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August 31, 2017 · Pickens, Lamar, Fayette County · 2017
EF2

August 31, 2017

2:40 PM
Pickens, Lamar, Fayette County, Alabama · Near Vernon (ZIP 35473)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
6
Path Length
31.2 mi
Max Width
600 yd
DateAugust 31, 2017
Time2:40 PM
CountyPickensLamarFayette
CityVernon
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 719412
NWS Birmingham

0.8 W Reform - 6 ESE Bluff The tornado touched down at 7th Ave SW in the town of Reform. The tornado tracked northeast crossing Highway 82 and into residential areas where the worst damage occurred. Several single family wood framed homes and a mobile home were destroyed. One wood framed home was completely swept off its foundation. Several vehicles were also overturned. Four people, including an infant, were in the house that was swept off its foundation. They only suffered minor injuries. The tornado continued northeast and crossed near the intersection of County Road 25 and 15th Ave NW where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. It then crossed Highway 17 about one mile south of County Road 8 where several trees were snapped and a house lost part of its roof. The tornado paralleled Highway 17 for several miles and did extensive tree and power line damage in the community of Palmetto. A fire station was also heavily damaged in Palmetto. From Palmetto it traveled along County Road 59 where is snapped and uprooted trees, then crossed through extreme southeast Lamar County and into southwest Fayette County at Jenkins Road. It continued northeast across the western portions of Fayette County, with numerous trees snapped and uprooted. Just before the tornado crossed Highway 96, it produced extensive tree damage at the Fayette Country Club Golf Course. It continued northeast crossing County Road 18 and Wilkinson Road, and then to County Road 85 near Earl Housh Road. It paralleled County Road 85 for several miles, producing tree damage. It finally lifted about one mile southwest of the intersection of Highway 43 and Housh Chapel Road. The tornado was produced by the remnants of Hurricane Harvey. Start: 33.3793/-88.0344 End: 33.7901/-87.8125

NWS EF Scale: F2

Event Narrative

NWS meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Pickens County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF2 tornado. The tornado touched down at 7th Ave SW in the town of Reform. The tornado tracked northeast crossing Highway 82 and into residential areas where the worst damage occurred. Several single family wood framed homes and a mobile home were destroyed. One wood framed home was completely swept off its foundation. Several vehicles were also overturned. Four people, including an infant, were in the house that was swept off its foundation. They only suffered minor injuries. The tornado continued northeast and crossed near the intersection of County Road 25 and 15th Ave NW where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. It then crossed Highway 17 about one mile south of County Road 8 where several trees were snapped and a house lost part of its roof. The tornado paralleled Highway 17 for several miles and did extensive tree and power line damage in the community of Palmetto. A fire station was also heavily damaged in Palmetto. From Palmetto, it traveled along County Road 59 where is snapped and uprooted trees, then it crossed into extreme southeast Lamar County.

Episode Narrative

The remnants of Hurricane Harvey tracked northeast across Louisiana and along the Mississippi River. Feeder bands on the east side of Harvey produced four tornadoes across central Alabama.

Outbreak Context

Part of 5-tornado outbreak on August 31, 2017

Shared Episode Narrative

The remnants of Hurricane Harvey tracked northeast across Louisiana and along the Mississippi River. Feeder bands on the east side of Harvey produced four tornadoes across central Alabama.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 719412
SWDI Tornado ID: 2017-08-31T20:36:20Z_KGWX_H1
SWDI Radar Site: KGWX
SWDI Signature: TVS

See Also

31.2 mi600 yd wide