tennessee on Feb. 15.
Screenshot captured via Facebook
Verdict: False
The video originally stems from TikTok, where it was shared by user @incognitogamingtv. The same user’s Instagram account identifies itself as a “video creator,” which suggests its content is not real.
Fact Check:
A truck that was carrying propane crashed in Knox County, Tennessee on Feb. 25, prompting a one-mile evacuation notice, according to local outlet WVLT. The local fire department responded to the incident, the outlet reported.
The Facebook video purports to show a “portal” inside a tornado that purportedly struck Knoxville, Tennessee on Feb. 15. What appears to be a large, dark tornado funnel can be seen above a house in the video. “Portal Inside of Tornado!!??,” the video’s caption reads. Likewise, the video bears a label reading, “N-Cog.”
The claim is false. Check Your Fact performed a keyword search using the term “N-Cog” and found the video shared to the TikTok account, @incognitogamingtv, where it has received over 200,000 likes as of writing. The TikTok user’s profile includes its Instagram username, and similar content can be found on that account. The account also identifies itself as a “video creator,” which suggests its content is not real.
@incognitogamingtv PORTAL INSIDE OF TORNADO!!?? 2/15/2025 KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE!!! THOUGHTS? #portal #ufo #tornado #fyp #foryoupage #scary #2025 #viralvideo #trending ♬ original sound – cbsnews
Additionally, Check Your Fact did not find any recent credible news reports suggesting a tornado had occurred in Knoxville on Feb. 15. In fact, the opposite is true. On Feb. 21, USA Today debunked the claim. According to the outlet, National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Reagan denied the claim’s validity.
Although the claim is false, a “possible tornado” struck Tennessee near Knoxville, killing at least two people and injuring three others on Feb. 7, according to NBC News. (RELATED: Is Pope Francis Resigning Due To Health Issues As Of Feb. 21?)
This is not the first time a false claim has circulated online. Check Your Fact previously debunked a Facebook post claiming the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) purportedly paid former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd $1 million.
