National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Wind, Tornadoes and Flooding on January 30, 2013

Event Summary for Central Alabama

On the morning of January 30th, 2013, a strong storm system moved across the lower Mississippi River and Tennessee River Valleys.  This system not only produced a long-lived squall line or QLCS, but also discrete supercells out ahead of the line.  As the storms crossed into Central Alabama that morning, these thunderstorms caused 5 tornadoes, two areas of significant straight line wind damage and isolated flash and areal flooding.  In addition to the severe weather, widespread reports of downed trees caused by pressure gradient winds were received throughout the day.
 
The information contained below is the individual tornado events that occurred. The data is PRELIMINARY and may be subject to change 

 
Location/Clickable Detailed Summary Link
Damage Rating/Estimated Maximum Wind Speeds
Injuries/Fatalities
Damage Path Length/Width
Starting Point/Time
Ending Point/Time
Sulligent
(Lamar County)
EF-1
90 mph
None
3.8 miles
300 yards
33.8723/-88.2275
433 am
33.8855/-88.1674
436 am
Fayette
(Fayette County)
EF-1
90 mph
None
6.5 miles
500 yards
33.7331/-87.9042
518 am
33.7551/-87.7916
525 am
Nauvoo
(Walker County)
EF-0
80 mph
None
4.88 miles
200 yards
33.9315/-87.5063
542 am
33.9573/-87.4164
546 am
Smith Lake
(Winston County)
EF-1
105 mph
None
10.26 miles
1000 yards
34.0622/-87.3696
550 am
34.1113/-87.2007
600 am
Addison
(Winston County)
EF-1
90 mph
None
4.16 miles
300 yards
34.2090/-87.1797
601 am
34.2267/-87.1102
606 am
 
The tornado damage "swaths" as depicted in the image above, and on the individual tornado links, are an estimate of the damage widths along the track.  In other words, the track width may not represent the actual damage in all locations, as we interpolate the values between actual surveyed damage points.  These maps are soley for the purpose of showing the general track of each tornado.  Remember, tornadoes do not always move in straight lines, and the intensity does not remain constant.  It is also possible to have other thunderstorm wind-related damage in close proximity to the tornado tracks from such features as inflow and rear flank downdrafts, which can produce tornado-like damage.
          

Pertinent Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data from this Event

 

Other affected County Warning Areas

NWS Huntsville, AL 

NWS Memphis, TN 

NWS Peachtree City, GA 

 
 

 

Severe Weather Episode Data 

500 mb Jan 29 at 6 pm
500 mb Analysis
  Jan 29 at 6 pm 
500 mb Jan 30 at 6 am
  500 mb Analysis
  Jan 30 at 6 am
Sfc Analysis Jan 29 at 6 pm
Surface Analysis
  Jan 29 at 6 pm
Surface Analysis Jan 30 at 6 am
Surface Analysis
  Jan 30 at 6 am
Day 2 Outlook 1130 am
Day 2 Severe Weather Outlook
Issued Jan 29 at 1130 am
Day 1 Outlook 7 am
Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook
Issued Jan 30 at 6 am 
Upper Air Sounding Jan 29 at 6 pm
BMX Upper Air Sounding Jan 29 at 6 pm
BMX Sounding Jan 30 at 6 am
BMX Upper Air Sounding Jan 30 at 6 am

Storm Reports for January 29, 2013
Storm Reports for January 29, 2013

Storm Reports for January 30, 2013
Storm Reports for January 30, 2013