Archive for April 30th, 2011
Alabama Now Deadliest State for Tornadoes
Some years ago while working at the Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) Birmingham office, I started keeping up with tornado deaths in the United States by state. The reason for assembling that information was twofold – first, I could not find any such statistics on the topic; and second, I got the question posed to me as to where Alabama stood in relation to other states.
So I set about gathering the information which was no small task going through the data from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC). The result was a graph I often show when doing severe weather safety presentations to underscore the importance of knowing what to do. When I got the data assembled, I was not surprised to see that Texas was the number one state for tornado deaths. Second and third went to Mississippi and Alabama – again, not really a surprise.
What probably was the most surprising fact was to see that over half of the top 15 states in tornado deaths were located in the Southeast US. We hear so much about “tornado alley,” a term I hate to hear, so you would expect many of the top 15 states to be in that area. But the data proved that was not true.
Unfortunately with the tornado events of last Wednesday, Alabama has leaped from number 3 to number 1, and by no slim margin. The top five states in tornado deaths are now ranked like this:
| Rank | State | Deaths |
| 1. | Alabama | 625 |
| 2. | Texas | 537 |
| 3. | Mississippi | 452 |
| 4. | Alrkansas | 370 |
| 5. | Tennessee | 344 |
These number may change slightly as the official surveys are completed and the death toll is finalized. All of these numbers are the latest that I could find from the various NWS offices affected over the last month or so. They also represent data since 1950.
These are not the kind of numbers which promote living in Alabama, of course. But they do emphasize the importance of understanding the weather dangers we face and the need to be aware and prepared when severe weather threatens.
-Brian-
Hackleburg Tornado Rated EF-5
NOUS44 KBMX 302306
PNSBMX
ALZ011>015-017>050-010600-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
605 PM CDT SAT APR 30 2011
…UPDATED FOR INCREASE IN HACKLEBURG TORNADO RATING TO EF-5…
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WILL CONTINUE THE ASSESSMENT
OF STORM DAMAGE FROM A TRAGICALLY HISTORIC DAY OF TORNADIC ACTIVITY
AND SEVERE WEATHER ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 27TH. A
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STORM DAMAGE EXPERT WILL CONTINUE ASSISTING US
IN EXAMINING THE LOCATIONS OF THE MOST EXTREME DAMAGE TO ENSURE WE
PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THIS EVENT AS POSSIBLE.
…SURVEY RESULTS TO DATE…
…EVENT OVERVIEW…
THERE WERE TWO WAVES OF WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER. THE FIRST MOVED
THROUGH DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA PRODUCING WIDESPREAD DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS
AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE SECOND WAVE INVOLVED NUMEROUS SUPERCELL
THUNDERSTORMS AND PRODUCED LONG LIVED…STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES
ACROSS THE NORTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA…WITH WIDESPREAD
AND CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. AT THIS TIME ALL
RATINGS ARE PRELIMINARY.
TORNADO 1…COALING TORNADO (TUSCALOOSA/JEFFERSON COUNTIES)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-3 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): UP TO 155
INJURIES/FATALITIES: UNKNOWN.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 33.163/-87.3716 AT 517 AM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 33.296/-87.0594 AT 535 AM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 18.3 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: 200 YARDS
NOTE: ADDITIONAL DATA WILL BE ADDED AS INFORMATION COMES IN.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE ACROSS
EASTERN TUSCALOOSA AND FAR SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTIES. IT HAS
BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADO. WINDS
WERE ESTIMATED AROUND 155 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST
SOUTHWEST OF COALING OFF STAGHORNE DRIVE. TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED IN
THIS AREA. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED NORTHEAST PARALLEL TO INTERSTATE
20/59 WHERE SEVERAL HOMES SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND A FEW
WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. TORNADO DAMAGE HERE WAS CONSISTENT WITH
EF-3 DAMAGE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST WHERE THE MERCEDES
PLANT SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE AND POWER POLES WERE BLOWN DOWN…ALONG
WITH NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO SNAP TREES AS
IT MOVED NORTHEAST INTO FAR SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY WHERE IT
ENDED AT OLD TUSCALOOSA HIGHWAY AND LOWETOWN ROAD. MAX WINDS WERE
ESTIMATED UP TO 155 MPH AND WAS 200 YARDS AT ITS WIDEST POINT.
