Damaging Winds & Two Tornadoes - April 2, 2009

Damaging Winds & Two Tornadoes - April 2, 2009

Event Summary for Central Alabama

Several bands of strong to severe thunderstorms affected Central Alabama ahead of a deepening upper level low pressure system. The morning started off with a warm front located near the gulf coast. A few organized areas of strong to severe thunderstorms moved along the front around sunrise. The warm front slowly moved northward after sunrise, pushing a few strong to severe thunderstorms into southeast sections of Central Alabama.

Temperatures across much of the north central Alabama were in the 50s and 60s Thursday morning. But as the warm front surged northward by afternoon, temperatures rose into the 70s areawide. Moisture also increased behind the warm front, with surface dew points rising into the mid 60's.

Several bands of strong thunderstorms moved across Central Alabama late Thursday afternoon and evening, but the most extensive damage was experienced with the few convective bands just ahead of the cold front, along a dry line. The convective activity was generally showers, with very little lightning activity. In association with these showers, there were pockets of wind gusts estimated between 50 and 75 mph. The following counties reported wind damage; Lamar, Marion, Tuscaloosa, Winston, Fayette, Walker, Blount, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, Cherokee, and Calhoun. In addition to the severe wind gusts, two tornadoes occurred. One tornado touched down in Lamar County and one dropped down in Tusacaloosa County.

Hightogy Tornado (Lamar County)

Samantha Tornado (Tuscaloosa County)

Straight Line Winds Lamar & Marion Counties

Local Storm Report

Surface Analysis Apr. 2nd 7 am	500 mb Chart Apr. 2nd 7 am
Day 3 Severe Weather Outlook Issued Mar. 31st	Day 3 Probabilistic Outlook Issued Mar. 31st
Day 2 Severe Weather Outlook Issued Apr. 1st	Day 2 Probabilistic Outlook Issued Apr. 1st
Day 1 Severe Weather Outlook Issued Apr. 2nd	Day 1 ProbabilisticOutlook Issued Apr. 2nd
Severe Weather Reports Apr. 2nd
Severe Weather Reports & Warnings Apr. 2nd