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May 6, 2009 · Lawrence, Morgan County · 2009
EF1

May 6, 2009

7:25 AM
Lawrence, Morgan County, Alabama · Near Moulton (ZIP 35650)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
3.2 mi
Max Width
75 yd
DateMay 6, 2009
Time7:25 AM
CountyLawrenceMorgan
CityMoulton
Property Loss$250000.00M
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 169933
NWS Birmingham

4.0 S Caddo - 3.9 SW Griffin Addition The tornado touched down in the backyard of a mobile home along CR 327. At this location, a large oak tree fell onto the mobile home splitting it in two where a woman and her young daughter were taking shelter. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped surrounding the home. The tornado path continued northeast along CR 328 producing significant damage to another mobile home. More than half of the structure was moved off its well secured foundation and the majority of the roof was blown off. A few outbuildings were completely destroyed and vehicles were moved from their original locations in the driveway. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted at this location. Peak wind speed was estimated at 105 mph. The tornado continued its track northeast into western portions of Morgan County. Numerous large trees were uprooted and snapped along it's path. Minor structural damage to homes occurred as trees were knocked down onto them. The tornado lifted about half of a mile north of the intersection of Raper Road and Pleasant Hill Road. Start: 34.5117/-87.13 End: 34.5443/-87.0833

NWS EF Scale: F1

Event Narrative

The tornado touched down in the backyard of a mobile home along CR 327. At this location, a large oak tree fell onto the mobile home splitting it in two where a woman and her young daughter were taking shelter. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped surrounding the home. The tornado path continued northeast along CR 328 producing significant damage to another mobile home. More than half of the structure was moved off its well secured foundation and the majority of the roof was blown off. A few outbuildings were completely destroyed and vehicles were moved from their original locations in the driveway. Numerous large trees were snapped and uprooted at this location. Peak wind speed was estimated at 105 mph.

Episode Narrative

Strong thunderstorms erupted around Midnight on the 6th in northwest Alabama and tracked across portions of north Alabama. The storms produced one to three inches of rainfall in parts of Lawrence, Morgan, Cullman and Marshall Counties resulting in a few instances of flash flooding. Following this first round of thunderstorms, a vigorous quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) advanced eastward from northern Mississippi into northwest Alabama before sunrise. This system strengthened as it encountered increasing instability. Given high amounts of low level wind shear, a break in the line resulted as a strong comma head / mesocyclone developed. This storm evolved into its own miniature supercell spawning three tornadoes along its track from eastern Lawrence through Morgan, Limestone and Madison Counties. The tornado in Limestone and Madison County produced up to EF2 damage along its 10.9 mile track, narrowly missing an elementary school, high school, and two churches in Madison. Other reports of thunderstorm wind damage were received with these storms.

Outbreak Context

Part of 12-tornado outbreak on May 6, 2009

Shared Episode Narrative

Strong thunderstorms erupted around Midnight on the 6th in northwest Alabama and tracked across portions of north Alabama. The storms produced one to three inches of rainfall in parts of Lawrence, Morgan, Cullman and Marshall Counties resulting in a few instances of flash flooding. Following this first round of thunderstorms, a vigorous quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) advanced eastward from northern Mississippi into northwest Alabama before sunrise. This system strengthened as it encountered increasing instability. Given high amounts of low level wind shear, a break in the line resulted as a strong comma head / mesocyclone developed. This storm evolved into its own miniature supercell spawning three tornadoes along its track from eastern Lawrence through Morgan, Limestone and Madison Counties. The tornado in Limestone and Madison County produced up to EF2 damage along its 10.9 mile track, narrowly missing an elementary school, high school, and two churches in Madison. Other reports of thunderstorm wind damage were received with these storms.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 169933

See Also

3.2 mi75 yd wide