TORNADO 2…HACKLEBURG TORNADO (MARION COUNTY)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-5 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 200
INJURIES/FATALITIES: AT LEAST 25 FATALITIES. NUMEROUS INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 34.0880/-88.1328 AT 305 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 34.3109/-87.7858 AT 328 PM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 25.2 MILES IN MARION COUNTY
DAMAGE WIDTH: 3/4 MILE
NOTE: CONTINUED INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE ACROSS MARION
COUNTY IMPACTING THE HACKLEBURG AREA. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A VIOLENT TORNADO. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED
UP TO 200 MPH. THE TORNADO APPEARED TO TOUCHDOWN SOUTHWEST OF
HAMILTON NEAR HIGHWAY 19 AND COUNTY ROAD 22. TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED
IN THIS AREA. THE TORNADO WIDENED CONSIDERABLY AND BECAME DEADLY AS
IT MOVED ALONG HIGHWAY 43 SOUTHWEST OF HACKLEBURG. THE TORNADO MOVED
INTO HACKLEBURG WHERE SEVERAL SUBDIVISIONS WERE DESTROYED. THE
HACKLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WRANGLER PLANT WERE DESTROYED. THE
TORNADO MOVED NORTHEAST AND GENERALLY PARALLELED HIGHWAY 43 AND
MOVED TOWARD PHIL CAMPBELL WHERE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE CONTINUED. ALONG
THE DAMAGE PATH, THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE DOWNED…SEVERAL HUNDRED
STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED, AT LEAST 100 OF THESE STRUCTURES WERE
COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS MANY HOMES WERE LEVELED.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS…ALONG WITH THE FOREMOST
EXPERT IN STORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENT REVIEWED THE DAMAGE IN HACKLEBURG
IN MARION COUNTY. THE MAIN INDICATORS OF HACKLEBURG HAVING EF-5
DAMAGE IS THE TOSSING OF VEHICLES UPWARDS OF 150-200 YARDS…ONE
WELL BUILT HOME WITH 4 SIDES BRICK WAS COMPLETELY LEVELED AND THE
DEBRIS FROM THE HOME WAS TOSSED TO THE NORTH OVER 40 YARDS…AND
THERE WAS LARGE AMOUNTS OF WIND ROWING…THE STREWING OF BUILDING
MATERIALS IN STRAIGHT LINES…AROUND THE CITY OF HACKLEBURG.
TORNADO 3…SHOTSVILLE TORNADO (MARION COUNTY)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-3 TORNADO OR POTENTIALLY HIGHER (FURTHER EVALUATION
UNDERWAY)
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): AROUND 140
INJURIES/FATALITIES: AT LEAST 6 FATALITIES, SEVERAL INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 34.1579/-88.1847 AT 357 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 34.3129/-87.9231 AT 420 PM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 19.1 MILES IN MARION COUNTY
DAMAGE WIDTH: 3/4 MILE
NOTE: STARTED IN MISSISSIPPI AND CONTINUED INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED ACROSS MARION
COUNTY IMPACTING THE SHOTSVILLE AREA. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT
THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADO. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED
AROUND 140 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOMEWHERE IN MISSISSIPPI
AND WILL NEED TO BE DETERMINED BY THE NWS IN MEMPHIS, TN. THE
TORNADO MOVED INTO MARION COUNTY NEAR COUNTY ROAD 93 AND DRY CREEK
ROAD. A FEW STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED AND NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED
OFF AND UPROOTED IN THIS AREA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD
AND CROSSED HIGHWAY 78/I-22 WEST OF HAMILTON NEAR THE BEXAR
COMMUNITY. THE TORNADO STRENGTHENED TO EF3 INTENSITY AS IT CROSSED
HIGHWAY 19 AND COUNTY ROAD 20 WHERE SEVERAL HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND
AT LEAST 6 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED ACROSS
HIGHWAY 187 NEAR THE FRANKLIN COUNTY LINE. ALONG THE DAMAGE PATH…
HUNDREDS OF TREES WERE DOWNED…AT LEAST 25 HOMES, MOBILE HOMES AND
OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. AT LEAST FIVE OF THESE
STRUCTURES WERE COMPLETELY OBLITERATED. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER
EVALUATION DONE ON THE WORST DAMAGE POINTS THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO
DETERMINE IF THE RATING NEEDS TO BE INCREASED. THE DAMAGE PATH IN
MARION COUNTY WAS 19.1 MILES LONG AND WAS 3/4 OF MILE WIDE AT ITS
WIDEST POINT.
