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March 17, 2021 · Coosa County · 2021
EF0

March 17, 2021

1:29 PM
Coosa County, Alabama · Near Sylacauga (ZIP 35150)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
0.1 mi
Max Width
25 yd
DateMarch 17, 2021
Time1:29 PM
CountyCoosa
CitySylacauga
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 944904
NWS Birmingham

Unity - 1 ENE Unity The tornado began and ended around County Road 56. Damage was limited to an uprooted pine tree, and several trees had broken branches. A brief TDS was also noted on the BMX radar. The tornado damage path was 0.13 miles long and was 25 yards wide. The maximum winds were estimated around 65 mph. Start: 33.0063/-86.3522 End: 33.0073/-86.3503

NWS EF Scale: F0

Event Narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Coosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 65 mph. The tornado began and ended around County Road 56. Damage was limited to an uprooted pine tree, and several trees had broken branches. A brief TDS was also noted on the BMX radar.

Episode Narrative

An active southern jet stream set-up across the southern United States during the middle of March. Several short-wave troughs became negatively tilted as each one traversed across Texas and towards Alabama. This resulted in a single hail event one Monday, March 15, and significant tornado outbreak on Wednesday, March 17. Many supercells began to develop across Central Alabama by midday Wednesday and continued into the evening hours before a squall line moved through the state. Sufficient instability and strong wind shear produced conditions favorable for tornadoes to develop. The event consisted of twenty-one tornadoes in the NWS Birmingham forecast area.

Outbreak Context

Part of 21-tornado outbreak on March 17, 2021

Shared Episode Narrative

An active southern jet stream set-up across the southern United States during the middle of March. Several short-wave troughs became negatively tilted as each one traversed across Texas and towards Alabama. This resulted in a single hail event one Monday, March 15, and significant tornado outbreak on Wednesday, March 17. Many supercells began to develop across Central Alabama by midday Wednesday and continued into the evening hours before a squall line moved through the state. Sufficient instability and strong wind shear produced conditions favorable for tornadoes to develop. The event consisted of twenty-one tornadoes in the NWS Birmingham forecast area.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 944904
SWDI Tornado ID: 2021-03-17T19:28:46Z_KMXX_V2
SWDI Radar Site: KMXX
SWDI Signature: TVS

See Also

0.1 mi25 yd wide