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Updated: NWS Birmingham Damage Surveys From This Past Weekend’s Storms

| January 24, 2017 @ 2:15 pm

This blog post will be updated as more survey results come in and are added to the public information statements…

As of 12:03 AM Wednesday, January 25th, here is the latest information from the National Weather Service in Birmingham on the ongoing surveys of storm damage on the storm system that hit Central Alabama from Thursday 1/19 through Sunday 1/24:

Overview
A deepening upper low sent several impulses over Central Alabama Thursday through Sunday. Each impulse was able to pull moisture northward and into Central Alabama. Conditions became unstable as the moisture, warm surface conditions, cold upper level conditions, and wind shear combined to initiate severe thunderstorms. Numerous storms developed in association with each wave. The southern half of Central Alabama was most impacted. Tornadoes, damaging winds, some hail, and localized flooding occurred. The events below are from the Thursday through Sunday timeframe.

Tornado: Treasure Island (St. Clair County)
Date: 1/19/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.7 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 175 yards
Start Location: 2 miles east-northeast of Coosa Island
Start Time: 5:58 PM
End Location: 5 miles south-southwest of Pell City
End Time: 6:00 PM

A persistent mesocyclone spun up a brief weak tornado within a line of thunderstorms as it passed through St Clair County. The tornado touched down on Logan Martin Lake just south of the eastern shore of Treasure Island. The tornado tracked northward parallel to and just off the shores of the island, with the initial damage pointing largely offshore. Four boathouses were destroyed and a few trees were snapped or uprooted here, but the path of the tornado was far enough offshore so as not to cause any structural damage to the homes another 50 to 100 feet further inland. As the tornado continued northward across a large cove, it remained completely over water. As it approached the northeastern tip of the island, which jutted out into the lake, the tornado came ashore again and peeled metal roofing off a well-built boathouse. The tornado reached maximum strength here, with 10 large hardwood trees uprooted in a concentrated area in a convergent pattern. The tornado passed offshore again and dissipated before reaching the opposite point on the lake.

Tornado: Putnam (Marengo County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 110 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 5.50 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 800 yards
Start Location: 3 miles west-southwest of Putnam
Start Time: 5:29 AM
End Location: 1 mile east of Putnam
End Time: 5:37 AM

This tornado continued from Choctaw County where EF-2 damage occurred. The tornado crossed into Marengo County near the Slater Community on Blue Rock Road. The tornado moved northeast and generally parallel Blue Rock Road into the Putnam Community. The tornado crossed State Highway 69 and lifted east of Putnam on CR-4. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. At least one mobile home was destroyed and several homes sustained roof damage.

Tornado: Wayne (Marengo County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 4.20 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 900 yards
Start Location: 1 mile east-southeast of Wayne
Start Time: 5:55 AM
End Location: 1 mile east of Miller
End Time: 6:01 AM

The tornado touched down along US-43 near Sweetwater Creek and Wayne Road. The tornado tracked north northeast and downed several trees along the path. A few outbuildings were damaged. The tornado lifted north of Pillie Road and Diamond Road, east of US-43.

Tornado: Wetumpka (Elmore County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 100 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 1.54 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 450 yards
Start Location: 1 mile southwest of Wetumpka
Start Time: 7:55 AM
End Location: 1 mile northwest of Wetumpka
End Time: 7:58 AM

The tornado touched down on the north side of the Coosa River, south of South Boundary Street. The tornado tracked north-northeast right into Wetumpka. Just after crossing South Boundary Street, the tornado began snapping and uprooting trees. The strongest winds appeared to be between West Bridge Street and West Tuskeena Street where several large trees were down and a church was damaged. The tornado continued north northeast where several more trees were downed and several structures received minor roof damage. The tornado lifted near Wetumpka City Park and North Bridge Street.

Tornado: Willow Springs Road (Elmore County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.68 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 200 yards
Start Location: 2 miles south-southeast of Blue Ridge
Start Time: 7:55 AM
End Location: 1.50 miles southeast of Blue Ridge
End Time: 7:56 AM

A tornado touched down briefly just south of Willow Springs Road and moved north northeast, parallel to Harwell Mill Creek, knocking down a dozen trees. One tree fell on and destroyed an outbuilding. The tornado lifted quickly just north of Willow Springs Road and east of Ross Ridge Lane.