TORNADO 4…PRELIMINARY TUSCALOOSA/BIRMINGHAM TORNADO TRACK…
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: AT LEAST EF-4
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): AT LEAST 165
INJURIES/FATALITIES: AT LEAST 65 FATALITIES. OVER 1000 INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 33.0297/-87.935 AT 443 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 33.6311/-86.7436 AT 614 PM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): APPROXIMATELY 80.3 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: 1.5 MILES CROSSING I-65
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS HAVE BEGUN SURVEYING THE
MASSIVE DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LONG TRACK TORNADO…BY GROUND
AND AIR. THE START POINT IS BASED ON AERIAL SURVEY…WHILE THE END
LOCATION WAS DETERMINED BY A GROUND CREW. THUS FAR…DETAILED DAMAGE
INSPECTION HAS REVEALED A MAXIMUM OF EF-4 DAMAGE IN THE PLEASANT
GROVE. CASUALTY INFORMATION IS BASED ON THE LATEST OFFICIAL RELEASES
FROM THE ALABAMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. THIS TORNADO WAS
PRODUCED BY A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM THAT BEGAN IN NEWTON COUNTY
MISSISSIPPI AT 254 PM CDT…FINALLY DISSIPATING IN MACON COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA AT APPROXIMATELY 1018 PM CDT. SO…THIS SUPERCELL
EXISTED FOR ABOUT 7 HOURS AND 24 MINUTES…TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY
380 MILES PRODUCING SEVERAL STRONG TO VIOLENT TORNADOES ALONG THE
WAY. ADDITIONAL EVALUATION OF THE DAMAGE IN TUSCALOOSA AND JEFFERSON
COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TODAY TO DETERMINE IF THE RATING NEEDS TO BE
INCREASED. RESULTS WILL BE UPDATED WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
TORNADO 5…HALEYVILLE (MARION/WINSTON COUNTIES)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-3 TORNADO OR POTENTIALLY HIGHER (FURTHER EVALUATION
UNDERWAY)
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): AROUND 140
INJURIES/FATALITIES: AT LEAST 10 INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 34.0289/-87.9421 AT 510 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 34.3057/-87.4973 AT 551 PM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 31.8 MILES
DAMAGE WIDTH: 3/4 MILE
NOTE: MAY HAVE CONTINUED INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED DAMAGE ACROSS MARION
AND WINSTON COUNTIES IMPACTING THE PEA RIDGE, WHITEHOUSE, THORNHILL
AND HALEYVILLE AREAS. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS
CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADO. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AROUND 140
MPH WITH ADDITIONAL EVALUATION UNDERWAY. THE TORNADO APPEARED TO
TOUCHDOWN SOUTH OF HAMILTON NEAR HIGHWAY 278, COUNTY ROAD 2 AND
PHILADELPHIA ROAD WHERE TREE DAMAGE WAS NOTED. THE TORNADO TRACKED
NORTHEASTWARD AND STRENGTHENED NEAR THE PEA RIDGE AND WHITEHOUSE
COMMUNITIES. SEVERAL HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE
INJURED. THE TORNADO PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE INTO THE
THORNHILL COMMUNITY AND SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF HALEYVILLE
THE WINSTON FURNITURE COMPANY AND FONTAINE TRAILER COMPANY SUFFERED
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. MANY HOMES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED OR WERE
DESTROYED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO PRODUCE TREE DAMAGE AS IT
ENTERED THE FOREST AREA IN NORTHERN WINSTON COUNTY. IT APPEARED THE
TORNADO MAY HAVE CONTINUED INTO THE TENNESSEE VALLEY.
