Central Alabama Tornado Outbreak - April 19, 2009

Central Alabama Tornado Outbreak - April 19, 2009

Event Summary for Central Alabama

On April 19th, several bands of severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and lasted into the evening hours. These thunderstorms produced 11 tornadoes, large hail, and locally heavy rainfall. Some storms exhibited persistent rotation and were likely supercell thunderstorms. These storms developed ahead of a strong cold front that pushed eastward into Georgia after midnight. This storm system produced at least 7 tornadoes in the Tennessee Valley and 2 more tornadoes in Georgia.

Our thoughts will be with all those whose lives were impacted by these storms.

Location/Clickable Detailed Summary Link	Damage Rating/Estimated Maximum Wind Speeds	Injuries/Fatalities	Damage Path Length/Width	Starting Point/Time	Ending Point/Time
Whitsitt Tornado - Hale County	EF-0 60-70 mph	None	3.55 miles 25 yards	32.6261/-87.5949 552 pm	32.6447/-87.5377 600 pm
Big Prairie Creek Tornado Perry County	EF-1 90 mph	None	3.77 miles 50 yards	32.6443/-87.4958 604 pm	32.6492/-87.4278 615 pm
Alabaster Pelham Tornado Shelby County	EF-0 80 mph	None	2.10 miles 800 yards	33.2566/-86.8123 616 pm	33.2775/-86.7891 620 pm
Marion Tornado - Perry County	EF-1 90-100 mph	None	1.25 miles 100 yards	32.6740/-87.3138 628 pm	32.6767/-87.2931 631 pm
Alabaster Tornado - Shelby County	EF-0 60-65 mph	None	3.30 miles 100 yards	33.2035/-86.8627 653 pm	33.2315/-86.8165 658 pm
Gibson Tornado - Montgomery County	EF-0 70-80 mph	None	0.15 miles 150 yards	32.0881/-86.1864 810 pm	32.0883/-86.1838 810 pm
Troy Highway Tornado - Montgomery County	EF-1 100 mph	None	0.20 miles 50 yards	32.1136/-86.0693 820 pm	32.1147/-86.0659 820 pm
Shopton Tornado - Bullock County	EF-0 60-70 mph	None	0.10 miles 50 yards	32.1617/-85.9345 836 pm	32.1621/-85.9335 836 pm
Highland Lake Tornado - St. Clair & Blount Counties	EF-2 122 mph	None	6.53 miles 300 yards	33.8605/-86.4420 859 pm	33.8977/-86.3376 910 pm
Ashville Tornado - St. Clair County	EF-1 100 mph	None	2.92 miles 75 yards	33.8643/-86.2199 921 pm	33.8805/-86.1728 927 pm
Phenix City - Columbus Tornado - Russell & MuscogeeCounties	EF-2 115 mph	None	4.00 miles 250 yards	32.4594/-85.0231 1033 pm	32.4745/-84.9564 1042 pm

Preliminary Local Storm Reports
Public Information Statement

Tornado Watch 173 was in effect from 223 pm CDT until 9 pm CDT for parts of southwest central Alabama.
Tornado Watch 173 was extended at 247 pm CDT to include Jefferson, Shelby, Walker and Fayette Counties until 9 pm CDT.
Tornado Watch 173 was extended at 405 pm CDT to include Marion, Winston and Lamar Counties until 9 pm CDT.
Tornado Watch 173 was extended at 522 pm CDT to include Blount, Chilton, St. Clair and Talladega Counties until 9 pm CDT.
Tornado Watch 173 was extended at 640 pm CDT to include the rest of central Alabama until 9 pm CDT.
Tornado Watch 174 was issued at 845 pm CDT counties along and east of Interstate 65 until 1 am CDT on April 20th.

Severe Weather Episode Data

Surface Analysis Apr. 19th 7 pm	500 mb Chart Apr. 19th 7 pm
Day 3 Severe Weather Outlook Issued Apr. 17th	Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook Issued Apr. 17th
Day 2 Severe Weather Outlook Issued Apr. 18th	Day 2 Probabilistic Outlook Issued Apr. 18th
Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook Issued Apr. 19th	Day 1 ProbabilisticOutlook Issued Apr. 19th
Severe Weather Reports Apr. 19th