S O'Neal-5 N Athens A second tornado began 5.1 miles west-northwest of Athens just south of O'Neal. The tornado travelled in a northeasterly direction crossing SR 99 where several houses were damaged heavily. Continuing northeast the tornado crossed CR 63 and damaged several houses and destroyed three mobile homes just south of Cross Key. The tornado then crossed CR 26 and SR 127 before dissipating about 5.0 miles north of Athens. Start: 34.8500/-87.0500 End:  34.8700/-86.9800

NWS EF Scale: F2

The tornado first touched down in Lawrence County northeast of Courtland in open farm land. It traveled northeast into Limestone County crossing the Tennessee river and causing damage about 2.9 miles south of Coxey in southwest Limestone County. The tornado travelled approximately a half mile on land in Limestone County before dissipating rapidly. One house lost a portion of a roof, two other homes sustained damage from falling trees, several boat houses and out-buildings were destroyed, and numerous large trees were downed. The survey team could find no damage in Lawrence County, however, two people photographed the tornado, one on the east side of Courtland looking northeast and one at Poplar Point in Limestone County looking northwest as it came ashore on the Limestone County side of the river.Beginning: 34 42.569/87 13.850 Ending: 34 45.874/87 10.228

Part of 12-tornado outbreak on December 16, 2000