Saturday, December 27, 2008

Articles on the Christmas Eve Tornadoes


Looking east from the Hudson Bridge on US 31 at 3:52pm Christmas Eve

As the storm passed over Decatur where I was at work, the skies were very suspicious, but there was no visual indication at that point of a wall cloud or of anything that would produce a tornado a few minutes later in Belle Mina.

Storm survey by the NWS Huntsville
"The tornado developed in a forested area just east of Interstate 65 north of Garrett Road. Trees toppled onto a vehicle being used by hunters. The tornado tracked through a cotton field for about 1/2 mile before intensifying to EF-1 strength destroying two single wide trailer homes. One was lifted off its foundation entirely with debris found several hundred yards downwind. Fortunately, no occupants were in either location."

Explaining a No-Warning Tornado - Brad Huffines, WAAY 31 Huntsville
"The Christmas Eve tornado in Belle Mina, while not a complete surprise, received no tornado warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Huntsville, nor from television stations in North Alabama except for WAAY-31 and a ‘Strong T-storm Advisory’ on the screen as was issued from the NWS as a Significant Weather Advisory."

Survey confirms two tornadoes - Montgomery Advertiser
"HUNTSVILLE -- Storm survey teams from the National Weather Service confirmed storm damage in Limestone and Walker counties were caused by two small tornadoes.The twisters on Christmas Eve packed 100 mph-plus winds butcaused no injuries or deaths.In Limestone County, an EF-1 tornado damaged houses and property in the Belle Mina community.A second twister, rated EF-0, moved into central Walker County.Meteorologists at the Birmingham office said roofs were ripped off metal structures and several trees were uprooted about 4 miles southwest of Jasper."

NWS Confirms tornado - Athens News-Courier

The National Weather Service Office in Huntsville confirmed at late afternoon Thursday that it was an EF-1 tornado that struck north of Belle Mina 24 hours earlier.By Karen Middleton
karen@athensnews-courier.com
Forecaster Andy Kula said that between 3:33-3:35 p.m. Wednesday a twister came down in woods off Garrett Road, where it uprooted and downed several trees, and remained on the ground for 1.6 miles with a maximum width of 100 yards and maximum wind speeds between 86 and 110 mph.


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