TORNADO 6…SAWYERVILLE/EOLINE TORNADO (GREENE/HALE/BIBB COUNTIES)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-3 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): AROUND 145
INJURIES/FATALITIES: AT LEAST 7 FATALITIES, 50 INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 32.6211/-88.0462 AT 530 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 33.1443/-86.9998 AT 655 PM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 71.3 MILES
WIDTH: 1 MILE
NOTE: STARTED NEAR THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER IN SOUTHWEST GREENE COUNTY
AND CONTINUED INTO NORTHEAST BIBB COUNTY. THIS TRACK MAY NEED TO
EXTENDED INTO SHELBY COUNTY AFTER FURTHER SURVEYS ARE COMPLETED.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED MULTIPLE TRACKS
ACROSS GREENE…HALE AND BIBB COUNTIES. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT
THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADO. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN
IN FAR SOUTHWEST GREENE COUNTY NEAR THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER JUST WEST OF
TISHABEE ON COUNTY ROAD 69 NEAR HEAD DRIVE…AND HEADED NORTHEAST
ACROSS RURAL GREENE COUNTY NORTH OF FORKLAND. AT LEAST 4 MOBILE
HOMES…3 OUTBUILDING…AND 2 CHURCHES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED
ALONG WITH NUMEROUS TREES. 2 MINOR INJURIES WERE NOTED IN GREENE
COUNTY. THE TRACK STARTED AS AN EF-1 BUT INCREASED TO AN EF-2 RATING
WHILE IN GREENE COUNTY. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED THE BLACK WARRIOR
RIVER AND MOVED INTO HALE COUNTY PASSING THROUGH SAWYERVILLE AND
NORTHEAST INTO THE TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST. NUMEROUS MOBILE HOMES
AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES…1 CHURCH…AND COUNTLESS TREES WERE
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THERE WERE 40 INJURIES AND 6 FATALITIES ACROSS
HALE COUNTY. THE TRACK INCREASED FROM AN EF-2 TO AN EF-3 WHILE IN
HALE COUNTY JUST NORTHEAST OF SAWYERVILLE. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED
INTO SOUTHWEST BIBB COUNTY IN THE TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST AND
MOVED NORTHEAST TO EOLINE AND ENDED IN MARVEL. SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES
AND SINGLE FAMILY HOMES…1 BUSINESS…AS WELL AS THE EOLINE FIRE
STATION…AND COUNTLESS TREES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THERE WERE
8 INJURIES AND 1 FATALITY IN BIBB COUNTY. EF-3 AND EF-2 DAMAGE WERE
NOTED FOR THE MOST PART IN EOLINE AND CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY THEN
DECREASED IN INTENSITY AS IT MOVED INTO NORTHEAST RURAL BIBB COUNTY
TOWARD MARVEL. MAX WINDS WERE ESTIMATED UP TO 145 MPH AND WAS 1 MILE
WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT IN CENTRAL BIBB COUNTY.
TORNADO 7…ARGO/SHOAL CREEK/OHATCHEE/FORNEY TORNADO (JEFFERSON/ST.
CLAIR/CALHOUN/ETOWAH/CHEROKEE COUNTIES)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: LIKELY GREATER THAN EF-3 (FURTHER EVALUATION UNDERWAY)
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): POTENTIALLY UP TO 180
INJURIES/FATALITIES: NUMEROUS FATALITIES AND INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 33.6792/-86.5699 AT 623 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 34.0661/-85.420 AT 747 PM (AT GEORGIA
STATE LINE)
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 72 MILES
WIDTH: UP TO 1.25 MILES
NOTE: CONTINUED INTO GEORGIA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED THE DAMAGE PATH
FROM EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTHEAST TO CHEROKEE COUNTY. IT HAS
BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A VIOLENT
TORNADO. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR ARGO…BETWEEN DEERFOOT
PARKWAY AND ADVENT ROAD…JUST NORTH OF INTERSTATE 59. THE TORNADO
THEN MOVED EAST ACROSS THE INTERSTATE INTO ST. CLAIR COUNTY. THE
TORNADO CAUSED EF-0 TO EF-1 DAMAGE AS IT TRACKED NEAR MARGARET AND
NORTH OF ODENVILLE. JUST NORTHEAST OF ODENVILLE…THE TORNADO
STRENGTHENED AND WIDENED CONSIDERABLY. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED
EAST-NORTHEAST ALONG COUNTY ROAD 22…THROUGH SHOAL CREEK. DAMAGE
ALL ALONG CR-22 WAS EXTENSIVE. SEVERAL HOMES HAD ALMOST ALL WALLS
BLOWN OUT…AND ONE ROUGHLY 40 YEAR OLD HOME WAS COMPLETELY LEVELED.
