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December 21, 2011 · Randolph County · 2011
EF0

December 21, 2011

12:32 PM
Randolph County, Alabama · Near Oxford (ZIP 36278)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
0.3 mi
Max Width
88 yd
DateDecember 21, 2011
Time12:32 PM
CountyRandolph
CityOxford
Property Loss$25000.00M
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 352802
NWS Birmingham

2.2 SSW Graham After a review of damage, eye witness accounts, and analysis of Dual-Pol radar data from KFFC, it was determined that damage in northeastern Randolph C ounty was a result of a brief EF-0 tornado. The EF-0 tornado with winds of 70 mph briefly touched down near Sewell, along County Road 87, south of County Road 438. One home and half a dozen outbuildings sustained roof damage, as metal roofing was peeled off and tossed up to one half mile downwind. Minor tree damage was also noted. Two witnesses reported a funnel cloud in the area, but due to terrain were unable to confirm whether the circulation extended to the ground. A cold front pushed into Central Alabama during the day on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, eventually stalling northeast to southwest, bisecting the forecast area in half. In a marginally unstable airmass ahead of the front (effective bulk shear around 50 kts and CAPE between 500-1000 J/kg), strong storms developed. As low level shear increased, several storms showed signs of rotation, with one producing damage near the Georgia S tate L ine in Randolph County. Start: 33.4214/-85.3201 End: 33.4215/-85.3156

NWS EF Scale: F0

Event Narrative

After a review of damage, eye witness accounts, and analysis of Dual-Pol radar data from KFFC, it was determined that damage in northeastern Randolph county was a result of a brief EF-0 tornado. The EF-0 tornado with winds of 70 mph briefly touched down near Sewell, along County Road 87, south of County Road 438. One home and half a dozen outbuildings sustained roof damage, as metal roofing was peeled off and tossed up to one half mile downwind. Minor tree damage was also noted. Two witnesses reported a funnel cloud in the area, but due to terrain were unable to confirm whether the circulation extended to the ground.

Episode Narrative

A cold front pushed into Central Alabama during the day on Wednesday, December 21, 2011, eventually stalling northeast to southwest, bisecting the forecast area in half. In a marginally unstable airmass ahead of the front (effective bulk shear around 50 kts and CAPE between 500-1000 J/kg), strong storms developed. As low level shear increased, several storms showed signs of rotation, with one producing damage near the Georgia state line in Randolph County.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 352802

See Also

0.3 mi88 yd wide