Tuscumbia/Muscle
Shoals Tornado (F1) [ Back
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A multicell cluster of thunderstorms developed across northeast
Mississippi in the late afternoon hours and moved into northwest
Alabama. These cells eventually split into two distinct cells that
both had supercellular characteristics. The northern of the two
supercells was responsible for this particular tornado. The F1 tornado
with estimated maximum winds of 90 MPH occurred about 4 miles southwest
of Tuscumbia. Initially, the tornado had a width of 100 yards and
produced damage along a 200 yard path length before weakening to
F0 intensity. A gas station suffered extensive damage (pictured).
The tornado finally dissipated just southeast of Muscle Shoals.
Approximate time of the tornado touchdown was 625 PM CDT. Also of
note was a 66 MPH wind gusts reported at the Northwest Alabama Regional
Airport (KMSL) at 633 PM CDT. A tornado warning was issued for Colbert
County at 605 PM CDT.
The Storm Relative Motion (SRM) image from KGWX radar showing
the velocity couplet near the time of the tornado touchdown in Tuscumbia.
Damage at a Tuscumbia Gas Station
Tornado damage in Tuscumbia
Cherokee
(F0) [ Back to
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A short lived F-0 tornado occurred initially about two miles east
of Cherokee, Alabama. The path length of this tornado was around 50
yards with a path width also of 50 yards.
Colbert
Heights/Leighton (F1) [ Back
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A third tornado reaching a maximum wind speed of 90 miles an hour
began a nearly continuous 10 mile path in southeast Colbert County.
The F1 tornado began its path from Colbert Heights Elementary School,
continuing east and northeast to the Colbert Heights High School.
The tornado first produced damage at a ball field near the elementary
school, where the fence was extensively damaged. Across the street
from the elementary school, a manufactured home suffered extensive
roof and porch damage. Most of the roof was blown as much as 100 yards
behind the home. At Colbert Heights High School, damage included a
scoreboard, which was blown and twisted off of its base, and a nearby
baseball dugout at the high school lost its roof. Also, a large antenna
at the high school was twisted in two.
The tornado weakened to F0 intensity about two miles east of Colbert
Heights High School. There was continuous light tree damage along
the path of the tornado until it moved through the Leighton, Alabama
community. Near Leighton, the tornado reached F1 intensity Again
with wind speeds estimated at a maximum of 80 miles an hour. A large
barn suffered extensive roof damage just west of Leighton. The roof
of this barn was blown 200 yards from the structure. Corn stalks
from a nearby field were found embedded between the remaining walls
in the barn. The tornado uprooted five large oak trees in Leighton
before abruptly dissipating on the east side of town.
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