THE PATH CONTINUED EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS NEELY HENRY LAKE INTO
CALHOUN COUNTY. THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE ON THE
EASTERN SHORES OF THE LAKE…JUST NORTH OF OHATCHEE. IN THIS AREA
NUMEROUS HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES WERE COMPLETELY LEVELED…INDICATIVE
OF A VIOLENT TORNADO. AT LEAST ONE WELL BUILT HOME WAS NEARLY SWEPT
CLEAN OF EVERYTHING ABOVE ITS BASEMENT…SAVE FOR A FEW ITEMS OF
FURNITURE. WINDS HERE WERE LIKELY MORE THAN 150 MPH…PERHAPS AS
HIGH AS 180 MPH. THE DAMAGE PATH AT THIS POINT REACHED ITS WIDEST…
AROUND 1.25 MILES. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
ON AN EAST-NORTHEAST PATH ACROSS NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTY…JUST
SOUTH OF THE ETOWAH COUNTY LINE. ALL HOMES IN ITS PATH RECEIVED
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND MANY WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. A SMALL
CHURCH ON ROCKY HOLLOW ROAD NEAR THE WEBSTER CHAPEL COMMUNITY WAS
COMPLETELY LEVELED. THE TORNADO BRIEFLY WENT THROUGH SOUTHEAST
ETOWAH COUNTY SOUTHEAST OF REAVES…CLIPPED A SMALL PORTION OF
CALHOUN COUNTY ONE LAST TIME…THEN MOVED INTO CHEROKEE COUNTY.
THERE IT DAMAGED NUMEROUS MORE HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES AS IT MOVED
EAST-NORTHEASTWARD. THE TORNADO APPEARED TO WEAKEN BRIEFLY AS IT
MOVED THROUGH FROG MOUNTAIN…BUT THEN IT WIDENED AND STRENGTHENED
ONCE AGAIN BEFORE IT REACHED COUNTY ROAD 45 NORTH OF ROCK RUN. ON
COUNTY ROAD 29 SOUTH OF FORNEY…AN APPARENTLY WELL BUILT FRAME HOME
WAS COMPLETELY LEVELED TO THE GROUND BY WINDS THAT MAY HAVE EXCEEDED
150 MPH. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED INTO GEORGIA AT COUNTY ROAD 28.
ALONG THE PATH…HUNDREDS OF STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED AND
DESTROYED…AND MANY THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE UPROOTED…SNAPPED…
AND REDUCED TO SPIKED STUMPS.
NOTE: THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OBSERVED ON DEERFOOT PARKWAY…JUST WEST
OF THE STARTING COORDINATES ABOVE. THEREFORE…THERE APPEARS TO
BE A SMALL BREAK IN THE DAMAGE BETWEEN THE TUSCALOOSA-BIRMINGHAM
TORNADO AND THIS ONE…AS THE STORM WENT ACROSS THE PINSON AND
CHALKVILLE AREAS. THIS BREAK IN THE DAMAGE MAY NEED FURTHER
INVESTIGATION…TO MAKE SURE THAT IT INDEED DID OCCUR.
TORNADO 8…WATEROAK TORNADO (HALE/BIBB COUNTIES)
PRELIMINARY DATA…
EVENT DATE: APRIL 27, 2011
EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO
ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): AROUND 105
INJURIES/FATALITIES: AT LEAST 0 FATALITIES, 0 INJURIES.
