Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
Issued by NWS Birmingham, AL
948 NOUS44 KBMX 051712 PNSBMX ALZ011>015-017>050-060515- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Birmingham AL 1212 PM CDT Fri Apr 5 2024 ...NWS Damage Survey for 04/02/2024 Tornado Event Update #3... Update...Updated summary of Pools Crossroads tornado for additional damage and measured wind gust reports. .Overview...On the evening of Tuesday April 2, 2024, an area of strong to severe thunderstorms impacted portions of Central Alabama. This was part of a storm system that affected a large portion of the eastern CONUS with severe thunderstorms. The storms in Central Alabama grew in an environment that became increasingly favorable for tornadoes during the evening hours. One such storm intensified as it entered Perry County and went on to produce two tornadoes impacting northern Dallas County and southern Chilton County. The storm also produced pockets of damaging straight-line winds. The storm went on to produce two tornadoes in Coosa County before weakening as it entered Tallapoosa County. Details on these tornadoes can be found below. .Tornado #1 Plantersville Tornado (Dallas and Chilton Counties)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 8.28 miles Path Width /maximum/: 600 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/02/2024 Start Time: 10:28 PM CDT Start Location: 4 NW Paul M Grist State Park / Dallas County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 32.641 / -87.0398 End Date: 04/02/2024 End Time: 10:37 PM CDT End Location: 1 SSE Parnell / Chilton County / AL End Lat/Lon: 32.6749 / -86.9044 Survey Summary: The tornado began in a wooded area just west of the Perry/Dallas County line. It quickly reached its peak intensity as it crossed County Road 272 where dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, blocking the roadway for over a quarter of a mile as it paralleled the road. Additional trees were downed along County Roads 290 and 305, but the tornado weakened as it approached Plantersville. Still, several trees were downed along Dallas County 560 and Highway 22 in Plantersville. The tornado crossed into Chilton County and downed some more trees near a residence on County Road 16 before quickly dissipating as it crossed County Road 16. .Tornado #2 Pools Crossroads Tornado (Chilton County)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 15.07 miles Path Width /maximum/: 450 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/02/2024 Start Time: 10:49 PM CDT Start Location: 1 NNE Pletcher / Chilton County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 32.7121 / -86.7786 End Date: 04/02/2024 End Time: 11:06 PM CDT End Location: 2 N Cooper / Chilton County / AL End Lat/Lon: 32.8038 / -86.5453 Survey Summary: The same storm that produced the Plantersville tornado continued northeastward. Some sporadic minor tree damage was observed around Pletcher but was more consistent with straight line winds. Damage became more consistent with a tornado as it reached a residence along County Road 359 where a couple trees were downed and minor roof damage occurred to the residence. Damage remained sporadic until it reached some residences along County Road 37. There portions of a porch overhang were blown off a residence, and two barns were damaged. One of these was destroyed though minimal damage was observed to nearby trees. A racecar trailer was blown 100 yards downstream and flattened. Minor tree damage continued as the tornado moved northeastward across County Road 9 and additional outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. The tornado intensified as it crossed an inaccessible area east of County Road 387 as depicted on satellite imagery by an area of heavier vegetation/timber damage. Much of the roof was blown off a manufactured home on County Road 49, with another manufactured home having about half of its roofing materials removed. Another pole barn was destroyed near County Road 391 where a personal weather station measured a 95.7 mph gust at an elevation of 7 feet. Occasional trees and limbs were downed as the tornado crossed Interstate 65 near Highway 31, before the tornado dissipated after crossing County Road 480. .Tornado #3 Kings Bridge Rd Tornado (Coosa County)... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.65 miles Path Width /maximum/: 400 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/02/2024 Start Time: 11:28 PM CDT Start Location: 3 NW Rockford / Coosa County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 32.9182 / -86.245 End Date: 04/02/2024 End Time: 11:31 PM CDT End Location: 3 N Rockford / Coosa County / AL End Lat/Lon: 32.9326 / -86.2033 Survey Summary: A brief tornado touched down northwest of Rockford near Kings Bridge Rd causing minor timber damage. The tornado continued northeast causing additional timber damage near County Rd 47 and US Hwy 231, dissipating shortly thereafter. Satellite imagery depicted a swath of heavier vegetation/timber damage between Kings Bridge Rd and County Rd 47 to suggest low- end EF1 intensity. .Tornado #4 Kellyton Tornado (Coosa County)... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.28 miles Path Width /maximum/: 175 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/03/2024 Start Time: 11:40 PM CDT Start Location: 2 SSE Bradford / Coosa County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 32.9712 / -86.0793 End Date: 04/02/2024 End Time: 11:44 PM CDT End Location: Kellyton / Coosa County / AL End Lat/Lon: 32.9814 / -86.0423 Survey Summary: A brief tornado touched down near Kellyton along County Rd 62 causing a corridor of timber damage that was most notable near the intersection with AL Hwy 9. The tornado continued northeast crossing US Hwy 280 where additional timber damage occurred. The tornado dissipated after causing additional timber damage on County Rd 50. && 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. $$