Tornado Surveys Nearing Completion

I’ve done it many times, so I know it takes a lot of work on the part of the NWS to get out to review tornado damage paths to evaluate them and arrive at damage classification. Documenting this information is critical to establish an accurate climatology of tornadoes in our area. The full statement is shown below and it is rather long. I’ve added bolding to the different segments to help navigate through this lengthy message.

-Brian-

NOUS44 KBMX 022250 CCB
PNSBMX
ALZ011>015-017>050-040000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
550 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 2014

...NWS DAMAGE SURVEYS FOR APRIL 28-29 TORNADO EVENT...

.UPDATE...
ADDED BAZEMORE TORNADO (FAYETTE AND MARION COUNTIES).
ADDED BOLDO TORNADO (WALKER COUNTY).
ADDED HIGHLAND LAKES TORNADO (ST. CLAIR...BLOUNT AND ETOWAH
COUNTIES).

EXTENDED PATH OF KIMBERLY TORNADO INTO BLOUNT COUNTY.

ADJUSTED BEGINNING POINT AND INCREASED LENGTH OF AIRPORT ROAD
TORNADO (BLOUNT COUNTY).

.OVERVIEW...
ALL SURVEYS FOR THE TORNADO EVENT OF APRIL 28-29 HAVE BEEN
COMPLETED. A TOTAL OF 18 TORNADOES WERE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE
BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE COUNTY WARNING AREA. TWO
OF THESE TORNADOES MOVED INTO ALABAMA FROM MISSISSIPPI...AND ONE
TORNADO MOVED INTO THE HUNTSVILLE OFFICE COUNTY WARNING AREA.

WITHIN CENTRAL ALABAMA THERE WERE:
TWO EF-0 TORNADOES...
NINE EF-1 TORNADOES...
FOUR EF-2 TORNADOES...AND
TWO EF-3 TORNADOES.

THE DETAILS OF A TORNADO PATH NEAR THE SILOAM COMMUNITY...IN
SOUTHERN SUMTER COUNTY...ARE STILL BEING FINALIZED.

THE DETAILS FOR ALL OTHER CENTRAL ALABAMA TORNADOES FOLLOWS.


.WILLIAMS CREEK TORNADO (MARION COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    85 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   7.6 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    100 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             538 PM
START LOCATION:         3 MILES NNW OF HAMILTON
START LAT/LON:          34.1854/-87.9980

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               553 PM
END LOCATION:           9.25 MILES NE OF HAMILTON
END LAT/LON:            34.2460/-87.8874

SURVEY SUMMARY: THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
COUNTY ROAD 75 AND BISHOP ROAD...IN A RURAL AREA NORTHWEST OF THE
CITY OF HAMILTON. IT REMAINED IN A LARGELY RURAL AREA AS IT
TRAVELLED ABOUT 7.6 MILES NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF MARION
COUNTY BETWEEN THE CITIES OF HAMILTON AND HACKELBURG. DAMAGE WAS
PRIMARILY CONFINED TO UPROOTED TREES AND BRANCHES THAT WERE SNAPPED
OFF. ONE BUILDING ON COUNTY ROAD 29 HAD SOME SHINGLES BLOWN
OFF...AND A SHED IN THE SAME AREA WAS DAMAGED. AFTER CROSSING
AL-187...THE TORNADO LIFTED ALONG US-43 JUST BEFORE REACHING THE
HACKELBURG CITY LIMITS.


.MELBORNE TORNADO (LAMAR COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   7.84 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    500 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             0623 PM
START LOCATION:         5 MILES SW OF MELBORNE
START LAT/LON:          33.5373/-88.2731

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               0633 PM
END LOCATION:           4 MILES NW OF MILLPORT
END LAT/LON:            33.5785/-88.1516

SURVEY SUMMARY: A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY TEAM
INVESTIGATED DAMAGE IN SOUTHERN LAMAR COUNTY AND DETERMINED IT
WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1 TORNADO. THIS TORNADO ORIGINATED IN
LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI AND CONTINUED INTO SOUTHERN LAMAR
COUNTY FOR SEVERAL MILES. AS THE TORNADO ENTERED LAMAR COUNTY
ALONG STATE ROAD 96, DOZENS OF TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED.
THE TORNADO THEN MOVED THROUGH THE LACEY BROOKE COMMUNITY WHERE
SEVERAL WELL-BUILT HOMES SUSTAINED MINOR ROOF AND EXTERIOR DAMAGE.
THE TORNADO TRAVELED EAST-NORTHEAST NEARLY PARALLEL TO STATE ROAD
96 AND CONTINUED TO CAUSE TREE DAMAGE BEFORE CAUSING ADDITIONAL
TREE DAMAGE ALONG FERNBANK ROAD. THE TORNADO DISSIPATED NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF FERNBANK ROAD AND MUD CREEK ROAD WHERE ONLY SMALL
LIMBS WERE DAMAGED.


