We're going to have to wait on an assessment of the tornado that affected Marion and Franklin Counties in Northwest Alabama. It is my understanding that the National Weather Service offices in Jackson and Birmingham (probably Memphis too) are working together to take their time and do this right. That supercell lasted 100 miles or so and produced a lot of tornado damage. I saw where the damage at Rolling Fork was given a preliminary rating of F-4 and near Winona, the damage was estimated at F-3 level winds for now. With tornado damage this bad, you really have to bring in a team and take a few days to carefully analyze everything. A lot of the general public may want more instant answers than that, but it simply doesn't work that way.
There were about 20-30 people already confirmed dead in Mississippi, but the only death I think we had in Alabama or Tennessee from the storms was near Hartselle, where a tornado (rated F-2) overturned and rolled a single-wide trailer to the point that a man was trapped inside. He was rescued, but then died from his injuries.
For the tornadoes we had in our neck of the woods, getting out of a mobile home and into an anchored-down house, in a small central room on the ground floor, was enough. Some of the places in the path of this supercell thunderstorm across Mississippi, it is obvious to most of us that people really needed to be able to get to an actual storm shelter to have a good chance of surviving without injury. And I think the opportunity to do that was in short supply. I wish people in those situations could get out of a house and into a storm shelter, but maybe I'm being overly idealistic there. (Most in the weather community in modern times would say that I am. They take a fatalistic attitude, that if someone dies while taking shelter properly in a site-built home, it was "just their day to go".) A lot of our problem is just getting people out of mobile homes and into a structure that is properly anchored down to the ground. So that they at least have a chance. Once again, my mind drifts back to one of the best weather discussions I've ever heard, between the tornado outbreaks of April 15 and 27 in 2011. I was particularly impressed by what Tim Coleman said toward the end of the conversation, that he got "the buzzer" for.
Anyway here are the tornado reports for now. I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a deep breath and be glad that most people in the path of these tornadoes, at least in our immediate area, did manage to survive without serious injury. It sure can go worse during an overnight event.
659
NOUS44 KHUN 252312
PNSHUN
ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-261115-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
612 PM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023
...NWS Damage Survey for 03/25/2023 Tornado Event...
.Hartselle Tornado...
Rating: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 115 mph
Path Length /statute/: 13.5601 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 175.0 yards
Fatalities: 1
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 03/25/2023
Start Time: 12:23 AM CDT
Start Location: 8 N Upshaw / Lawrence County / AL
Start Lat/Lon: 34.4016 / -87.1348
End Date: 03/25/2023
End Time: 12:29 AM CDT
End Location: 2 NNE Hartselle / Morgan County / AL
End Lat/Lon: 34.4647 / -86.9139
Survey Summary:
NWS and Morgan County EMA observed extensive damage in western
Morgan County consistent with a low-end EF 2 tornado.
The tornado likely first touched down between CR 203 and Highway 157 in far
eastern Lawrence County. Minor roof damage to chicken houses was
noted at this location before the tornado crossed the highway,
heading toward Danville. Sporadic tree damage was observed near
the Highway 36 and CR 200 area. Minor damage was noted around
Danville High School with the football scoreboard partially
destroyed. The tornado intensified as it tracked east-northeast
toward Targum Rd. Uprooted trees, minor damage to a home, and a
destroyed carport were observed. Tracking east, the tornado
uprooted and snapped a significant number of trees along Iron Man
Rd. and Forest Chapel Rd. While there was heavy structural damage
to single-family homes, the bulk of the damage was due to trees
falling on houses. The tornado remained on the ground uprooting
trees and tracking toward Vaughn Bridge Road. Near the Vaughn
Bridge and Vest Rd intersection, the tornado lifted and snapped
the anchoring system of a single-wide mobile home. This caused
the unit to overturn and role, destroying the home. One fatality
was reported at this location. Given the degree of damage, and
strapping of anchors to the I-beam, the damage indicator held
consistent with expected wind speed values. As the tornado
tracked east, numerous more trees were uprooted causing structure
damage along Highway 31 and further east on Sparkman St and
through Bethel Rd. The tornado likely lifted before the Bethel Rd
and I-65 intersection.
.Laceys Spring...
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 94 mph
Path Length /statute/: 2.09 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 325.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 03/25/2023
Start Time: 12:47 AM CDT
Start Location: 10 WNW Union Grove / Morgan County / AL
Start Lat/Lon: 34.4758 / -86.6003
End Date: 03/25/2023
End Time: 12:50 AM CDT
End Location: 8 WNW Union Grove / Morgan County / AL
End Lat/Lon: 34.479 / -86.5642
Survey Summary:
A NWS damage survey tracked tornado damage in northeastern Morgan
County, associated with the same storm that produced the
Hartselle tornado. Damage was consistent with EF1 winds of 94
mph.
