March 19, 2018
4:21 PM| Date | March 19, 2018 |
| Time | 4:21 PM |
| County | Franklin |
| City | Russellville |
| Property Loss | $0 |
| Crop Loss | $0 |
| Source | NCEI 737778 |
1 WSW Russellville - 1 SE Russellville A tornado touched down in the Reedtown section of Russellville with EF-0 intensity, containing winds of 65-70 mph. The tornado caused minor roof and siding damage to a few single family homes. The tornado strengthened quickly to low-end EF-1 as it knocked the chimney of a house and caused more extensive damage to the siding and metal roof of another. The tornado likely reached maximum intensify and width as it crossed Hwy 43 on the south side of Russellville. Here, the tornado was around 200 yards wide, with winds of 90 mph. A Waffle House restaurant had damage to its sign and roof. A warehouse and apartment complex also sustained some minor structural damage. The tornado then moved through a residential section of southeast Russellville, causing significant damage to a grove of pine and cedar trees and completely destroyed a small barn. However, only minor damage occurred at any of the one to two story homes, placing winds in the 80-90 mph range. The tornado then weakened further as it approached Hwy 42 east of Russellville and lifted near Sloss Lake Park. Start: 34.4988/-87.7476 End: 34.4929/-87.7129
NWS EF Scale: F1
The tornado touched down in the Reedtown section of Russellville with EF-0 intensity, containing winds of 65-70 mph. The tornado caused minor roof and siding damage to a few single family homes. The tornado strengthened quickly to low-end EF-1 as it knocked down the chimney of a house and caused more extensive damage to the siding and metal roof of another. The tornado likely reached maximum intensity and width as it crossed Hwy 43 on the south side of Russellville. Here, the tornado was around 200 yards wide, with winds of 90 mph. A Waffle House restaurant had damage to its sign and roof. A warehouse and apartment complex also sustained some minor structural damage. The tornado then moved through a residential section of southeast Russellville, causing significant damage to a grove of pine and cedar trees and completely destroyed a small barn. However, only minor damage occurred at any of the one to two story homes, placing winds in the 80-90 mph range. The tornado then weakened further as it approached Highway 42 east of Russellville and lifted near Sloss Lake Park.
An isolated supercell produced hail during the early afternoon hours across far northwest and north central Alabama. By mid afternoon, a cluster of supercells developed in northern Mississippi and tracked east-southeast through much of north Alabama through the early evening hours. Two main supercell clusters produced multiple tornadoes and very large hail. Tornadoes ranged in strength from EF-0 to EF-2. The largest hail fell in Cullman County, with widespread and severe damage reported as a result. The largest hail stone reported to the National Weather Service was 5.25 inches in diameter weighing 8.9 ounces.
Part of 16-tornado outbreak on March 19, 2018
An isolated supercell produced hail during the early afternoon hours across far northwest and north central Alabama. By mid afternoon, a cluster of supercells developed in northern Mississippi and tracked east-southeast through much of north Alabama through the early evening hours. Two main supercell clusters produced multiple tornadoes and very large hail. Tornadoes ranged in strength from EF-0 to EF-2. The largest hail fell in Cullman County, with widespread and severe damage reported as a result. The largest hail stone reported to the National Weather Service was 5.25 inches in diameter weighing 8.9 ounces.