Phenix City - Columbus Tornado - April 19, 2009

Phenix City - Columbus Tornado - Russell & Muscogee Counties
April 19, 2009

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-2
Estimated Maximum Wind:	115 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	4 miles
Maximum Path Width:	250 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	32.4594/-85.0231 at 1033 pm
Approximate End Point/Time:	32.4745/-84.9564 at 1042 pm

A National Weather Service Damage Assessment Team has surveyed the storm damage in Russell County. It has been determined the damage was the result of a tornado. The tornado has been rated an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Damage estimates were consistent with winds around 115 mph.

A tornado touched down near the intersection of 22nd Ave and 17th St in Phenix City and traveled for 4 miles to the northeast through the south end of Phenix City, and crossed the Chattahoochee River before lifting in the City of Columbus, GA. Damage along the path included 5 businesses sustaining major damage, seven homes with roof damage ranging from minor to major and between 100 and 200 trees snapped or uprooted. At its widest point, the tornado was 250 yards wide.

A special thanks go out to the Russell County Emergency Management Agency for help in the survey and for providing some pictures and the National Weather Service in Atlanta for help with the aerial survey and pictures.


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.
Significant Structure Damage	Significant Structure Damage
Damage & Debris	Significant Structure Damage
Structure Damage	Aerial View
Roof Damage	Structure Destroyed
Building Destroyed	Tree & Power Line Damage