Straight Line Wind Damage on January 30, 2013

Straight Line Wind Damage on January 30, 2013

On the morning of January 30, 2013, a squall line or quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) developed in the Lower Mississippi River Valley and moved into Alabama. Ahead of this line, discrete supercell thunderstorms developed. One area received significant straight line wind damage due to a microburst from these supercells. Additional minor wind damage and occurred with these storms and some strong winds even occurred ahead of the storm activity, caused by gradient wind.

The microburst occurred at 541 am near Nauvoo in Walker County. Winds of 90 miles per hour caused a swath of tree damage 200 yards in width. Approximately 150 pine trees were uprooted or snapped. No other damage was recorded as this occurred in a very remote area. The swirl of the winds from this microburst is believed to have caused the spin up of the Nauvoo tornado just downstream, which damaged a mobile home.

Damage Pictures

Wide swath of downed trees