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March 14, 2019 · Blount County · 2019
EF0

March 14, 2019

4:04 PM
Blount County, Alabama · Near Oneonta (ZIP 35031)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
2.6 mi
Max Width
115 yd
DateMarch 14, 2019
Time4:04 PM
CountyBlount
CityOneonta
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 814888
NWS Birmingham

2 SW Allgood - 2 N Camp Sumatanga The tornado touched down near Tidwell Hollow Rd where several soft and hardwood trees were damaged and uprooted. The tornado then moved northeast along Tidwell Hollow Rd crossing Lake Drive. It then crossed over a mobile home park where additional trees were uprooted and numerous mobile homes were severely damaged or destroyed from falling trees. It is noteworthy that nearly all of the mobile homes and several vehicles damaged were due to uprooted trees and not direct wind damage. The tornado continued northeast along Highway 75, where an outdoor building was completely destroyed. The tornado then crossed Boat Landing Road where numerous soft and hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted. This is the approximate location of where the tornado first reached EF-1 intensity. The tornado then continued east along Springville Blvd., where additional trees were uprooted and several single family homes sustained minor roof damage. A destroyed barn was also observed near Old Brook Ln. The tornado continued eastward and weakened near Woodard Drive where additional trees were uprooted. Farther east-northeastward, more damage from the tornado was observed from a second survey team. Most of the damage throughout this elongated path remained non-contiguous and primarily affected trees and vegetation throughout the area. However, minor roof and structural damage was observed along Mountain View Church Road and Mountain Ridge Road near the borders of Calhoun, Etowah, and St. Clair Counties. It was here the tornado reintensified to EF-1 strength and caused damage to farm structures, as well as snapped or uprooted dozens of trees. The back deck of a nearby home was damaged from one of the many uprooted trees on the property. Though the tornado reached its widest point of 1175 yards near this location, damage outside of EF-1 intensity remained generally sporadic in nature. Thereafter, the tornado weakened as it crossed Gallant Road in St. Clair County where additional trees were uprooted. The tornado then lifted near the intersection of Gallant Road and Clear Springs Drive. In total, the tornado damage path was 17.21 miles long and 1175 yards wide at its widest point. Start: 33.8921/-86.5409 End: 33.9782/-86.2690

NWS EF Scale: F1

Event Narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Blount County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph.||The tornado touched down near Tidwell Hollow Rd where several soft and hardwood trees were damaged and uprooted. The tornado tracked northeast along Tidwell Hollow Rd crossing Lake Drive. It then crossed over a mobile home park where additional trees were uprooted and numerous mobile homes were severely damaged or destroyed from falling trees. It is noteworthy that nearly all of the mobile homes and several vehicles damaged were due to uprooted trees and not direct wind damage. The tornado continued northeast along Highway 75, where an outdoor building was completely destroyed. The tornado then crossed Boat Landing Road where numerous soft and hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted. This is the approximate location of where the tornado first reached EF1 intensity. The tornado then continued east along Springville Blvd., where additional trees were uprooted and several single family homes sustained minor roof damage. A destroyed barn was also observed near Old Brook Lane. The tornado continued eastward and weakened near Woodard Drive where additional trees were uprooted. Farther east-northeastward, more damage from the tornado was observed from a second survey team. Most of the damage throughout the remainder of the track was non-contiguous and primarily affected trees and vegetation. The tornado crossed into Etowah County near Blakely Road.

Episode Narrative

A widespread severe weather event occurred across central Alabama aduring the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday, March 14th. The event began in the northwest counties and spread eastward all the way to the Georgia state line. A strong low level jet of 40-50 knots, combined with moderate instability (1000-1500 J/kg) and 0-6km bulk shear of 55-50 knots, produced an atmosphere favorable for severe thunderstorms and supercells.

Outbreak Context

Part of 16-tornado outbreak on March 14, 2019

Shared Episode Narrative

A widespread severe weather event occurred across central Alabama aduring the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday, March 14th. The event began in the northwest counties and spread eastward all the way to the Georgia state line. A strong low level jet of 40-50 knots, combined with moderate instability (1000-1500 J/kg) and 0-6km bulk shear of 55-50 knots, produced an atmosphere favorable for severe thunderstorms and supercells.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 814888
SWDI Tornado ID: 2019-03-14T22:06:51Z_KBMX_X0
SWDI Radar Site: KBMX
SWDI Signature: TVS

See Also

2.6 mi115 yd wide