Path Preview/Four Survey Results
I still cannot believe what happened on Wednesday. As much as we studied, and prepared and warned about the significance of the event in advance, I think that its ferocity and scope still is shocking to me. Every tornado I have seen has been a monster.
Scroll down and be sure to watch Lisa Spinks’ video of the tornado near Ohatchee. It’s one of those monsters. And the video from I-359 in Tuscaloosa. Wow…
This tornado was spawned by the tremendous, long-lived supercell that produced the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham. I had surmised that the deadly tornado had lifted just northeast of Birmingham, and that seems to be borne out by the National Weather Service’s preliminary track map.
According to Gary Goggins from the NWS: Right now we have 7 tracks that are EF-3 or greater at the moment. You can view all of the tracks on our webpage, that will be updated frequently as we gather all the information as it comes in.
This of course, does not include tornado paths in the Tennessee Valley or in Cullman County, which is in the NWS Hunstville area of responsibility
My preliminary count, which is probably short on the Tennessee Valley storms, is at least 18 tornadoes. I am afraid most of them will be strong tornadoes (EF3 or higher).
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has completed four storm surveys in their area of responsibility so far. They have finished their surveys of the paths in Marion, Lamar and Winston Counties.
The Hackleburg Tornado killed at least 25 along its 25 mile path in Marion County before it passed into Franklin County and devastated Phil Campbell. It is rated as an EF3 for now. We know that at least 26 people died in the Franklin County town. This makes it the second deadliest tornado in Alabama history, deadlier than any modern era tornado, and deadlier than any single tornado on the terrible day of March 21, 1932.
The Shottsville Tornado apparently was produced by the same supercell storm that caused the EF-5 tornado at Smithville in Monroe County, Mississippi. This tornado, which tracked northwest of Hamilton, killed at least six along its 19.1 mile path in Alabama. It started in Mississippi and continued into Franklin County. It is tentatively rated an EF-3 pending the rest of the survey.
The Haleyville Tornado caused EF-3 damage along the path already surveyed in Marion and Winston Counties. It likely continued into the Tennessee Valley, so we will have to hear from the NWS Huntsville about the final rating for this tornado. It fortunately did not cause any fatalities.
Finally, the Sawyerville/Eoline Tornado, which moved across Greene, Hale and Bibb Counties starting just after 5 p.m., is rated as EF-3, making the surveys four for four on strong tornadoes. That batting average probably won’t decrease very much, unfortunately. This tornado killed at least seven people. We will have more survey information all weekend.
HAMILTON: Hamilton in Marion County was a target on Wednesday. The Hackleburg Tornado passed near Hamilton. The Shottsville Tornado passed west of the city, near Bexar and the Haleyville Tornado originated just south of the city before roaring northeast toward Pea Ridge and Whitehouse, eventually striking the southern and eastern side of Haleyville.
Comments
Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather
Mr. Bill, I know there are still surveys to be done, but do you think the Tuscaloosa tornado will be an EF-5?
We’re still picking up debris here in Graysville, but so far we have found several receipts from Columbus, Mississippi. We’ve also found an invoice from a KFC restaurant (the location had been torn off) as well as a lot of insulation, roofing shingles, pieces of tin and remnants of pine furniture.
At my brother’s home, a mile away and still in Graysville, we found more Columbus receipts, a car hood and a cinderblock.
At my grandmothers, also a mile away and still in Graysville, we found more tin and pages from a Bible. Strangely enough, the pages from the Bible were detailing the Great Flood.
No actual damage to any of our houses, and our power was just restored around 930PM, Friday night.
Funny you mentioned KFC receipts Meredith, I live just outside Kimberly/Trafford area and debris began falling here when the storm was still in Concord area. Shingles, insulation, assorted paper pieces floating and falling all over the sky and it dropped a KFC recept from Corinth, MS in the front yard. Watching the debris fall and knowing the destruction that had already taken place is something I will never forget, just an absolutely amazing sight.
The sheer scale and devastation wrought by these tornadoes far exceeds anything I could in my worst nightmare have ever imagined. The magnitude and toll of the event is so great that I simply cannot comprehend it; it just seems like something that couldn’t and shouldn’t have happened. Who would have thought that ’00 Tuscaloosa tornado and the ’98 Oak Grove tornado would be overshadowed by even more violent events WITHIN TWO HOURS, FROM THE SAME SUPERCELL. Simply… inconceivable.
WOW! This was a sad day in Marion County and all around AL. I live in Pea Ridge and my family was spared, but the tornado went about 1/4 mile from us. That day began at 3:30am with thunderstorm damage–little phone service, power outages, no internet service and the one thing I dreaded so much—the Winfield weather tower that gives us the warnings and watches was out. All of the things I have used to keep up with severe weather weren’t available. I felt like we were flying blind the entire day. Around 3pm, the temp was 80 and dewpoint was 78–I had never seen the dewpoint that high before.
Marion County as a whole has been hit hard, but the stories of survival are incredible.
Praying for everyone throughout the state as the recovery begins.
The ttown storm was a ef5.Thousands of trees are stripped of the bark.The storm in shoal creek was a mile wide and thousands of trees are missing the bark.There is noway the storms in Ms can be rated stronger if you actually go and visit the areas.I think the nws here for some reason down plays these storms.Do the comparasions and you will see what im talking about.
I would like to know what came through Moody that morning. We’re still trying to clean up more than 30 trees on our lot alone. We found spears of wood in siding and doors, and a chair that was almost thrown through our bedroom wall. I am aware that our damage is minimal comparatively, but we still have it to deal with. It’ll be weeks before we have power or insurance adjusters out to us.
Hey Bill, where can I find a graphic like this for north Alabama? I know it’s out of your area but I always turn to you guys for weather information. Thanks for always posting our warnings/watches on your blog and Facebook. We love you guys up here
I saw and heard the one in Marion County that went by the White House area on the route to Haleyville. It was terrifying. We ran for aa storm shelter nearby. It did a lot a damage near there and through ThornHill.