.ETHELSVILLE TORNADO (PICKENS COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    120 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   6.15 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    500 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               5

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             0654 PM
START LOCATION:         6 MILES NW OF ETHELSVILLE
START LAT/LON:          33.4894/-88.2786

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               0702 PM
END LOCATION:           5 MILES W OF SHAW
END LAT/LON:            33.5107/-88.1759

SURVEY SUMMARY: A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM SURVEY
TEAM INVESTIGATED DAMAGE IN NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY AND
DETERMINED IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-2 TORNADO. THIS TORNADO
ORIGINATED IN LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI AND CONTINUED INTO
NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTY FOR SEVERAL MILES. AS THE TORNADO ENTERED
PICKENS COUNTY ALONG CR 30, MULTIPLE STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED
INCLUDING SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES AND SEVERAL SITE-BUILT HOMES. THE
WORST DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG CR 30 AS A SITE-BUILT HOME SHIFTED OFF
ITS FOUNDATION AND TRAPPED 10 PEOPLE IN THE BASEMENT. ALL OF THEM
SURVIVED, BUT 5 PEOPLE WERE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH
MINOR INJURIES. CR 30 ALSO HAD SEVERAL MOBILE HOMES THAT WERE
COMPLETELY DESTROYED ALONG WITH ONE SMALL CONCRETE BUILDING THAT
HAD ITS ROOF REMOVED AND ONE EXTERIOR WALL COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEAST ACROSS HIGHWAY 82 AND BEGAN TO
WEAKEN ALONG BAINES ROAD WHERE SEVERAL ROOFS SUSTAINED MINOR
DAMAGE AND SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED. THE TORNADO THEN RAPIDLY
DISSIPATED NEAR TABERNACLE ROAD WHERE ONLY SPORADIC DAMAGE WAS
FOUND. IT IS ALSO NOTEWORTHY THAT SEVERAL DAMAGE POINTS SOUTH OF
THE TORNADO TRACK WERE CONSISTENT WITH STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS.


.BAZEMORE TORNADO (FAYETTE AND MARION COUNTIES)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   7.1 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    350 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             735 PM
START LOCATION:         3 MILES SE OF GLEN ALLEN
START LAT/LON:          33.8878/-87.7094

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               743 PM
END LOCATION:           5 MILES NW OF ELDRIDGE
END LAT/LON:            33.9844/-87.6764

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN NORTHEASTERN FAYETTE COUNTY AND SOUTHEAST MARION COUNTY
AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1
TORNADO. MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 100 MPH. THE TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 73 AND COUNTY ROAD
53 WHERE 5 TO 10 TREES WERE EITHER SNAPPED OR UPROOTED WITH SOME
MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOME. THE TORNADO THEN CROSSED COUNTY ROAD 65
NEAR ELDRIDGE ROAD...WHERE A COUPLE OF OUTBUILDINGS LOST PORTIONS OF
THEIR ROOF.  THE TORNADO THEN INTENSIFIED AS IT CROSSED COUNTY ROAD
53 NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ELDRIDGE ROAD. HERE...A COUPLE OF
OUTBUILDINGS WERE NEAR TOTAL LOSSES...DOZENS OF TREES WERE BLOWN
DOWN...AND A RESIDENCE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE TORNADO WEAKENED
AS IT MOVED TO THE NORTH AND EAST...AND IT LIFTED NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 30 AND RAMSOAR HOLLOW ROAD.


.BOLDO TORNADO (WALKER COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    90 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   2.3 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    150 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             840 PM
START LOCATION:         1 MILE SW OF BOLDO
START LAT/LON:          33.8343/-87.1742

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               843 PM
END LOCATION:           1 MILE NE OF BOLDO
END LAT/LON:            33.8617/-87.1719

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN NORTHEASTERN WALKER COUNTY AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1 TORNADO...WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 90
MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF RICHARDSON ROAD...IN THE
BOLDO COMMUNITY...WHERE A COUPLE OF TREES WERE UPROOTED. THE TORNADO
TRAVELED TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST...CROSSING GOLF COURSE ROAD AND SOUTH
PINE DRIVE...UPROOTING SEVERAL TREES. IT STRENGTHENED AS IT CROSSED
BOLDO ROAD...WHERE SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED...AND
MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE OCCURRED TO A HOUSE. IT THEN CROSSED
AL-69...UPROOTING A COUPLE OF TREES AND CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO A
CHURCH. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO THE NORTHEAST...UPROOTING SEVERAL
MORE TREES AND CAUSING MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE TO ANOTHER HOME BEFORE
LIFTING ALONG ROBINSON ROAD...JUST NORTH OF HIGHWAY 69.


