Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
153 NOUS44 KBMX 282208 PNSBMX ALZ011>015-017>050-291015- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 508 PM CDT Tue May 28 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for May 27, 2024 Tornado and Damaging Wind Event - Update #3... .Update...Specific details regarding the two confirmed EF1 tornadoes are now available below. .Overview...A large complex of severe thunderstorms moved across Central Alabama early Monday morning, May 27, 2024. Many of these produced rather significant wind damage across the Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 corridors, affecting several counties in total. Damaging winds led to numerous reports of tree and power line damage, and some trees fell on homes. One of these instances resulted in a fatality in Jefferson County. Radar estimated winds were 60-70 mph, but local gusts could have been higher, across the ~20 mile wide wind swath. Additionally, two tornadoes occurred; one impacting Cherokee County and another impacting Randolph County. These tornadoes were both rated EF1 after storm surveys. Additional thunderstorm activity occurred during Monday afternoon, generally along and south of Interstate 85, but storm damage from these was relatively minor. .Tornado #1 Johnnies Creek Tornado (Cherokee County)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.41 miles Path Width /maximum/: 550 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/27/2024 Start Time: 04:27 AM CDT Start Location: 5 NNE Sand Rock / Cherokee County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 34.3007 / -85.7183 End Date: 05/27/2024 End Time: 04:31 AM CDT End Location: 4 NE Yellow Creek Falls / Cherokee County / AL End Lat/Lon: 34.2719 / -85.6701 Survey Summary: A brief EF1 tornado formed along the leading edge of a QLCS in northern Cherokee County. Minor timber damage began along County Road 768 near County Road 47. The tornado continued to down trees as it crossed County Road 43. The tornado intensified as it paralleled County Road 275, snapping numerous trees along the southwestern slope of the canyon containing Johnnies Creek. The tornado weakened as it moved near the mouth of Little River Canyon, but continued to down trees as it crossed Highway 273. The tornado dissipated as it crossed the Little River near where it flows into Weiss Lake. A separate, non-contiguous area of tree damage occurred near County Road 104 along Weiss Lake, where some trees fell on homes. However, the sporadic and divergent nature of the damage and wider path were more consistent with straight line winds. .Tornado #2 County Road 427 Tornado (Randolph County)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.17 miles Path Width /maximum/: 350 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/27/2024 Start Time: 06:52 AM CDT Start Location: 4 NW Newell / Randolph County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 33.485 / -85.4444 End Date: 05/27/2024 End Time: 06:56 AM CDT End Location: 3 N Newell / Randolph County / AL End Lat/Lon: 33.4756 / -85.3915 Survey Summary: A brief EF1 tornado formed within a QLCS in northern Randolph County. The tornado began in a wooded area west of County Road 425 and began to snap tree branches and uproot trees. The tornado intensified after crossing County Road 427, snapping numerous trees between there and County Road 51. On County Road 51 multiple windows were blown out of a home with some minor roof damage also occurring. The roof was blown off an outbuilding causing its walls to collapse. Additional timber and outbuilding damage occurred as it crossed County Road 429 before the tornado dissipated in an inaccessible wooded area prior to reaching County Road 37. A tornado debris signature was observed on the KFFC radar. && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>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. $$