April 22, 2017

5.5 N Red Bay - 3.5 NNW Burntout The tornado appeared to develop just west of the Alabama/Mississippi state line. Heavy tree damage was noted at the start point in Alabama which was consistent with a tornado debris signature and velocity couplet on KGWX radar, which was about 5.5 miles north of Red Bay, AL. The debris signature tracked east over heavily forested area that was not accessible by vehicle. Additional heavy tree damage was located near the end point which was consistent with the last debris signature seen on KGWX radar. Satellite data has been requested and will be used to analyze the remainder of this track but confidence is high enough in the velocity signature, the tornado debris signature and the damage to declare an EF-0 tornado. The majority of the tree damage consisted of small to medium sized trees snapped, branches twisted with one or two trees uprooted. Start: 34.5184/-88.1465 End: 34.5024/-88.0410

NWS Birmingham rating: EF0

The tornado, originating in Tishomingo Co (MS), continued across the MS-AL state line into Franklin Co (AL). Heavy tree damage was noted near the state line which was consistent with a tornado debris signature and velocity couplet on the Columbus MS (KGWX) WSR-88D, about 5.5 miles north of Red Bay, AL. The debris signature tracked east over heavily forested area that was not accessible by vehicle. Additional heavy tree damage was located near the end point which was consistent with the last debris signature seen on radar. The majority of the tree damage consisted of small to medium sized trees snapped, branches twisted with one or two trees uprooted.

Numerous showers and thunderstorms moved into and developed over north Alabama in an unstable and moderately sheared environment. A few supercells developed amongst these storms producing large hail and a couple of tornadoes.

Part of 3-tornado outbreak on April 22, 2017