.LITTLE SANDY CREEK TORNADO (TUSCALOOSA COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   9.4 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    1400 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               13

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             0959 PM
START LOCATION:         2 MILES NE OF LITTLE SANDY
START LAT/LON:          33.0723/-87.5737

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1020 PM
END LOCATION:           2 MILES S OF COTTONDALE
END LAT/LON:            33.1559/-87.4492

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN SOUTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1 TORNADO. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO
BE AROUND 100 MPH. THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN ON THE NORTH
SIDE OF PHARES HINTON ROAD, ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE WEST OF HIGHWAY
69. THE TORNADO MOVED NORTH-NORTHEAST...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING
HUNDREDS OF TREES AND CAUSING MINOR SHINGLE DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS
HOMES AS IT MOVED THROUGH SEVERAL SUBDIVISIONS. AS THE TORNADO
CONTINUED NORTH AND EASTWARD...THE TORNADO CROSSED OLD GREENSBORO
ROAD...UPROOTING AND SNAPPING THE TRUNKS OF NUMEROUS LARGE...OLD
HARDWOODS AT THE LITTLE SANDY BAPTIST CHURCH. THE TORNADO THEN
CONTINUED NORTHEAST ACROSS HIGHWAY 69...DOWNING MULTIPLE TREES ON
THE EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE TORNADO THEN TOOK ON A MORE
EASTERLY MOVEMENT...PRODUCING SPORADIC TREE DAMAGE UNTIL REACHING
THE TAYLORWOOD ESTATES SUBDIVISION AND THE BEAR CREEK TRAILER
PARK. IN THIS AREA THE TORNADO SNAPPED OR UPROOTED HUNDREDS OF
TREES. THE TORNADO THEN MOVED EAST-NORTHEAST CAUSING SPORADIC TREE
DAMAGE AS IT CROSS HIGHWAY 82 AND CONTINUED ACROSS HARGROVE ROAD.
JUST WEST OF HARGROVE ROAD...THE TORNADO AGAIN UPROOTED AND
SNAPPED NUMEROUS HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD TREES...CAUSING MAJOR
DAMAGE TO ABOUT 25 MOBILE HOMES AS TREES FELL ON THE HOMES. ONE
SMALL PORCH WAS RIPPED FROM A DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME. THE TORNADO
THEN MOVED THROUGH THE WOODLAND FOREST SUBDIVISION...UPROOTING AND
SNAPPING HUNDREDS MORE TREES. AS THE TORNADO APPROACHED BUTTERMILK
ROAD...THE SOUTHERLY WINDS GOT UNDER THE SOFFIT OF A SINGLE FAMILY
HOME...RIPPING OUT A SMALL PORTION OF THE ROOF. THE TORNADO CAUSED
MINOR ROOF DAMAGE AND UPROOTED SEVERAL TREES ON THE EAST SIDE
BUTTERMILK ROAD...BEFORE FINALLY LIFTING.


.KIMBERLY TORNADO (JEFFERSON COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   8.7 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    800 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               4 MINOR

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             1000 PM CDT
START LOCATION:         1 MILE WNW OF MORRIS
START LAT/LON:          33.7514/-86.8303

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1017 PM
END LOCATION:           2.1 MILES SSW OF HAYDEN
END LAT/LON:            33.8635/-86.7645

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN NORTHERN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1 TORNADO. WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO
BE AROUND 100 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR INTERSTATE
65...ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE SOUTH OF SARDIS ROAD. THE TORNADO MOVED
TO THE NORTHEAST AND CROSSED INTERSTATE 65...SNAPPING AND
UPROOTING HUNDREDS OF TREES ALONG THE PATH. AS THE TORNADO
CONTINUED TO THE NORTHEAST AND MOVED INTO THE CITY LIMITS OF
KIMBERLY...SEVERAL STRUCTURES WERE DAMAGED. IN KIMBERLY...A VACANT
LARGE RETAIL BUILDING HAD ITS ROOF REMOVED. THE MOST EXTENSIVE
DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE KIMBERLY CHURCH OF GOD WHERE UPLIFT OF MOST
OF THE ROOF STRUCTURE RESULTED IN EXTERIOR WALL COLLAPSE. THE
TORNADO CROSSED STOUTS ROAD...WHERE THE KIMBERLY FIRE DEPARTMENT
SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO SNAP DOZENS OF
TREES AS IT MOVED NORTHEAST...AND SEVERAL HOMES HAD SHINGLE DAMAGE.
AS THE TORNADO CROSSED BRADFORD TRAFFORD ROAD...MULTIPLE TREES WERE
UPROOTED...WITH ONE FALLING ON A HOME CAUSING MAJOR ROOF DAMAGE. IT
BEGAN TO WEAKEN AS IT CROSSED INTO BLOUNT COUNTY...WHERE SPORADIC
TREE DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED. IT LIFTED NEAR SAGEFIELD LANE.


