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February 2, 2016 · Lamar County · 2016
EF1

February 2, 2016

8:10 PM
Lamar County, Alabama · Near Vernon (ZIP 35594)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
4.1 mi
Max Width
400 yd
DateFebruary 2, 2016
Time8:10 PM
CountyLamar
CityVernon
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 617793
NWS Birmingham

3.7 S Beaverton - 2 E Beaverton National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Lamar County and have determined that the damage is consistent with an EF-1 tornado. Winds were estimated to be around 105 mph. The tornado touched down along Christain Road near Taylor Springs Road. It moved north-northeast and caused major roof damage to one residence at the intersection of Pond Road and Garrison Road. From there, the tornado turned more to the northeast snapping and uprooting trees as it crossed County Road 49, Piney Grove Road, Pinewood Circle, and Turkey Branch Road. One residence on Pinewood Circle sustained minor shingle damage. The tornado continued northeast causing only tree damage until it lifted along Sorghum Hollow Road. Start: 33.8779/-88.0210 End: 33.9300/-87.9856

NWS EF Scale: F1 Polygon

Event Narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Lamar County and have determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. Winds were estimated to be around 105 mph.||The tornado touched down along Christain Road near Taylor Springs Road. It moved north-northeast and caused major roof damage to one residence at the intersection of Pond Road and Garrison Road. From there, the tornado turned more to the northeast snapping and uprooting trees as it crossed County Road 49, Piney Grove Road, Pinewood Circle, and Turkey Branch Road. One residence on Pinewood Circle sustained minor shingle damage. The tornado continued northeast causing only tree damage until it lifted along Sorghum Hollow Road.

Episode Narrative

A strong upper level system developed over the Central Plains and a surface low moved from the Mid Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes. Although this was well removed from Central Alabama, the system was strong enough that winds at the surface and aloft increased significantly. This produced high wind shear. The combination of the high precipitable water values and unseasonably warm temperatures produced very unstable conditions across central Alabama. A cold front approached the region late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening, a few supercell thunderstorms developed. Eventually, the storms became organized into a line and produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Outbreak Context

Part of 4-tornado outbreak on February 2, 2016

Shared Episode Narrative

A strong upper level system developed over the Central Plains and a surface low moved from the Mid Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes. Although this was well removed from Central Alabama, the system was strong enough that winds at the surface and aloft increased significantly. This produced high wind shear. The combination of the high precipitable water values and unseasonably warm temperatures produced very unstable conditions across central Alabama. A cold front approached the region late Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening, a few supercell thunderstorms developed. Eventually, the storms became organized into a line and produced heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 617793

See Also

4.1 mi400 yd wide