Tornado: Emerald Mountain (Elmore County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 75 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.21 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 90 yards
Start Location: 2 miles south of Emerald Mountain
Start Time: 7:57 AM
End Location: 1 mile south of Emerald Mountain
End Time: 7:57 AM

A tornado briefly touched down along Rifle Range Road near Emerald Mountain Christian Academy, causing damage to fencing and metal siding at the school. The tornado tracked to the northeast before quickly lifting east of Mountain Laurel Road.

Tornado: Society Hill (Macon & Lee Counties)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 2.84 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 800 yards
Start Location: 3 miles north of Society Hill
Start Time: 8:48 AM
End Location: 4 miles southwest of Beauregard
End Time: 8:50 AM

The tornado touched down north of Society Hill near the intersection of CR-43 and CR-24. Several trees were snapped off and one home suffered roof damage shortly after touch down. The tornado tracked north northeast where it produced additional tree damage. One home along CR-43 suffered roof damage. The tornado continued on its path and eventually lifted after crossing into Lee County near the Auburn University Fisheries.

Tornado: Wright Crossroads (Lee County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 70 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 2.38 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 150 yards
Start Location: 5 miles south of Auburn
Start Time: 8:49 AM
End Location: 3 miles south-southeast of Auburn
End Time: 8:53 AM

A weak tornado formed along CR-23 south of Sand Hill Road where several trees were uprooted. It crossed Sand Hill Road and Wrights Mill Road near Wright Crossroads, and then uprooted several trees at Springwood Drive and Old Creek Trail just inside the Auburn city limits. The tornado then dissipated as it approached Lake Ogletree.

Tornado: Troy/Louisville (Pike & Barbour Counties)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 37.47 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 400 yards
Start Location: 5 miles north of Goshen
Start Time: 8:55 AM
End Location: 3 miles east of Louisville
End Time: 9:38 AM

A long-lived tornado touched down along CR-1107, about 5 miles north of Goshen. The tornado traveled almost due east and produced mostly EF-0 damage to near Troy. One grove of trees sustained EF-1 damage in southeast Troy while the remainder of the damage was relatively light. The tornado continued eastward. South of Banks, the tornado again produced EF-1 damage and the strongest winds. Just south of CR-18, a mobile home suffered significant damage. The two occupants were uninjured as they took shelter after hearing about the warning. The tornado proceeded east where it downed tress and caused minor roof damage. The tornado lifted just east of Louisville off of Carroway Road. The tornado damage width was mainly under 100 yards except at the two higher damage locations.

Tornado: Moores Mill Road (Lee County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 70 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 1.07 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 150 yards
Start Location: 2 miles north-northeast of Beauregard
Start Time: 8:56 AM
End Location: 5 miles south-southeast of Opelika
End Time: 8:58 AM

A weak tornado formed along Lee Road 413 north of Beauregard just south of Moores Mill Road, causing shingle damage and knocking down some branches. The tornado crossed Moores Mill Road east of SR-51. Several trees were uprooted as it crossed Lee Road 417 before dissipating.

Tornado: Robinson Creek (Lee County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 65 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.82 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 150 yards
Start Location: 3 miles south-southeast of Opelika
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Location: 2 miles south-southeast of Opelika
End Time: 9:01 AM

A weak tornado formed near the intersection of Ballard Avenue and Edgemont Street on the south side of Opelika, just east of SR-51, where shingle damage occurred. A pine tree was knocked down as the tornado crossed SR-169. Several pine trees were uprooted and more shingle damage occurred as the tornado crossed Old Columbus Road before dissipating.

Tornado: Crawford (Lee County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 80 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.50 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 50 yards
Start Location: 2 miles northwest of Crawford
Start Time: 9:08 AM
End Location: 2 miles northwest of Crawford
End Time: 9:08 AM

A brief tornado touched down in the Haley Woods subdivision causing minor damage to several roofs and wooden fences. Damage was confined to houses near one intersection within the neighborhood.

