News DetailInitial tornado damage surveys from yesterday in FL/AL/GA
Posted At: February 18, 2008 @ 4:59 PM
Posted By: Reed Timmer
Related Categories: Tornadoes
Unofficially, 44 tornadoes were reported with yesterday's tornado outbreak across AL, GA, and the FL Panhandle, and the initial damage surveys are just now becoming available. A majority of the tornadoes were produced by two supercells: one that moved from the Gulf of Mexico across the western FL Panhandle, and through southeast AL into central GA, and a second that ravaged communities west and north of Montgomery, AL. These supercell tracks are clearly evident in the SPC storm reports map below:
The radar loop below (1900-2100 UTC) shows these two supercells at their peak intensity, and are highlighted midway through. The first supercell, that damaged the small community of Molino, FL, developed well ahead of the main convective band, and had a strong mesocyclone for over 7 hours! This cell had unimpeded access to the uncapped warm sector and 500+ 0-1 km helicities, and thus it is not surprising this storm produced several damaging tornadoes. The strongest tornado of the day was actually produced by the cell that moved from southwest AL through just north of Montgomery, AL before dissipating in east-central AL.
According to initial damage surveys from the Birmingham NWS, the latter mentioned supercell produced EF3 damage in the community of Prattville, AL, just to the northwest of Montgomery. As stated below, this tornado was up to 450 yards wide with estimated wind speeds of over 150 mph. 200 homes and 40 businesses were destroyed by this wedge (likely), but incredibly, there were no fatalities reported. In fact, there were zero fatalities from this entire tornado outbreak!
The damage assessment for the Prattville tornado is displayed below:
The radar loop below (1900-2100 UTC) shows these two supercells at their peak intensity, and are highlighted midway through. The first supercell, that damaged the small community of Molino, FL, developed well ahead of the main convective band, and had a strong mesocyclone for over 7 hours! This cell had unimpeded access to the uncapped warm sector and 500+ 0-1 km helicities, and thus it is not surprising this storm produced several damaging tornadoes. The strongest tornado of the day was actually produced by the cell that moved from southwest AL through just north of Montgomery, AL before dissipating in east-central AL.
According to initial damage surveys from the Birmingham NWS, the latter mentioned supercell produced EF3 damage in the community of Prattville, AL, just to the northwest of Montgomery. As stated below, this tornado was up to 450 yards wide with estimated wind speeds of over 150 mph. 200 homes and 40 businesses were destroyed by this wedge (likely), but incredibly, there were no fatalities reported. In fact, there were zero fatalities from this entire tornado outbreak!
The damage assessment for the Prattville tornado is displayed below:
According to initial assessments from the Mobile NWS, the Molino tornado was given an EF1 rating, with scattered EF1 damage assigned throughout the path of the supercell. However, it is unknown whether this was from a single long-track tornado or several intermittent touchdowns. Hopefully this information will become available soon. Stay tuned for updates as the damage assessments are completed...
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I think I am actually learning stuff-I actually "see" the hook in the bottom one!
And to think no fatalities! People are paying attention!! yea!!
video footage of aftermath, hookerton NC F2 3INJ
http://www.wral.com/weather/story/2449091/
Yeah that VERY tornadic supercell thunderstorm tracked tornado traveled through 3 states in 7 hours hmmmm kinda remindes me of the tri-state tornado exsept the tri-state tornado traveled through 3 states in 3 hours!
I think the zero-fatalities mark in this outbreak probably coincides pretty strongly with the tornados happening during daylight hours. Still, it is amazing and a good thing to hear; could have been a lot worse.
Your absolutely right Heidi! also they had about 10-20 min to seek shelter. I rembere on Feb 5 we had a tornado warning we had about 30 minutes to seek shelter!
I agree, it is amazing no one died. It kind of makes me wonder (and worry) about what this year has in store for regular Tornado Alley.... :\
Yeah, I know what you mean AJ, I'm still watching Thursday, and now it looks like next Tuesday might have something as well!
Here is a link to some really good photos of damage in Prattville Al. A member of the VW restoration news group I am a member of posted these after the storm hit his neighborhood.
It is remarkable there were no fatalities .
Reminds me allot of the storms that came through eastern North Carolina when I was In high school in the early 80's...
I send my prayers to the people who just lived through this
http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q129/Vintagevolks/Prattville%20Tornado/
oh yes.... this is a gunna be a good year. Looking foward to seeing some awsome storms in Alberta here. *polishes camera*
Hey guys,
Today has been a very nice day...Weatherwise anyway. Highs have reached the low to mid 60's with abundant sunshine. I won't be decieved though. Winter makes a return tonight- with highs falling into the 20's Wednesday and a risk for light freezing rain/drizzle through Thursday! We'll see, I got all hyped out over the last storm and nothing happened. :-|
Yeah AJ if where haveing bad tornadoes now think of what it will be like in April and May If my prodictions are right we may have another EF-5 in any given state.
What quite the storm long time no see you guys
Whats up latley?
WHATS UP? I don't believe I've met you! I've only been on here since about last april....
Very Amazing how no fatalities were reported!! I hope more outbreaks end up like that!! Sure has been alotta tornado damage already this year!!
More Cold to the north! It's only -3f right now, but it could get down to -22f again tonight and tomorrow night here! I really don't know how much more of this deep freeze I can handle!! =(
Is that Rob by any chance?
It's been a long time! How are things up north?
Its gus caleb you should remember me i was talking all summer Its really cold -35 celceuis this morning. So its cold
Talk to you guys later