|
The National Weather Service surveyed the damage in Jefferson county on
April 4th, 2000 and determined that both events were produced
by tornadoes.
Forestdale, Sunday, April 2, 2000
The tornado first caused damage just east of Minor Parkway and moved northeast
along Crumley Chapel Road and through the Crumley Chapel community. The
tornado crossed U.S. Highway 78 at the Wal-Mart shopping center and turned
on a more easterly track through a residential area of Forestdale. The
damage became less severe as the tornado crossed Cherry Lane with only minor tree
damage from there to Coalburg Road.
Click on map image for a larger image showing the tornado's path.
Damage along the track was primarily to trees with some minor roof damage to
some houses. A number of houses along the path were severely damaged when
trees, some quite large, fell on the structures.
The tornado path was 4.5 miles long and approximately 400 yards wide. Based
on radar data, the tornado began at 9:51 PM CDT and ended around 9:59 PM CDT.
There have been no deaths or injuries associated with this tornado.
The tornado was classified as a marginal F1 on the Fujita Scale for tornado
classification putting it in the weak category. Wind speeds associated with
an F1 range from 73 to 113 miles an hour. Damage in the area suggested the
wind speed was probably on the lower end of this range probably 75 to 90 MPH.
Jefferson county was placed in a severe thunderstorm warning at 9:34 PM.
The warning was upgraded to a tornado warning at 9:44 PM.
Vestavia Hills-Mountain Brook, Monday, April 3, 2000
The tornado path began on Shades Crest just west of U.S. Highway 31.
The tornado paralleled Shades Crest before moving down a hill and across the
Birmingham Water Works and U.S. Highway 280. The tornado continued to travel
northeasterly just north of Overton Road through a heavily wooded residential
area and continued along Overton Road to Interstate 459. The tornado ended
just east of Interstate 459 in the Cahaba River area in the vicinity of
Liberty Park.
Click on map image for a larger image showing the tornado's path.
Much like the Forestdale tornado, damage was primarily to trees with generally
minor roof damage to structures. Some structures sustained heavy damage when
trees fell on them.
The tornado was classified an F1 tornado with wind speeds of 73 to 113 MPH.
Wind speeds were probably in the range of 80 to 90 MPH. The tornado path was
5.7 miles long and about 350 yards wide. The tornado began at 1:09 PM CDT and
ended at 1:18 PM CDT.
Jefferson county was placed in tornado watch number 155 valid from 10:30 AM CDT
to 4:00 PM CDT. A tornado warning was issued for Jefferson county at
12:29 PM valid until 1:30 PM.
|
www.weather.gov 
National Weather Service Forecast Office
Back to home page