Public Information Statement
Sunday, April 19, 2009
...ELEVEN TORNADOES CONFIRMED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA... ON APRIL 19TH, SEVERAL BANDS OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPED DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND LASTED INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THESE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED SEVERAL TORNADOES, LARGE HAIL, AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. SOME STORMS EXHIBITED PERSISTENT ROTATION AND WERE LIKELY SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS. THESE STORMS DEVELOPED AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT PUSHED EASTWARD INTO GEORGIA AFTER MIDNIGHT. THREE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAMS FANNED OUT ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA ON MONDAY AND CONDUCTED DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS IN MANY COUNTIES. THE STORM SURVEY TEAMS FOUND 11 TORNADO TRACKS IN 8 DIFFERENT COUNTIES. THERE WERE (5) EF-0 TORNADOES, (4) EF-1 TORNADOES, AND (2) EF-2 TORNADOES. THE COUNTIES THAT WERE AFFECTED INCLUDED MONTGOMERY, BULLOCK, ST. CLAIR, PERRY, RUSSELL, BLOUNT, HALE, AND SHELBY. ADDITIONAL TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER DEVELOPED IN THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AREA OF NORTH ALABAMA AND IN WESTERN GEORGIA. 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 HAIL OR FLOODING OR ARE AWARE OF ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES...PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE...OR CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM REPORTING HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758. HERE ARE THE TORNADOES CONFIRMED TO DATE... TORNADO 1: ...WHITSITT TORNADO...(HALE COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6261/-87.5949 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.6447/-87.5377 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.55 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 25 YARDS START TIME: 552 PM CDT END TIME: 600 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 223 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 539 PM TO 630 PM CDT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST TO THE WEST OF STATE HIGHWAY 25 NEAR WHITSITT. THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST NORTHEAST OVER COUNTY ROAD 47 AND LIFTED JUST EAST OF STATE HIGHWAY 61. 40 TO 50 SOFTWOOD TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF ALONG THE TORNADO DAMAGE PATH. AN OUTBUILDING AND A BARN ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE. TORNADO 2: ...BIG PRAIRIE CREEK TORNADO...(PERRY COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 90 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6443/-87.4958 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.6492/-87.4278 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.77 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS START TIME: 604 PM CDT END TIME: 615 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 223 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 539 PM TO 630 PM CDT. ANOTHER TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 612 PM TO 715 PM CDT. DAMAGE WAS PRIMARILY TO SOFTWOOD TREES. BETWEEN 50 AND 100 AND UPROOTED. ONE HOME SUSTAINED SHINGLE DAMAGE. TORNADO 3: ...ALABASTER-PELHAM TORNADO...(SHELBY COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 80 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 33.2566/-86.8123 EVENT END LOCATION: 33.2775/-86.7891 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 2.10 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 800 YARDS START TIME: 616 PM CDT END TIME: 620 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 247 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 617 PM TO 700 PM CDT. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. A FEW OF THE TREES LANDED ON HOMES AND MOBILE HOMES. MINOR TO MODERATE DAMAGE OCCURRED AT A FEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES. TORNADO 4: ...MARION TORNADO...(PERRY COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 90-100 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.6740/-87.3138 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.6767/-87.2931 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 1.25 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS START TIME: 628 PM CDT END TIME: 631 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 223 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 539 PM TO 630 PM CDT. ANOTHER TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 612 PM TO 715 PM CDT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF COUNTY ROAD 7 NORTH OF THE SPLIT WITH COUNTY ROAD 24. THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST NORTHEAST AND CROSSED OVER COUNTY ROAD 5. THE TORNADO LIFTED SOUTH OF COUNTY ROAD 16. AROUND 100 TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. ONE HOME SUSTAINED MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE AND FACEA DAMAGE. TORNADO 5: ...ALABASTER TORNADO...(SHELBY COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 70 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 33.2035/-86.8627 EVENT END LOCATION: 33.2315/-86.8165 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 3.30 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 100 YARDS START TIME: 653 PM CDT END TIME: 658 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 247 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 624 PM TO 715 PM CDT COVERING THE TORNADO PATH. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS AND THE NUMBER OF PHOTOGRAPHS SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, ANOTHER TORNADO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED IN ALABASTER. THE TORNADO WAS WEAK AND POORLY ORGANIZED, RATING ONLY AN EF-0 WITH WINDS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN IN THE MAYLENE AREA, WITH A FEW TREES TOPPED OUT IN THE AREA. THE TORNADO TRACKED NORTHEASTWARD WITH A VERY DISTINCT ROTATING WALL CLOUD, WITH AN EYEWITNESS REPORTING THAT IT TORE A FEW SHINGLES OFF A HOME JUST SOUTHEAST OF THOMPSON HIGH SCHOOL. FROM THERE, THE TORNADO CONTINUED ACROSS HIGHWAY 119 NEAR THOMPSON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, WITH A SHERIFF`S DEPUTY REPORTING MULTIPLE FUNNELS ON OR NEAR THE GROUND AS IT CROSSED THE HIGHER TERRAIN. A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE SPOTTED THE TORNADO AS IT CROSSED OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN JUST TO THE WEST NORTHWEST OF THE ALABASTER PROMENADE AND WATCHED IT LIFT OFF THE GROUND. TORNADO 6: ...GIBSON TORNADO...(MONTGOMERY COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 70-80 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.0881/-86.1864 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.0883/-86.1838 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.15 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 150 YARDS START TIME: 810 PM CDT END TIME: 810 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 640 PM TO 900 PM CDT. EIGHT TO TEN TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. METAL ROOFING BLOWN OFF OF A BARN AND MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGED SUSTAINED TO A HOME. TORNADO 7: ...TROY HIGHWAY TORNADO...(MONTGOMERY COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.1136/-86.0693 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.1147/-86.0659 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.20 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS START TIME: 820 PM CDT END TIME: 820 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 640 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF US HIGHWAY 231 ACROSS FROM OLD BARNES ROAD. THREE HORSE TRAILERS WERE TOSSED BETWEEN 50 AND 100 FEET. ONE TRAILER WAS DESTROYED. ONE TRAILER WAS REPORTED TO WEIGH 10,000 POUNDS AND WAS BLOWN 50 FEET. TORNADO 8: ...SHOPTON TORNADO...(BULLOCK COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-0 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 60-70 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.1617/-85.9345 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.1621/-85.9335 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 0.10 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 50 YARDS START TIME: 836 PM CDT END TIME: 836 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 640 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF SHOPTON. NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE SHORT PATH. TORNADO 9: ...HIGHLAND LAKE TORNADO...(BLOUNT/ST CLAIR COUNTIES) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 122 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 33.8605/-86.4420 EVENT END LOCATION: 33.8977/-86.3376 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 6.53 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 300 YARDS START TIME: 859 PM CDT END TIME: 910 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 173 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 522 PM TO 900 PM CDT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 27 AND JONES CHAPEL ROAD. THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHEASTWARD AND CROSSED LAKE ROAD, COUNTY ROAD 29, PUTNAM ROAD, HICKS ROAD AND FINALLY LIFTED JUST TO THE WEST OF COUNTY ROAD 24. EIGHTEEN STRUCTURES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED ALONG THE PATH. FOUR STRUCTURES COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SEVEN CHICKEN HOUSES DESTROYED DISPLACING 95,000 CHICKENS. TORNADO 10: ...ASHVILLE TORNADO...(ST CLAIR COUNTY) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-1 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 100 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 33.8643/-86.2199 EVENT END LOCATION: 33.8805/-86.1728 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 2.92 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 75 YARDS START TIME: 921 PM CDT END TIME: 927 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 176 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 845 PM TO 100 AM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 901 PM TO 930 PM CDT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF COUNTY ROAD 25 ON JOSHUA DRIVE. THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST NORTHEAST PARALLELING COUNTY ROAD 25 BEFORE LIFTING JUST TO THE WEST OF MOPAR DRIVE. AT LEAST 50 TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. TORNADO 11: ...PHENIX CITY-COLUMBUS TORNADO...(RUSSELL & MUSCOGEE COUNTIES) EVENT DATE: SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2009 EVENT TYPE: EF-2 TORNADO ESTIMATED PEAK WINDS (MPH): 115 MPH EVENT START LOCATION: 32.4594/-85.0231 EVENT END LOCATION: 32.4745/-84.9564 DAMAGE PATH LENGTH (IN MILES): 4 MILES DAMAGE WIDTH (IN YARDS): 250 YARDS START TIME: 1033 PM CDT END TIME: 1042 PM CDT WATCHES/WARNINGS: TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 176 WAS IN EFFECT FROM 845 PM TO 100 AM CDT. A TORNADO WARNING WAS IN EFFECT FROM 951 PM TO 1045 PM CDT. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 22ND AVENUE AND 17TH STREET IN PHENIX CITY. THE TORNADO TRAVELED THROUGH THE SOUTH END OF PHENIX CITY BEFORE IT CROSSED THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND WENT INTO GEORGIA. THE TORNADO PRODUCED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN COLUMBUS GEORGIA BEFORE IT LIFTED. FIVE BUSINESSES SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. SEVEN HOMES SUFFERED MINOR TO MAJOR DAMAGE MOSTLY TO ROOFS. ONE HUNDRED TO TWO HUNDRED TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH. $$ 75/LINHARES