Bodock Farms Tornado - December 25, 2012

Bodock Farms (Lowndes) EF-2 Tornado
December 25th, 2012

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:	120 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	9.55 miles
Maximum Path Width:	900 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	32.2043/-86.6041 at 832 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	32.3133/-86.5115 at 846 pm

National Weather Service Meteorologists have surveyed the damage in Lowndes County and determined that the damage was the result of an EF-2 tornado. The tornado touched down on Highway 97 between Hayneville and Lowndesboro. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted in a half-mile wide swath across Highway 97. The tornado continued to the northeast and intensified as it moved over mainly pastureland. Just south of Highway 80, the tornado struck a farm, significantly damaging a large, well- constructed cattle barn. A second large metal cattle barn was mostly destroyed as well. Numerous power poles were snapped or downed along Highway 80. A heavy-duty dumpster was lofted and thrown approximately 250 yards across Highway 80. Tin roofing material and other debris was lofted and blown over one-quarter mile. The tornado continued across Highway 80, damaging multiple homes along Lake Berry Road. One home had the roof largely removed and cracking in the cement block foundation. Three to five additional homes had minor roof damage. The tornado continued northeastward toward the old GE Plastics plant where it mowed down numerous trees and flipped several empty semi –trailers onto their sides. The tornado lifted just north of the Gate 1 entrance to the plant and east of County Road 37.

View larger map

Radar Data

This is an image of the 0.5 degree reflectivity data from KMXX at 837 pm. Notice the area of weak reflectivity just to the south of Lowndesboro. This is indicative of a strong updraft. Click to enlarge.

This is an image of the 0.5 degree SRM data from KMXX at 837 pm. Notice how the gate-to-gate couplet coincides with the area of weak reflectivity in the image to the left. Click to enlarge.

Damage Pictures

Partially removed roof	Damage to cement cinder block foundation
Barn damage	Snapped power pole