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December 20, 2012 · Mobile County · 2012
EF1

December 20, 2012

4:49 AM
Mobile County, Alabama · Near Prichard (ZIP 36609)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
6.7 mi
Max Width
75 yd
DateDecember 20, 2012
Time4:49 AM
CountyMobile
CityPrichard
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 421931
NWS Birmingham

Mobile - Prichard The tornado initially touched down along Michael Boulevard producing EF-0 damage (winds estimated up to 85 mph) where it damaged the roof of the YMCA and produced moderate damage to the Davidson High School baseball field. The tornado continued moving northeast strengthening as it moved across Montlimar Boulevard producing EF-1 damage (from winds estimated at 86 to 110 mph) to several businesses on the southwest corner of the Interstate 65/Airport Boulevard intersection. The tornado circulation widened to near 75 yards as it moved northeast affecting numerous homes through midtown mobile, blowing large sections of roofs off of several homes, snapping or blowing over numerous trees. Here the storm produced damages estimated in the millions of dollars to local businesses (including significant amounts of damage to the facility and inventory of a Mercedes Benz dealership). Also impacted was the regional American Red Cross headquarters in Mobile where significant damage to the roof and damage to several support vehicles/trailers was noted. The tornado continued at EF-1 strength as it tracked northeast into the city of Prichard doing similar damage, before weakening and dissipating along U.S. Highway 43 at Woodland Avenue. Start: 30.6671/-88.1383 End: 30.7442/-88.0707

NWS EF Scale: F 1 Polygon

Event Narrative

The tornado initially touched down along Michael Boulevard producing|EF-0 damage (winds estimated up to 85 mph) where it damaged the roof|of the YMCA and produced moderate damage to the Davidson High School|baseball field. The tornado continued moving northeast|strengthening as it moved across Montlimar Boulevard producing EF-1|damage (from winds estimated at 86 to 110 mph) to several businesses|on the southwest corner of the Interstate 65/Airport Boulevard|intersection. The tornado circulation widened to near 75 yards as|it moved northeast affecting numerous homes through midtown mobile,|blowing large sections of roofs off of several homes, snapping or|blowing over numerous trees. Here the storm produced damages|estimated in the millions of dollars to local businesses (including|significant amounts of damage to the facility and inventory of a|Mercedes Benz dealership). Also impacted was the regional American|Red Cross headquarters in Mobile where significant damage to the|roof and damage to several support vehicles/trailers was noted. The|tornado continued at EF-1 strength as it tracked northeast into the|city of Prichard doing similar damage, before weakening and|dissipating along U.S. Highway 43 at Woodland Avenue.

Episode Narrative

Strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching cold front during the early morning hours. These storms produced several reports of wind damage and one of the storms produced a tornado that moved across portions of the city of Mobile.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 421931

See Also

6.7 mi75 yd wide