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The deadly tornado that hit a Tennessee county early Tuesday was an EF-4 storm with 175 mph winds, the National Weather Service said Wednesday, and officials lowered the number of missing from 20 to three.

Two tornadoes hit the region: One took aim at parts of Nashville and Wilson and Smith counties, and the second EF-4 was in Putnam county, the weather service said Thursday.

Eighteen of the 24 deaths from the tornado outbreak happened in Putnam County, which is about 60 miles east of Nashville, officials said.

Three people remain unaccounted for, Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said Wednesday evening.

"The good news is, our death count has not risen, we still remain at 18," Porter said at a news conference late Wednesday afternoon.

A second search of damaged areas was expected to be completed by noon Thursday.

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BREAKING...survey update from Putnam Co.:



-EF-4 tornado (175 mph winds)

-18 fatalities, 88 injuries, 3 still missing

-Path and width will be determined in coming days

-First violent tornado in @NWSNashville area since 4/10/2009 — NWS Nashville (@NWSNashville) March 5, 2020

During the search Wednesday, skeletal remains were found but they are not believed to be related to the severe weather, Porter said. The remains appear to have been there for around a year.

All of the 18 dead in Putnam County have been identified, Porter said.

Around 150 to 200 structures in Putnam County suffered damage in Tuesday’s tornado, officials said.