National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Simmons Crossroads Tornado - Tallapoosa/Lee Counties
April 10, 2009

 

 
EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:
90 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
None
Damage Path Length:
10.15 mile
Maximum Path Width:
250 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:
32.6648/-85.8538 at 712 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:
32.6257/-85.6858 at 725 pm

A National Weather Service Damage Assessment Team has surveyed the storm damage in Tallapoosa and Lee Counties. It has been determined the damage was the result of a tornado. The tornado has been rated an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Damage estimates were consistent with winds around 90 mph.

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, and County Road 188. The tornado lifted just east of the Tallapoosa and Lee county line near Lee Road 217 and Cane Creek. The tornado affected mainly rural countryside where numerous trees were snapped off and uprooted along the path. The tornado damage path was 10.15 miles long and was 250 yards wide at its widest point.

 

 


 

 

Radar

radar

The top image is a KMXX 0.5 degree reflectivity loop. The bottom image is a KMXX 0.5 degree storm relative velocity loop. The green indicates wind blowing toward the radar while red indicates wind blowing away from the radar. This storm exhibited gate-to-gate rotation and a pronounced hook echo at times.

Damage
Tree Uprooted

Damage
Roof Damage

Damage
Damage & Debris

Damage
Roof Removed

Damage
Trees Down