Many damage indicators were in the form of uprooted trees and
minor structural damage. The tornado likely touched down near the
Highway 32 and Crisco Cir intersections. Tracking east-northeast,
numerous trees were uprooted along Rescue Rd. Near Rescue Rd and
Hwy 231, an unanchored shed was destroyed. The tornado crossed
the highway and uprooted many more trees along Old Silo Rd and
also damaged the roof to chicken houses. The tornado likely
lifted just west of the Morgan County and Marshall County line.
&&
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph
NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS
Storm Data.
$$
Barron/Cramer
468
NOUS44 KHUN 252303
PNSHUN
ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-261115-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
603 PM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023
...NWS Damage Survey for 3/24/23 Tornado Event...
.Fayetteville, TN Tornado...
Rating: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 118 mph
Path Length /statute/: 3.9619 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 300 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 03/24/2023
Start Time: 11:59 PM CDT
Start Location: 1 WSW Fayetteville / Lincoln County / TN
Start Lat/Lon: 35.1454 / -86.5794
End Date: 03/25/2023
End Time: 12:05 AM CDT
End Location: 3 E Fayetteville / Lincoln County / TN
End Lat/Lon: 35.1497 / -86.5115
Survey Summary:
An NWS storm survey team analyzed that an EF-2 tornado occurred
in Fayetteville, TN in Lincoln County. The tornado formed on
Amana Ave with minor roof and shingle damage to single family
homes. It tracked due east into the Fairgrounds where it uplifted
reinforced roofing to horse stalls, and destroyed a large
outdoor shed approximately 80ft by 30ft that had several
4x4 support beams anchored with concrete snapped near the base.
The tornado then rolled a large horse trailer next to the
building approximately 80 yards. It continued to snap trees and
power lines heading east. As it approached Hedgemont Avenue,
several residential and commercial structures had roofing and
siding damage. The tornado crossed Main Ave S and snapped several
Bradford Pears, then crossed HWY 231. At the Lincoln Medical
Center, power poles were snapped, debris collided with the front
of the building, several cars were lifted and had their windows
blown out, and an exterior wall was disconnected but not
collapsed. The HVAC system was also toppled on the roof. After
damaging the Medical Center, the tornado went through open fields
and wooded areas where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted.
Before lifting, an awning that was reinforced with 4x4s in
concrete was flipped. Just west of Winchester Highway, the
tornado lifted. Thank you to Lincoln County EMA for their
assistance and guidance throughout the survey process!
&&
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph
NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.
$$
318
NOUS44 KHUN 252331
PNSHUN
ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-261145-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
631 PM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023
...NWS Damage Survey for 03/24/2023 Tornado Event #3...
..Plantation Springs Tornado...
Rating: EF2
Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph
Path Length /statute/: 0.6019 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 100.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 03/24/2023
Start Time: 10:54 PM CDT
Start Location: 1 S Saint Florian / Lauderdale County /
AL
Start Lat/Lon: 34.849 / -87.6285
End Date: 03/24/2023
End Time: 10:56 PM CDT
End Location: 1 SSE Saint Florian / Lauderdale County /
AL
End Lat/Lon: 34.856 / -87.6226
Survey Summary:
Plantation Springs Tornado: The tornado touched down in the
Hunter Ridge subdivision northeast of Florence and south of
Saint Florian along County Road 61, removing part of a roof
at the back of the neighborhood. The tornado then moved
northeast into the Plantation Springs subdivision, damaging
roofs to 2 homes on the southeastern corner of Plantation
Springs Drive around the Blackberry Trail Golf Course. The
tornado then strengthened to its strongest and widest point
between Cottonwood Trail and Karley Lane, producing the most
widespread structure damage along its path here. About half
of the roofs of several homes were destroyed, and the backside
of the homes sustained severe damage as the tornado moved
through the area. At this point, the tornado was about 100 yards
wide, and producing 120mph winds at peak intensity at this
location, classifying it as an EF2 tornado. The last house
on the northeast corner of Plantation Springs Drive sustained
the worst damage near the golf course, with more than half the
roof destroyed and two rooms with walls collapsed at this location.
Thankfully, the tornado lifted shortly after this last house on
the street, and little/no damage was noted to the northeast of
this location back onto County Road 61. Path length was 0.6 miles,
beginning at 10:54 PM and ending at 10:56 PM.
City of Florence Thunderstorm Wind Damage: As a line of severe storms
moved across the city of Florence, numerous trees were snapped and
uprooted. NWS and EMA officials scoured numerous streetsin North
Florence, trying to find some sort of path to the damage, but it
was too widespread to determine that it was a tornado that moved
through the city. Most/all of the trees were blown down and facing
the northeast, including several large oak trees that were several
feet in diameter. After assessing the damage to North Florence, it
was determined that thunderstorm winds of 70-80mph occurred between
North Wood Avenue, Chisolm Road, Hermitage Drive, eastward to
Helton Drive/Hwy 157.
Thanks to the Lauderdale County EMA for their assistance with the
storm surveys.
&&
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph
NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.
$$
No comments:
Post a Comment