National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

 

Allgood EF-1 Tornado (Blount, Etowah & St. Clair Counties)
  March 14, 2019

 

Event Summary

EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:
90 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
None
Damage Path Length:
17.21 miles
Maximum Path Width:
1175 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:
2 SW Allgood
33.8921/-86.5409
at 505 pm 
Approximate End Point/Time:
2 N Camp Sumatanga
33.9782/-86.2690
at 529 pm 

 

NWS Meteorologists surveyed damage in south central Blount County near the town of Allgood eastward into extreme northern St. Clar County and determined it was the result of a tornado.

The tornado touched down near Tidwell Hollow Rd where several soft and hardwood trees were damaged and uprooted. The tornado then moved northeast along Tidwell Hollow Rd crossing Lake Drive. It then crossed over a mobile home park where additional trees were uprooted and numerous mobile homes were severely damaged or destroyed from falling trees. It is noteworthy that nearly all of the mobile homes and several vehicles damaged were due to uprooted trees and not direct wind damage. The tornado continued northeast along Highway 75, where an outdoor building was completely destroyed. The tornado then crossed Boat Landing Road where numerous soft and hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted. This is the approximate location of where the tornado first reached EF-1 intensity. The tornado then continued east along Springville Blvd., where additional trees were uprooted and several single family homes sustained minor roof damage. A destroyed barn was also observed near Old Brook Ln. The tornado continued eastward and weakened near Woodard Drive where additional trees were uprooted.

Farther east-northeastward, more damage from the tornado was observed from a second survey team. Most of the damage throughout this elongated path remained non-contiguous and primarily affected trees and vegetation throughout the area. However, minor roof and structural damage was observed along Mountain View Church Road and Mountain Ridge Road near the borders of Calhoun, Etowah, and St. Clair Counties. It was here the tornado reintensified to EF-1 strength and caused damage to farm structures, as well as snapped or uprooted dozens of trees. The back deck of a nearby home was damaged from one of the many uprooted trees on the property. Though the tornado reached its widest point of 1175 yards near this location, damage outside of EF-1 intensity remained generally sporadic in nature. Thereafter, the tornado weakened as it crossed Gallant Road in St. Clair County where additional trees were uprooted. The tornado then lifted near the intersection of Gallant Road and Clear Springs Drive. In total, the tornado damage path was 17.21 miles long and 1175 yards wide at its widest point.

Special thanks to the Blount County EMA for their assistance in the survey.

 

Radar Image
Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the tornado just before it lifted.
Images are from KBMX at 512 pm.

 

Damage Photo
 Tree Damage
Damage Photo
  Home Damage
Damage Photo
 Chicken House Damage
Damage Photo
  Chicken House Damage