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May 27, 2024 · Cherokee County · 2024
EF1

May 27, 2024

3:27 AM
Cherokee County, Alabama · Near Fort Payne (ZIP 35973)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
3.4 mi
Max Width
550 yd
DateMay 27, 2024
Time3:27 AM
CountyCherokee
CityFort Payne
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 1170320
NWS Birmingham

5 NNE Sand Rock - 4 NE Yellow Creek Falls A brief EF1 tornado formed along the leading edge of a QLCS in northern Cherokee County. Minor timber damage began along County Road 768 near County Road 47. The tornado continued to down trees as it crossed County Road 43. The tornado intensified as it paralleled County Road 275, snapping numerous trees along the southwestern slope of the canyon containing Johnnies Creek. The tornado weakened as it moved near the mouth of Little River Canyon, but continued to down trees as it crossed Highway 273. The tornado dissipated as it crossed the Little River near where it flows into Weiss Lake. A separate, non-contiguous area of tree damage occurred near County Road 104 along Weiss Lake, where some trees fell on homes. However, the sporadic and divergent nature of the damage and wider path were more consistent with straight-line winds. Start: 34.3007/-85.7183 End: 34.2719/-85.6701

NWS EF Scale: F1

Event Narrative

A brief EF1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph formed along the leading edge of a QLCS in northern Cherokee County. Minor timber damage began along County Road 768 near County Road 47. The tornado continued to down trees as it crossed County Road 43. The tornado intensified as it paralleled County Road 275, snapping numerous trees along the southwestern slope of the canyon containing Johnnies Creek. The tornado weakened as it moved near the mouth of Little River Canyon, but continued to down trees as it crossed Highway 273. The tornado dissipated as it crossed the Little River near where it flows into Weiss Lake.

Episode Narrative

A line of thunderstorms entered northern portions of Central Alabama after 4:30 AM CDT on May 27, producing scattered areas of wind damage and an embedded tornado in Cherokee County. Simultaneously, an area of intense thunderstorms moved northeastward from north of Meridian, Mississippi into the southern and eastern portions of the Birmingham metro area. This resulted in widespread tree and power line damage and occasional structure damage across northern Hale, southern Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelby, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Talladega counties. As the northern line progressed southeastward and later merged with the advancing thunderstorms moving east of Birmingham, a second tornado occurred over northern Randolph County at approximately 6:55 AM CDT. Additional activity occurred during the afternoon hours over the southeastern counties, with a few reports of nickel to quarter-size hail.

Outbreak Context

Part of 2-tornado outbreak on May 27, 2024

Shared Episode Narrative

A line of thunderstorms entered northern portions of Central Alabama after 4:30 AM CDT on May 27, producing scattered areas of wind damage and an embedded tornado in Cherokee County. Simultaneously, an area of intense thunderstorms moved northeastward from north of Meridian, Mississippi into the southern and eastern portions of the Birmingham metro area. This resulted in widespread tree and power line damage and occasional structure damage across northern Hale, southern Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Shelby, Jefferson, St. Clair, and Talladega counties. As the northern line progressed southeastward and later merged with the advancing thunderstorms moving east of Birmingham, a second tornado occurred over northern Randolph County at approximately 6:55 AM CDT. Additional activity occurred during the afternoon hours over the southeastern counties, with a few reports of nickel to quarter-size hail.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 1170320

See Also

3.4 mi550 yd wide