Ward Creek Tornado - February 6, 2020

Ward Creek EF-2 Tornado (Shelby County)
February 6, 2020

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:	120 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	9.91 miles
Maximum Path Width:	700 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	5 NW Pea Ridge 33.2015/-86.9753 at 157 am
Approximate End Point/Time:	4 NNW Alabaster 33.2954/-86.8503 at 209 am

NWS Meteorologists surveyed damage in western Shelby County near Helena and determined it was the result of a tornado.

The tornado touched down in a wooded area near Red Oak Rd and Hancock Creek and tracked northeast, moving across a largely uninhabited area along the Cahaba River. The tornado quickly intensified to EF-2 strength where it snapped or uprooted thousands of soft and hardwood trees just south and east of Shelby County Rd 1 in the Ward Creek area per aerial survey. Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed many bends along the Cahaba River before eventually weakening to EF-0 strength as it approached the Moss Bend area where timber damage was observed with trees snapped or uprooted. Further northeast, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along a portion of Oak View Lane. The tornado continued northeast into the Old Cahaba neighborhood where several homes sustained minor roof and siding damage. The window to a home was also blown out along with additional damage to trees. The tornado continued northeast roughly paralleling Hillsboro Parkway where more trees were uprooted. The tornado dissipated just southeast of the Helena Amphitheater.

The National Weather Service would like to send special thanks to Shelby County Emergency Management and the Shelby County Sheriff`s Office for their assistance with ground and aerial damage assessments.

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Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the tornado as it crossed a large forested area. Images are from KBMX at 202 am.

Extensive Tree Damage	Extensive Tree Damage
Extensive Tree Damage	Minor Structural Damage
Minor Structural Damage