National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

EF-1 Beaverton - Guin Tornado - February 6, 2008

 

EF-1
Maximum Wind:
90 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
None
Path Length:
7.3 miles
Maximum Path Width:
150 Yards
Start:
33.93/-88.03 at 204 AM
End:
33.99/-87.93 at 213 AM

This supercell thunderstorm developed near Louisville, Mississippi in Winston County. The storm tracked northeastward near Starkville, Columbus Air Force Base, and Caledonia before entering western Pickens County near the Bedford Community. The storm then moved just south of Sulligent. Preliminary data suggest this supercell storm had not produced any damage to this point but surveys are still underway.

A tornado then touched down just southwest of Beaverton along US Highway 278. The tornado tracked northeast and produced damage in Beaverton. The metal roof of the Post Office was blown off and City Hall also sustained roof damage. Several hardwood trees were uprooted and many more softwood trees were snapped off along the path. One large tree fell and destroyed a barn. A few homes suffered significant damage from downed trees. A few roads were temporarily closed due to the fallen trees. The tornado roughly paralleled US 278 and crossed into Marion County. The tornado lifted after crossing County Road 16 but before US Highway 43. The tornado damage path was 7.3 miles long and was 150 yards wide at its widest point.

In Beaverton, two trains were stranded on the tracks due to a power outage. The conductors were aware of the tornado warnings because they said they heard the tornado sirens about 20 minutes before the storm hit. One of the railroad personnel apparently witnessed the tornado. A sheriffs deputy spotted a funnel cloud just before the tornado touched down.

This supercell thunderstorm continued northeastward into the Tennessee Valley and produced a violent EF-4 tornado in Lawrence and Morgan Counties

 

 


Tornado Damage Path

4-PanelStorm Relative Velocity Image
Just Before Tornado

4-Panel Reflectivity Image
Just Before Tornado