.GRAYSVILLE TORNADO (JEFFERSON COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    125 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   5.45 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    1800 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               3 MINOR

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             1013 PM
START LOCATION:         3 MILES SSW OF ADAMSVILLE
START LAT/LON:          33.5856/-87.0055

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1023 PM
END LOCATION:           2 MILES SSW OF BROOKSIDE
END LAT/LON:            33.6284/-86.9323

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-2 TORNADO. MAXIMUM WINDS WERE
ESTIMATED TO BE 125 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR OAK LEAF
CIRCLE. IT THEN TRAVELED TO THE NORTHEAST...SNAPPING AND UPROOTED
DOZENS OF TREES ALONG ITS PATH. THE TORNADO INTENSIFIED AS IT NEARED
CRUCE ROAD JUST SOUTH OF GRAYSVILLE. HERE...APPROXIMATELY FOUR
MANUFACTURED HOMES SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE...WITH ONE BEING
COMPLETELY DESTROYED AFTER IT ROLLED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON
ITS NORTHEAST PATH...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING HUNDREDS OF TREES. AS IT
NEARED ADAMSVILLE PARKWAY...TWO BRICK HOMES SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM
PARTIAL EXTERIOR WALL COLLAPSE. ADDITIONALLY...ANOTHER MANUFACTURED
HOME SUSTAINED DAMAGE. AS THE TORNADO CROSSED OVER ADAMSVILLE
PARKWAY...MULTIPLE HOMES SUSTAINED MINOR TO MODERATE ROOF
DAMAGE...WITH SEVERAL HOMES HAVING LARGE PORTIONS OF THEIR ROOFS
REMOVED. ONE HOME SUSTAINED A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ROOF AND THE
COLLAPSE OF 2 EXTERIOR WALLS. THE TORNADO TOOK A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN
AS IT CROSSED INTERSTATE 22 NEAR CHERRY AVE ...BEFORE LIFTING ALONG
BROOKSIDE CARDIFF ROAD NEAR MCCAY RD.


.ABERNANT TORNADO (TUSCALOOSA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    105 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   4.4 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    675 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             1055 PM
START LOCATION:         2 MILES NE OF EAST BROOKWOOD
START LAT/LON:          33.3129/-87.2197

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1104 PM
END LOCATION:           2 MILES NW OF WELLER
END LAT/LON:            33.3587/-87.1667

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN NORTHERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY AND EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY
AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1
TORNADO. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY TWO-TENTHS OF A
MILE NORTH OF MILLDALE ROAD. IT THEN TRAVELED TO THE
NORTHEAST...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING TREES. THE TORNADO CROSSED
GRIFFEN RIDGE ROAD...RIDGE ROAD...AND THEN WELLER ROAD...WHERE
TREES WERE UPROOTED ALONG EACH ROAD. THE TORNADO CROSSED INTO
JEFFERSON COUNTY APPROXIMATELY THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE NORTH OF
WELLER ROAD AND CONTINUED TO PRODUCE MINOR TREE DAMAGE. IT LIFTED
JUST INSIDE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY LINE...APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE EAST
OF SEALY ANN MOUNTAIN ROAD.


.NORTH JOHNS TORNADO (JEFFERSON COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    105 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   7.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    913 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             1100 PM
START LOCATION:         4 MILES SW OF NORTH JOHNS
START LAT/LON:          33.3162/-87.1110

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1119
END LOCATION:           5 MILES NE OF NORTH JOHNS
END LAT/LON:            33.4009/-87.0313

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-1 TORNADO...WITH MAXIMUM WINDS
ESTIMATED TO BE 105 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY
THREE-TENTHS OF A MILE NORTHEAST OF ALICE ROAD. THE TORNADO
TRAVELED TO THE NORTHEAST...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING HUNDREDS OF
TREES ALONG THE PATH. IT CONTINUED NEARLY PARALLEL TO BLUE CREEK
ROAD...AND THEN TRAVELED OVER PRIVATE PROPERTY...WHERE IT CONTINUED
TO PRODUCE DAMAGE. THE TORNADO NEARED VALLEY CREEK...AND
ADDITIONAL TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. IT CONTINUED ON ITS
NORTHEAST PATH...EVENTUALLY CROSSING JOHNS ROAD...WERE SEVERAL
TREES WERE SNAPPED. THE TORNADO LIFTED APPROXIMATELY ONE-TENTH OF
A MILE NORTHEAST OF SUNNYHILL DRIVE.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO FRANK EARNEST FOR HIS ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING
THIS SURVEY.


