Public Information Statement 10/25/2010

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
651 pm CDT Mon Oct 25 2010

...Numerous Reports of Severe Weather Sunday Night including an EF-1Tornado in Winston County...

A strong upper level storm system moved across central Alabama beginning Sunday evening and exited eastward early this morning. Scattered severe thunderstorms affected the area Sunday evening producing numerous reports of large hail. More organized severe thunderstorms developed across eastern Mississippi and raced eastward overnight. Several reports of wind damage were received.

A survey team of National Weather Service meteorologists has completed their assessment of the damage in Winston County.

...Winston County Tornado...
Event date: October 25, 2010
Event type: EF-1 tornado
Estimated peak winds (mph): 100-110
Injuries/fatalities: none
Event start location & time: 34.178612/-87.608780 2:05 am
Event end location & time: 34.2318/-87.407616 2:18 am
Damage path length (in miles): 10.5
Damage width (in yards): 600
Warnings: Severe Thunderstorm Warning #296 was in effect from 1:44
am until 2:15 am. Severe Thunderstorm Warning #298 was in effect
from 2:14 am until 3:00 am
Watches: Tornado Watch #711 was in effect from 2:03 am until 9:00 am.

The tornado touched down near the intersection of Winston CR 28 and AL Hwy 13 at approximately 205 am...then traveled northeast across CR 13 towards Macedonia. The tornado reached its maximum strength wind speeds of 100 to 110 mph as it crossed CR 3231. The width of the damage path at this point was approx 600 yards, the widest portion of the damage path. The tornado then crossed CR 3230 where it destroyed a two week old hay barn and a large workshop/storage shed and also caused significant damage to two other structures.

Another outbuilding also sustained damage at the same location and the residence sustained significant roof damage. At this point the damage path took more of an easterly path but remained narrow and well-defined. The tornado struck just north of the Macedonia church where a double-wide home sustained significant roof damage and several outbuildings were damaged. It continued eastward just north of Friendship Rd and then crossed AL Hwy 195 as it continued to snap off large tree limbs and caused damage to additional outbuildings. The last damage found was near the intersection of CR 2 and CR 47, where minor roof damage affected a home and tree damage was present. The tornado then moved off into inaccessible forestry land and dissipated.

For a comprehensive list of severe reports...please see the local storm reports.

A major contribution to the success of our severe weather warning program is the receipt of storm reports from all of our customers, partners and storm spotters. If you witnessed or are aware of any storm damage due to high winds or tornadoes, or received some hail, please contact your local emergency management office or call our storm reporting hotline at 1-800-856-0758.