EVENT START LOCATION AND TIME: 32.8522/-87.4783 AT 650 PM
EVENT END LOCATION AND TIME: 32.8956/-87.401 AT 659 PM
DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 5.5 MILES
WIDTH: 150 YARDS
NOTE: STARTED IN FAR EASTERN HALE COUNTY AND ENDED IN SOUTHWEST BIBB
BIBB COUNTY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED MULTIPLE TRACKS
ACROSS HALE AND BIBB COUNTIES. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE WAS CONSISTENT WITH A TORNADO. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 2
MILES SOUTHWEST OF WATEROAK IN HALE COUNTY AND PROCEEDED NORTHEAST
INTO THE TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST ENDING IN SOUTHWEST BIBB COUNTY 2
MILES SOUTHWEST OF MERTZ. 1 MOBILE HOME AND 1 BUSINESS WERE DAMAGED
OR DESTROYED ALONG WITH NUMEROUS TREES. THE ENTIRE TRACK CONSISTED
OF EF-1 DAMAGE. MAX WINDS WERE ESTIMATED UP TO 105 MPH AND WAS 150
YARDS IN WIDTH.
…ADDITIONAL INFORMATION…
A SPECIAL THANKS TO COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES FOR THEIR
ASSISTANCE FOR ALL SURVEYS. MEDIA INQUIRIES CAN BE DIRECTED TOWARD
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST JOHN DE BLOCK AT 205-664-3010…
OR METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE JIM STEFKOVICH AT 205-585-8635.
A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF
ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES…PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE…OR CALL OUR STORM REPORTING
HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758.
$$
08/MNK
A Brief Non-weather Item but Important
Dave Echols ia a good friend and, like me, he is a great lover of dogs. He asked me to post this information and I am more than happy to do so. I feel sure there is now a larger number of missing dogs because of tornado damage.
————————————————————————
Dave says: I went and dropped off some things at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society this morning, as did several other people. While I was there I asked them what was their “most needed, least donated” item and they told me cleaning supplies. They are completely out of paper towels (other than what has been brought in today). They need “food service” plastic gloves and bleach.
Address and directions to the GBHS can be found at www.gbhs.org
Before/after aerial photography
(NOAA)
James asked me to post on this. The NOAA King Air plane is flying the tracks of the BHM-TCL tornado and the Cordova tornado today, providing high-resolution before and after pictures of the tornado damage, similar to what they did after Hurricane Katrina. Here is a map of their preliminary flight plan.
For 4 early before/after photos, go to http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/pdfs/tuscaloosa_before_after.pdf
Hopefully, they will post before and after photos in every box along these paths over the next few days.
Please read James’ post below about the needs in so many areas, especially more rural areas where there has not been as much media attention, and how you can help. This is north Alabama’s Katrina.
NOAA
Needs Are Great
UPDATE
The American Red Cross is now monitoring my Facebook page… If you have urgent needs, please post them there..
http://www.facebook.com/jamesspann/
The needs across our state remain great. With the national publicity, there is great response in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. However, in many of the more rural areas, there has been little in the way of mass relief. For those of you with a Facebook account, see this post from my page:
http://www.facebook.com/jamesspann/posts/10150175734910842
There is no well defined central clearing house at this point… I will be speaking with Red Cross and other relief agency officials shortly as we attempt to get the ball rolling.
Having said that, these are some communities that need manpower, supplies, food, water, etc. Best thing I can tell you now is to just drive there and show up. HOWEVER, we know that law enforcement and the National Guard is turning volunteers away at some places due to natural gas leaks, looting, etc. It is a very confusing situation, and I am working on getting some kind of solution since so many people want to help but don’t know what to do.
Sawyerville (Hale County south of Tuscaloosa)
High Point (DeKalb County)
Shoal Creek Valley (St. Clair County)
Brookwood (Tuscaloosa County)
Cordova (Walker County)
Holt (Tuscaloosa County)
Eoline (Bibb County)
Websters Chapel (Calhoun County)
Rainsville (DeKalb County)
Understand, this is NOT a list of all tornado disaster scenes, but of places where the needs seem to be most urgent. I will post an update as soon as possible…