.BESSEMER TORNADO (JEFFERSON COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    120 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   4.9 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    600 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             1116 PM
START LOCATION:         2 MILES WSW OF BESSEMER
START LAT/LON:          33.3592/-86.9950

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1125 PM
END LOCATION:           3 MILES NNE OF BESSEMER
END LAT/LON:            33.4109/-86.9344

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN BESSEMER AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT
WITH AN EF-2 TORNADO. MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 120 MPH.
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR ACADEMY DRIVE. IT THEN TRAVELED TO THE
NORTHEAST...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING DOZENS OF TREES ALONG ITS PATH. IN
ADDITION...DOZENS OF HOMES HAD TREES DOWN ON THEM JUST TO THE
NORTHEAST OF ACADEMY DRIVE. THE TORNADO INTENSIFIED AS IT NEARED THE
FRANK HOUSE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE WHERE THE CLUBHOUSE WAS DESTROYED.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED ON ITS NORTHEAST PATH...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING
HUNDREDS OF TREES. SEVERAL HOMES AND AN APARTMENT COMPLEX
EXPERIENCED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE NEAR MEMORIAL DR. THE TORNADO
CONTINUED TO THE NORTHEAST AS IT PARALLELED 4TH AVE N...HUNDREDS OF
TREES WERE UPROOTED BEFORE IT LIFTED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
DARTMOUTH AVE AND 32ND ST S. MORE DETAILS MAY BE ADDED LATER.


.AIRPORT ROAD TORNADO (BLOUNT COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    105 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   7.8 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    1000 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/28/2014
START TIME:             1122 PM
START LOCATION:         3.9 MILES SSW OF ONEONTA
START LAT/LON:          33.9368/-86.4167

END DATE:               04/28/2014
END TIME:               1135 PM
END LOCATION:           4.75 MILES ENE OF ONEONTA
END LAT/LON:            33.9705/-86.3934

SURVEY SUMMARY: THIS TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF
BOAT LANDING ROAD AND SEVEN MILE ROAD...ABOUT 4 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE CITY OF ONEONTA...WHERE IT DAMAGED AND
UPROOTED SEVERAL TREES. FROM THERE IT MOVED NORTHEASTWARD...
PRACTICALLY PARALLELLING THE RIDGE OF STRAIGHT MOUNTAIN FOR NEARLY 8
MILES. IT REMAINED OVER LARGELY RURAL AREAS FOR MUCH OF ITS PATH. IT
BROADENED TO 1000 YARDS WIDE JUST AFTER CORSSING US-231. DAMAGE
ALONG US-231 CONSISTED OF MAINLY SNAPPED PINES AND UPROOTED
HARDWOODS. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO A FEW HOMES AND BUILDINGS IN
THE AREA...BUT ONE CHICKEN BARN WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. THE TORNADO
MOVED NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS WADSWORTH ROAD AND CONTINUED TO
CAUSE WIDESPREAD TREE DAMAGE. IT CONTINUED TO SLOWLY CROSS AIRPORT
ROAD DIAGONALLY...WITH CONTINUED TREE DAMAGE AND PREDOMINANTLY MINOR
ROOF DAMAGE TO HOMES...AND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OUTBUILDINGS AND
HAY BARNS. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WAS A SMALL OLDER HOME THAT SUSTAINED
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE TORNADO MAINTAINED ITS STRENGTH AS IT
CROSSED COUNTY ROAD 20...LOWES ROAD...AND FINALLY AIRPORT ROAD ONCE
AGAIN BEFORE DISSIPATING RAPIDLY AT THE AIRPORT.


.SARDIS CITY TORNADO (ETWOWAH COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    100 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   6.3 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    200 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/29/2014
START TIME:             1217 AM
START LOCATION:         2 MILES W OF ROCKLEDGE
START LAT/LON:          34.0896/-86.1550

END DATE:               04/29/2014
END TIME:               1228 AM
END LOCATION:           1 MILES NW OF SARDIS CITY
END LAT/LON:            34.1776/-86.1319

SURVEY SUMMARY: A SHORT-LIVED TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG EGYPT
ROAD NEAR VAUGHN LANE SNAPPING A FEW TREES. THE TORNADO TRACKED
NORTH-NORTHEAST AND INTENSIFIED NEAR SHADY GROVE ROAD WHERE A
SINGLE-WIDE MANUFACTURED HOME WAS NEARLY DESTROYED. NEAR THE
INTERSECTION OF MOUNTAINBORO ROAD AND CARLISLE CUT OFF A HOUSE WAS
SHIFTED OFF ITS FOUNDATION...BUT THE HOUSE ITSELF SUSTAINED ONLY
MINOR ROOF DAMAGE. A WOOD BARN OUT IN A FIELD WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED.
JUST SOUTH OF LAWSON GAP ROAD...SEVERAL TRAILERS WERE DAMAGED WITH
ONE LOSING ITS ROOF AND PORTION OF ITS EXTERIOR WALLS. TREES WERE
SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ON THE WEST SIDE OF MOUTAINBORO ROAD.