Tornado: Smiths Station (Lee County)
Date: 1/21/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.76 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 200 yards
Start Location: 1.25 miles west-southwest of Smiths Station
Start Time: 9:19 AM
End Location: 0.50 miles west-southwest of Smiths Station
End Time: 9:20 AM

A tornado touched down west southwest of Smiths Station, along CR-581 and tracked to the northeast downing dozens of trees. The tornado destroyed many buildings at the Smiths Station School Athletic Complex, and damaged several additional buildings. The tornado quickly lifted just northeast of the school.

Tornado: Hagler (Tuscaloosa County)
Date: 1/22/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 80 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 0.03 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 200 yards
Start Location: 1 mile north of Hagler
Start Time: 12:36 AM
End Location: 1 mile north of Hagler
End Time: 12:37 AM

The tornado touched down briefly north of Hagler along Hagler-Coaling Rd, downing a dozen trees. The tornado tracked north northeast, downing a tree onto a home, before lifting on the northeast side of a small pond.

Tornado: Shopton (Bullock County)
Date: 1/22/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 90 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 2.20 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 330 yards
Start Location: 1 mile northwest of Shopton
Start Time: 1:06 PM
End Location: 2 miles north-northeast of Shopton
End Time: 1:11 PM

The tornado touched down northwest of Shopton along US-82. At least one home suffered damage near US-82. The tornado tracked northeast and mainly produced tree damage. The tornado lifted northeast of Shopton east of CR-37.

Tornado: Longleaf Drive (Lee County)
Date: 1/22/2017
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Winds: 70 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 4.92 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 200 yards
Start Location: 4 miles northeast of Tuskegee National Forest
Start Time: 1:46 PM
End Location: 1 mile southwest of Auburn
End Time: 1:56 PM

The tornado formed along CR-14 just south of I-85 where a few small pine trees were uprooted and some large branches were broken. The tornado continues northeast, crossing I-85 near Beehive Road and Cox Road, before peeling back half of the roof of a mobile home at the Windover Farm mobile home park. It crossed Veterans Boulevard and then caused shingle damage to multiple apartment buildings near Longleaf Drive while breaking tree branches. The tornado dissipated as it crossed SR 267 near the southwest boundary of the Auburn University campus.

Tornado: Shady Park (Lee County)
Date: 1/22/2017
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Winds: 95 MPH
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Path Length (Statute): 3.08 miles
Path Width (Maximum): 600 yards
Start Location: 4 miles east-northeast of Auburn
Start Time: 2:00 PM
End Location: 2 miles northwest of Opelika
End Time: 2:07 PM

The tornado touched down along Cunningham Drive, just northeast of the Auburn Regional Airport. Minor damage occurred at touch down but increased in the Pepperell area at US-280 and Pepperell Parkway. Several trees were snapped or uprooted and some homes suffered damage. The tornado continued north northeast where it snapped and uprooted numerous trees. The tornado lifted near Northgate Drive and Oak Bowery Road in northwest Opelika.
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EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories.

EF0…Weak……65 to 85 mph
EF1…Weak……86 to 110 mph
EF2…Strong….111 to 135 mph
EF3…Strong….136 to 165 mph
EF4…Violent…166 to 200 mph
EF5…Violent…>200 mph

The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. Also as tornadoes are added, the subsequent number may change to keep in chronological order.

Additional Public Information Statements will be issued periodically through the day, as survey teams report back their findings.

A major contribution to the success of our severe weather warning program is the receipt of storm reports from all our customers and partners. If you witnessed or are aware of any storm damage due to high winds or tornadoes, please contact your local emergency management office. You can also report severe weather by using #bmxwx on Twitter.

Tags:

Category: Severe Weather

About the Author ()

Scott Martin is an operational meteorologist, professional graphic artist, musician, husband, and father. Not only is Scott a member of the National Weather Association, but he is also the Central Alabama Chapter of the NWA president. Scott is also the co-founder of Racecast Weather, which provides forecasts for many racing series across the USA. He also supplies forecasts for the BassMaster Elite Series events including the BassMaster Classic.

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