Public Information Statement
Friday, April 10, 2009
...AT LEAST 6 TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER OCCURRED APRIL 10TH... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED IN ASSOCIATION WITH A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THE STORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS GENERALLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 20 THROUGH 630 AM. CENTRAL ALABAMA THEN RECEIVED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM AROUND 2 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH 10 PM FRIDAY EVENING. NUMEROUS PERSISTENTLY ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS, CALLED SUPERCELLS, DEVELOPED ACROSS THE AREA. THIS TYPE OF THUNDERSTORM CAN PRODUCE ALL TYPES OF SEVERE WEATHER INCLUDING STRONG TORNADOES AND VERY LARGE HAIL. IN FACT, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THESE STORMS ENDED UP DOING. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF VERY LARGE HAIL WERE RECEIVED. SOME OF THE HAIL COLLECTED UP TO SEVERAL FEET DEEP AND WAS ON THE GROUND FOR OVER 18 HOURS. A FEW TORNADOES OCCURRED. STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE WAS REPORTED IN A FEW COUNTIES. EVEN BEFORE THE STORMS ARRIVED, GRADIENT WINDS KNOCKED SOME TREES DOWN. THE STORMS ENDED AS A COLD FRONT MOVED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA FRIDAY EVENING. ...GRADIENT WINDS DOWN A FEW TREES DOWN BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORMS... STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AHEAD OF THE STRONG COLD FRONT PRODUCED WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 45 MPH. THESE WIND GUSTS WERE GENERALLY BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORMS ARRIVED. SEVERAL REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES WERE RECEIVED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. HERE ARE A FEW MEASURED WIND GUSTS WITH THESE NON-THUNDERSTORM WINDS... TUSCALOOSA 45 MPH BIRMINGHAM 41 MPH ANNISTON 44 MPH CALERA 35 MPH MONTGOMERY 36 MPH TROY 36 MPH GADSDEN 31 MPH ALEXANDER CITY 39 MPH AUBURN 39 MPH DEMOPOLIS 30 MPH SYLACAUGA 39 MPH ...BEAUREGARD TORNADO (LEE COUNTY)... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 95 MPH INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 32.5294/85.3882 751 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 32.5148/85.3548 755 PM DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 2.25 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS WARNINGS: TORNADO WARNING 655-800 PM TORNADO WARNING 741-830 PM WATCHES: TORNADO WATCH #134 245-900 PM THIS TORNADO DROPPED OUT OF THE SAME SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM THAT PRODUCED THE LOACHAPOKA TORNADO AND THE HAIL SWATH NEAR LAKE MARTIN. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN SOUTH OF BEAUREGARD JUST WEST OF STATE HIGHWAY 51. THE TORNADO TRAVELED SOUTHEAST AND LIFTED NEAR LEE ROAD 42. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED NEAR LEE ROAD 758 WHERE A MOBILE HOME RECEIVED DAMAGE, A FEW OTHER STRUCTURES SUFFERED ROOF DAMAGE AND SEVERAL TREES AND POWER LINES WERE EITHER SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS 2.25 MILES LONG AND WAS 100 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. ...LOACHAPOKA TORNADO (TALLAPOOSA & LEE COUNTIES)... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 32.6648/85.8538 712 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 32.6011/85.5817 732 PM DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 18.04 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 300 YARDS WARNINGS: TORNADO WARNING 632-700 PM TORNADO WARNING 655-800 PM WATCHES: TORNADO WATCH #134 245-900 PM A TORNADO DROPPED OUT OF THE SAME STORM THAT PRODUCED THE LARGE HAIL SWATH NEAR LAKE MARTIN. THE TORNADO STARTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF PROSPECT ROAD AND COUNTY ROAD 45 OR ABOUT 3.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MARTIN DAM. THE TORNADO TRAVELED SOUTHEAST ACROSS STATE HIGHWAY 49, COUNTY ROAD 15, COUNTY ROAD 188 AND STATE HIGHWAY 14. THE TORNADO LIFTED JUST EAST OF LOACHAPOKA NEAR THE INTERSECTION LEE ROAD 61 AND STATE HIGHWAY 14. THE TORNADO AFFECTED MAINLY RURAL COUNTRYSIDE WHERE NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF AND UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. IN LOACHAPOKA, A CHURCH SUSTAINED MODERATE ROOF DAMAGE, SEVERAL BARNS AND OUTBUILDINGS SUFFERED VARYING DEGREES OF DAMAGE, A FEW VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED BY THE FALLEN TREES, AND SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED AND SNAPPED OFF. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS 18.04 MILES LONG AND WAS 300 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. ...COOSA...ELMORE...TALLAPOOSA...LEE...RUSSELL HAIL SWATH... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: VERY LARGE HAIL UP TO SOFTBALL SIZE INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE REPORTED EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 617 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 718 PM A PERSISTENTLY ROTATING THUNDERSTORM, CALLED A SUPERCELL, PRODUCED A LONG PATH OF HAIL ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. HAIL FELL FROM NEAR LAKE MITCHELL IN COOSA COUNTY, TO LAKE MARTIN IN TALLAPOOSA COUNTY, THROUGH LEE COUNTY, AND INTO RUSSELL COUNTY. THE LARGEST HAIL WAS REPORTED IN THE VICINITY OF LAKE MARTIN. IN THIS AREA, THE HAIL COVERED THE GROUND AND WAS SEVERAL FEET DEEP IN PLACES. THE HAIL SIZE RANGED FROM GOLF BALL TO SOFTBALL. THE HAIL WAS STILL PRESENT ON THE GROUND DURING THE STORM SURVEY SOME 18 HOURS AFTER THE EVENT. SOME OF THE HAIL MEASURED 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE HAIL PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE WHERE ALL GREENERY WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED. NUMEROUS VEHICLES, BOATS AND STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED BY THE VERY LARGE HAIL. ALTHOUGH THE SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM WENT THROUGH STRENGTH CYCLES, NUMEROUS LOCATIONS REPORTED HAIL AT LEAST 1 INCH IN DIAMETER ALONG THE PATH. ...CRAWFORD TORNADO (RUSSELL COUNTY)... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 95 MPH INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 32.4621/85.2669 804 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 32.4467/85.1671 813 PM DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 6.0 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 150 YARDS WARNINGS: TORNADO WARNING 741-830 PM WATCHES: TORNADO WATCH #134 245-900 PM AN EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED IN FAR NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 83 AND THOMAS ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST SOUTHEAST AND LIFTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 41 AND STATE HIGHWAY 169. THE TORNADO SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED NUMEROUS TREES ALONG THE PATH. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS SIX MILES LONG AND WAS 150 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. ...SEALE TORNADO (RUSSELL COUNTY)... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 95-105 MPH INJURIES/FATALITIES: 1 INJURY EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 32.3099/85.1076 927 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 32.3086/85.0994 927 PM DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.5 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS WARNINGS: TORNADO WARNING 837-945 PM WATCHES: TORNADO WATCH #134 7-9 PM AN EF-1 TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN NEAR SEALE. THE TORNADO PRODUCED DAMAGE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF RIDGE ROAD AND RUTLEDGE ROAD. THIS LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES EAST NORTHEAST OF SEALE. ONE MOBILE HOME WAS DESTROYED AND ONE WOMAN OCCUPANT OF THE MOBILE HOME WAS INJURED. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS ONE HALF OF A MILE LONG AND WAS 100 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. ...NOTASULGA-SOCIETY HILL TORNADO (TALLAPOOSA, MACON & LEE COUNTIES)... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 32.5940/85.7640 826 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 32.4388/85.3666 904 PM DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 25.25 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 440 YARDS WARNINGS: TORNADO WARNING 745-845 PM TORNADO WARNING 837-945 PM WATCHES: TORNADO WATCH #134 700-900 PM THE EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ON HAPPY HOLLOW ROAD JUST NORTHWEST OF LIBERTY CITY. THIS LOCATION IS NEAR THE TALLAPOOSA AND MACON COUNTY LINE. THE TORNADO TRAVELED SOUTHEAST AND CROSSED COUNTY ROADS 75, 38, 54, 57, & 24. THE TORNADO ALSO CROSSED INTERSTATE 85, US HIGHWAY 80, US HIGHWAY 29 AND STATE HIGHWAY 81. THE TORNADO LIFTED NEAR US HIGHWAY 80 IN THE MARVYN COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN LEE COUNTY. THE MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AROUND 100 MPH. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE EITHER SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE DAMAGE PATH. A FEW MOBILE HOMES SUFFERED VARYING DEGREES OF DAMAGE. ONE MOBILE HOME WAS KNOCKED OFF ITS FOUNDATION. SEVERAL BARNS HAD THEIR ROOFS PARTIALLY REMOVED. SEVERAL STRUCTURES SUFFERED VARYING DEGREES OF ROOF DAMAGE. SEVERAL HOMES HAD WINDOWS BROKEN OUT. SEVERAL VEHICLES HAD WINDOWS BROKEN OUT. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS 25.25 MILES LONG AND WAS 440 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. ...MONTGOMERY-CECIL TORNADO (MONTGOMERY, MACON & BULLOCK COUNTIES)... EVENT DATE: FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100-110 MPH INJURIES/FATALITIES: NONE EVENT START LOCATION & TIME: 32.33667/86.21667 8:48 PM EVENT END LOCATION & TIME: 32.26276/85.77924 9:29 PM DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 26.06 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 440 YARDS WARNINGS: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 758-900 PM TORNADO WARNING 847-945 PM WATCHES: TORNADO WATCH #134 700-900 PM THE EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 80 (EASTERN BLVD) AND STATE HIGHWAY 110 (VAUGHAN ROAD). THE STORM MOVED EAST SOUTHEAST THROUGH THE EASTERN PART OF THE MONTGOMERY METRO AREA. THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON ITS PATH AND CROSSED STATE HIGHWAY 271 (TAYLOR ROAD), COUNTY ROAD 85, AND THEN IMPACTED THE CECIL COMMUNITY. THE TORNADO REMAINED ON THE GROUND INTO MACON COUNTY AND VERY BRIEFLY ENTERED BULLOCK COUNTY. THE TORNADO LIFTED JUST EAST OF COUNTY ROAD 23 NEAR THE DOWNS COMMUNITY. AT LEAST 3 BARNS AND SEVERAL OUTBUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED ALONG THE PATH. DOZENS OF HOMES SUFFERED MINOR TO MODERATE ROOF DAMAGE AND NUMEROUS WINDOWS WERE BROKEN. THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE EITHER SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. SEVERAL HOMES AND VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED FROM FLYING OR FALLING DEBRIS. THE VERANDAS APARTMENT COMPLEX ON VAUGHAN ROAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE MOST CONCENTRATED DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG RAY THORINGTON ROAD WHERE EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE WAS APPARENT, A SCHOOL WAS DAMAGED AND A FEW HOMES WERE DAMAGED. THE MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED AT 100 TO 110 MPH. THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH WAS 26.06 MILES LONG AND WAS 440 YARDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED PERIODICALLY THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS EVALUATED. ALL INFORMATION IN THE STATEMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PRELIMINARY UNTIL ALL THE DATA IS THOROUGHLY REVIEWED. A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES...PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE...OR CALL OUR STORM REPORTING HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758. $$ 75/LINHARES