THE TORNADO WAS AT ITS PEAK INTENSITY ALONG MOUTAINBORO ROAD
BETWEEN SHADY GROVE ROAD AND LAWSON GAP ROAD...WITH MAXIMUM WINDS
BETWEEN 90 AND 100 MPH.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTH APPROACHING HIGHWAY 431. ADDITIONAL
DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG SKYHAVEN DRIVE...WHERE A TWO-STORY HOUSE LOST
A PORTION OF ITS ROOF COVERING. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED OR
UPROOTED AROUND THIS LOCATION AS WELL. TO THE NORTH...OFF DOUGLAS
DRIVE...A MANUFACTURED SINGLE-WIDE HOME LOST MOST OF ITS ROOF...ITS
ENTIRE GARAGE/CAR PORT AND A GOOD PORTION OF ONE EXTERIOR WALL. AT
THE INTERSECTION HIGHWAY 205 AND 431...TREES WERE SNAPPED ALONG THE
TORNADO PATH. THIS IS WHERE THE TORNADO CROSSED HIGHWAY 431. BETWEEN
COX GAP ROAD AND GAINES STREET...SEVERAL LARGE TREES WERE SNAPPED OR
UPROOTED AND DISPLAYED A CONVERGENT PATH TOWARD THE CENTER LINE OF
THE TORNADO. THE TORNADO CROSSED SARDIS ROAD SNAPPING A FEW TREES
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF SARDIS ROAD AND SARDIS CUT OFF ROAD. NO
ADDITIONAL DAMAGE THAT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THIS TORNADO WAS SEEN
NORTH OF THIS LOCATION.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE
ALABAMA FOR COMPLETING THIS SURVEY.


.HIGHLAND LAKES TORNADO (ST. CLAIR...BLOUNT...AND ETOWAH COUNTIES)...

RATING:                 EF-2
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    130 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   14.6 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    1300 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               1

START DATE:             04/29/2014
START TIME:             1224 AM
START LOCATION:         4 MILES WNW OF SPRINGVILLE
START LAT/LON:          33.7993/-86.5395

END DATE:               04/29/2014
END TIME:               1243 AM
END LOCATION:           4 MILES WNW OF HORSE PENS FORTY
END LAT/LON:            33.9473/-86.3652

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN EXTREME NORTHWESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY...EASTERN BLOUNT AND
EXTREME WESTERN ETOWAH COUNTIES AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE
IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-2 TORNADO. MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO
BE 130 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST NORTH OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
LANE IN EXTREME NORTHWESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY. THE TORNADO
STRENGTHENED AS IT MOVED TO THE NORTHEAST WITH SOME OF THE MOST
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRING JUST NORTH OF PINE MOUNTAIN ROAD. AT THIS
LOCATION...A HOME THAT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION BUT ALMOST COMPLETELY
FINISHED WAS SWEPT OFF OF ITS FOUNDATION AND THROWN ABOUT 50 YARDS
INTO A LAKE. A SMALL UTILITY TRAILER WAS ALSO THROWN ABOUT 25 TO 50
YARDS. DOZENS OF TREES WERE EITHER SNAPPED OR UPROOTED IN  THIS AREA
AS WELL. THE TORNADO MAINTAINED ITS INTENSITY AS IT MOVED TO THE
NORTHEAST...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING THOUSANDS OF TREES. A SINGLE WIDE
AND A DOUBLE WIDE MANUFACTURED HOME WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED ON
DUMAS BRIDGE ROAD....AND AT THIS LOCATION THERE WAS ONE INJURY.
THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD AND CROSSED HIGHLAND LAKE. AS IT
CROSSED THE LAKE...IT WAS 1000 YARDS WIDE AND MOWED DOWN FORESTED
AREAS...SNAPPING OR UPROOTING EVERY TREE IN ITS PATH. ON THE SHORES
OF THE LAKE...SEVERAL HOMES RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE DIRECTLY FROM
TORNADIC WINDS. ON ECHO LANE...A WELL BUILT SINGLE FAMILY HOME HAD
ITS ROOF COMPLETELY REMOVED ...2-BY-6 EXTERIOR WALLS REMAINED
STANDING...AND NON-LOADBARING WALLS WERE BUCKLED. THE NEIGHBORING
HOME ALSO HAD ITS ROOF TORN OFF WITH SOME EXTERIOR WALLS COLLAPSING.
A THREE STORY HOME ACROSS THE SLOUGH HAD MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND
WAS PARTIALLY SHIFTED OFF ITS FOUNDATION. THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO
RAVAGE THE NORTH SHORE OF HIGHLAND LAKE AS IT CONTINUED
NORTHEASTWARD...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING MORE TREES AND DAMAGING
SEVERAL MORE HOMES. IT SEEMED TO WEAKEN SOMEWHAT AS IT CROSSED
COUNTY ROAD 29...WITH TREE DAMAGE MORE SPORADIC THAN IT HAD BEEN. IT
CROSSED ROGERS ROAD...THEN BEGAN A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT AS IT
WEAKENED SOMEWHAT AND DAMAGE BECAME MORE SPORADIC. AFTER THE TORNADO
CROSSED US-231 IT BEGAN TO NARROW AND WEAKEN FURTHER... BEFORE
ENDING ON HUTCHINS DRIVE NEAR THE BLOUNT/ETOWAH COUNTY LINE.


