Jefferson County Tornadoes April 2 & 3, 2000

Jefferson County - April 2-3, 2000

Storm Survey

The National Weather Service surveyed the damage in Jefferson county on April 4^th, 2000 and determined that both events were produced by tornadoes.

Forestdale, Sunday, April 2, 2000

The tornado first caused damage just east of Minor Parkway and moved northeast along Crumley Chapel Road and through the Crumley Chapel community. The tornado crossed U.S. Highway 78 at the Wal-Mart shopping center and turned on a more easterly track through a residential area of Forestdale. The damage became less severe as the tornado crossed Cherry Lane with only minor tree damage from there to Coalburg Road.
Click on map image for a larger image showing the tornado's path.

Damage along the track was primarily to trees with some minor roof damage to some houses. A number of houses along the path were severely damaged when trees, some quite large, fell on the structures.

The tornado path was 4.5 miles long and approximately 400 yards wide. Based on radar data, the tornado began at 9:51 PM CDT and ended around 9:59 PM CDT. There have been no deaths or injuries associated with this tornado.

The tornado was classified as a marginal F1 on the Fujita Scale for tornado classification putting it in the weak category. Wind speeds associated with an F1 range from 73 to 113 miles an hour. Damage in the area suggested the wind speed was probably on the lower end of this range probably 75 to 90 MPH.

Jefferson county was placed in a severe thunderstorm warning at 9:34 PM. The warning was upgraded to a tornado warning at 9:44 PM.

Vestavia Hills-Mountain Brook, Monday, April 3, 2000

The tornado path began on Shades Crest just west of U.S. Highway 31. The tornado paralleled Shades Crest before moving down a hill and across the Birmingham Water Works and U.S. Highway 280. The tornado continued to travel northeasterly just north of Overton Road through a heavily wooded residential area and continued along Overton Road to Interstate 459. The tornado ended just east of Interstate 459 in the Cahaba River area in the vicinity of Liberty Park.

Click on map image for a larger image showing the tornado's path.

Much like the Forestdale tornado, damage was primarily to trees with generally minor roof damage to structures. Some structures sustained heavy damage when trees fell on them.

The tornado was classified an F1 tornado with wind speeds of 73 to 113 MPH. Wind speeds were probably in the range of 80 to 90 MPH. The tornado path was 5.7 miles long and about 350 yards wide. The tornado began at 1:09 PM CDT and ended at 1:18 PM CDT.

Jefferson county was placed in tornado watch number 155 valid from 10:30 AM CDT to 4:00 PM CDT. A tornado warning was issued for Jefferson county at 12:29 PM valid until 1:30 PM.

Birmingham Waterworks Building.

Another view of the Birmingham Waterworks Building.

Tree on house in Forestdale, Alabama.

Broken tree in the Mountain Brook area.

Shingle damage to house in the Mountain Brook area.

Tree on another house in the Mountain Brook area.