Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
408 NOUS44 KBMX 292254 PNSBMX ALZ011>015-017>050-301100- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 554 PM CDT Wed May 29 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for May 27, 2024 Tornado and Damaging Wind Event - Update #4... .Update...A large area of wind damage was surveyed today, including areas in southern Tuscaloosa County, northern Bibb County, and northern Shelby County. Damage was consistent with straight-line winds, though there were some localized areas of significant wind damage. Details are 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. .Damaging Straight-Line Winds (Hale, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelby, Jefferson, St. Clair, Talladega, Calhoun, Clay Counties)... Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: Appr. 120 miles Path Width /maximum/: Appr. 23 miles Fatalities: 1 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/27/2024 Start Time: 05:00 AM CDT Start Location: Near Moundville (Hale County) End Date: 05/27/2024 End Time: 06:10 AM CDT End Location: Near Pell City (St. Clair County) Survey Summary: NWS Birmingham conducted a storm survey in areas such as Coaling, Vance, Woodstock, West Blocton, Green Pond, Helena, Pelham, and Alabaster. This survey was to assess a large area of reported wind damage associated with a severe thunderstorm bowing segment evident on KBMX RADAR. Observed damage along this path mainly consisted of uprooted or snapped trees, and fallen large tree limbs. Fallen timber caused damage to homes, vehicles, and power lines. Widespread power outages occurred as a result. One fatality occurred in Jefferson County due to a tree falling on a residence. Wind damage throughout this path was consistent with straight-line winds, or winds that were not tornadic. Gusts of 60-70 mph were evident along a path approximately 10 miles wide and 80 miles long, and some higher intensity timber damage in the Coaling, Vance, West Blocton, Helena, and Alabaster areas suggest wind gusts up to 75 mph. The damage pattern across this path was divergent, and higher intensity damage areas exhibited divergent microburst characteristics. There was no sign of debris lofting on the damage survey, and no signs of rotation or lofted tornado debris after a thorough analysis of KBMX RADAR data. The bowing segment eventually spread out in diameter and weakened slightly after exiting Shelby County, though caused additional wind damage in St. Clair, Calhoun, Talladega, and Clay Counties. .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. $$