.OWENS CREEK TORNADO (ETOWAH COUNTY PORTION)...

RATING:                 EF-3
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    155 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/:  2.7 MILES (WITHIN ETOWAH COUNTY)
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/:   600 YARDS - 1/3 MILE
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               UNKNOWN

START DATE:             APR 29 2014
START TIME:             12:32 AM CDT
START LOCATION:         NEAR BROW RD /NORTHERN ETOWAH COUNTY/
START LAT/LON:          34.16728 / -86.05076

END DATE:               APR 29 2014
END TIME:               12:37 AM CDT
END LOCATION:           6.2 SSW CROSSVILLE /DEKALB COUNTY LINE/
END LAT/LON:            34.1995 / -86.0190

SURVEY SUMMARY: INFORMATION ABOVE IS FOR ETOWAH COUNTY PORTION OF
TORNADO PATH ONLY.

THE TORNADO INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN JUST SOUTH OF BROW ROAD IN
NORTHERN ETOWAH COUNTY...ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF SARDIS
CITY...SNAPPING AND UPROOTING MANY TREES. THE TORNADO RAPIDLY
INTENSIFIED AS IT TRACKED NORTHEAST AND CROSSED LIBERTY HILL AND
HORTON GAP ROADS. SEVERE DAMAGE OCCURRED ALONG LIBERTY HILL ROAD
WHERE A HOME WAS LIFTED OFF ITS BLOCK FOUNDATION AND MOVED ABOUT
60-80 FEET FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION. DESPITE THIS...MOST OF THE
EXTERIOR WALLS /AND EVEN A PORTION OF THE ROOF/ REMAINED INTACT.
NUMEROUS TREES AROUND THIS PROPERTY WERE SNAPPED NEAR THE BASE
INDICATING VERY STRONG WINDS. JUST WEST OF THIS LOCATION...SEVERAL
MANUFACTURED HOMES/TRAILERS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. TWO OTHER
HOMES SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT ROOF LOSS AND EXTERIOR WALL DAMAGE.
ALONG HORTON GAP ROAD...A TWO-STORY HOME WAS DESTROYED WITH JUST A
FEW INTERIOR WALLS LEFT STANDING. MUCH OF THE DEBRIS WAS THROWN
SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION AND TREES WERE
LITERALLY RIPPED OUT OF THE GROUND AND THROWN. JUST NORTHEAST OF
THIS LOCATION...A LARGE WOOD-FRAMED CHICKEN HOUSE WAS DESTROYED.

AT THESE LOCATIONS...THE TORNADO WAS AT ITS PEAK INTENSITY WITH
WINDS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 135 AND 155 MPH...GIVING IT A RATING OF
EF-3.

ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE TRACK...DAMAGE WAS SEEN ALONG
OWENS ROAD /WEST OF THE TRACK/ AND RODEN ROAD /EAST/. STRUCTURAL
DAMAGE RESULTING IN LOSS OF ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALLS/SIDE PANELS
WAS SEEN ALONG WITH NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. THE
TORNADO CROSSED VERY NEAR WHERE THE RODEN AND OWENS ROADS
INTERSECT...JUST SOUTH OF THE ETOWAH/DEKALB COUNTY LINE.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO BE STRONG /EF-2 INTENSITY/ AS IT CROSSED
INTO DEKALB COUNTY.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE
ALABAMA FOR COMPLETING THIS SURVEY.


.SOCIETY HILL TORNADO (MACON COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-0
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    75 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   1.24 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    75 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               0

START DATE:             04/29/2014
START TIME:             0325 AM
START LOCATION:         1 MILE SW OF SOCIETY HILL
START LAT/LON:          32.4170/-85.4585

END DATE:               04/29/2014
END TIME:               0327 AM
END LOCATION:           0.5 MILE NW OF SOCIETY HILL
END LAT/LON:            32.4322/-85.4470

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN NORTHWESTERN MACON COUNTY AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE
DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-0 TORNADO...WITH MAXIMUM WINDS
ESTIMATED TO BE 85 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG RED
ROAD...APPROXIMATELY SIX-TENTHS OF A MILE SOUTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY
80. IT TRAVELED TO THE NORTHEAST...WHERE SEVERAL TREES WERE
SNAPPED. AS THE TORNADO NEARED U.S. HIGHWAY 80...THE SOCIETY HILL
METHODIST CHURCH SUSTAINED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE. THE TORNADO
CONTINUED TO THE NORTHEAST...CROSSING U.S. HIGHWAY 80...WHERE
SEVERAL TREES WERE UPROOTED. THE TORNADO LIFTED ALONG COUNTY ROAD
43...APPROXIMATELY FOUR-TENTHS OF A MILE NORTH OF U.S. HIGHWAY 80.


.CRAWFORD/SALEM TORNADO (RUSSELL AND LEE COUNTY)...

RATING:                 EF-3
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND:    140 MPH
PATH LENGTH/STATUTE/:   11.5 MILES
PATH WIDTH/MAXIMUM/:    1200 YARDS
FATALITIES:             0
INJURIES:               13

START DATE:             04/29/2014
START TIME:             0356 AM
START LOCATION:         3 MILES NW OF CRAWFORD
START LAT/LON:          32.4650/-85.2336

END DATE:               04/29/2014
END TIME:               0412 AM
END LOCATION:           2 MILES NE OF SMITHS STATION
END LAT/LON:            32.5680/-85.0804

SURVEY SUMMARY: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS SURVEYED
DAMAGE IN NORTHERN RUSSELL COUNTY AND SOUTHERN LEE COUNTY AND
DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN EF-3 TORNADO, WITH
MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 140 MPH. THE TORNADO TOUCHED
DOWN ONE-TENTH OF A MILE WEST OF FLOURNEY ROAD IN RUSSELL COUNTY,
WHERE SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED. IT THEN TRAVELED TO THE NORTHEAST,
WHERE IT SNAPPED AND UPROOTED DOZENS OF TREES. THE TORNADO
CROSSED INTO LEE COUNTY, APPROXIMATELY THREE-TENTHS OF A MILE WEST
OF COUNTY LINE ROAD. IT CONTINUED TO THE NORTHEAST AND
STRENGTHENED TO ITS MAXIMUM INTENSITY NEAR ALABAMA HIGHWAY 169. IN
THIS LOCATION, APPROXIMATELY 6 MANUFACTURED HOMES WERE LIFTED,
ROLLED, AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED. ADDITIONALLY, A SPLIT LEVEL HOME
HAD ITS ROOF AND THE EXTERIOR WALLS OF THE TOP FLOOR REMOVED.
THREE WOOD FRAME HOMES WERE ALSO LIFTED OFF THEIR FOUNDATION AND
COMPLETELY DESTROYED. SEVERAL MORE HOMES SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE.
HUNDREDS OF TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF OR WERE UPROOTED, WITH SEVERAL
TREES DEBARKED. FROM HERE, THE TORNADO TRAVELED NORTHEAST, WHERE
IT CONTINUOUSLY UPROOTED TREES ALONG ITS PATH. AS IT CROSSED LEE
COUNTY ROAD 205, ONE HOME SUFFERED EXTENSIVE ROOF DAMAGE, WHILE
APPROXIMATELY 20 ADDITIONAL HOMES SUSTAINED MAINLY SHINGLE DAMAGE.
THE TORNADO CROSSED LEE COUNTY ROAD 179, WHERE A FEW ADDITIONAL
HOMES SUFFERED MINOR ROOF DAMAGE AS WELL. AS IT CONTINUE TO THE
NORTHEAST, IT BEGAN TO WEAKEN CONSIDERABLY AND CROSSED U.S. HIGHWAY
280. A FEW TREES WERE UPROOTED IN THIS LOCATION. THE TORNADO LIFTED
ALONG LEE COUNTY ROAD 298, APPROXIMATELY FOUR-TENTHS OF A MILE FROM
LEE COUNTY ROAD 318.


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.

A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF ANY STORM DAMAGE DUE TO
HIGH WINDS OR TORNADOES...PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OFFICE...OR CALL OUR STORM REPORTING HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-
0758.

$$

Category: Alabama's Weather, Severe Weather