Tornado hits Northwest Alabama; Numerous injuries

[Brent]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
526 PM CDT MON OCT 18 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
LAUDERDALE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ALABAMA

* UNTIL 615 PM CDT

* AT 526 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A TORNADO JUST EAST OF UNDERWOOD-PETERSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 25
MPH. THIS EXTENDS THE EARLIER TORNADO WARNING. AT 505 PM...THE
LAUDERDALE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTED NUMEROUS INJURIES IN
A MOBILE HOME AREA JUST NORTH OF FLORENCE NEAR COUNTY ROADS 81 AND
289.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
KILLEN.
LEXINGTON.

TAKE COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING OR GO UNDERGROUND NOW. MOBILE
HOMES...VEHICLES...AND HIGHWAY OVERPASSES ARE NOT SAFE!

VEHICLES AND MOBILE HOMES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORE SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER. AS A LAST RESORT...TAKE COVER IN A DITCH OR LOW SPOT THAT IS
NOT PRONE TO FLOOD. HIGHWAY OVERPASSES ARE NOT SAFE!

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT.

[Brent]

Long-tracker. Still on the ground...

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
553 PM CDT MON OCT 18 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 630 PM CDT

* AT 550 PM CDT...TRAINED STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO 5 MILES
NORTH OF HIGHWAY 72 JUST EAST OF PARKERTOWN AND HIGHWAY
43...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
GOOD SPRINGS.
LESTER.
LEGGTOWN.
ELKMONT.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING OR GO
UNDERGROUND NOW. MOBILE HOMES...VEHICLES...AND HIGHWAY OVERPASSES ARE
NOT SAFE!

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3499 8720 3500 8720 3500 8699 3497 8699
3497 8698 3493 8698 3490 8721 3498 8721

[Brent]

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
608 PM CDT MON OCT 18 2004

...A TORNADO WARNING CONTINUES FOR LIMESTONE COUNTY UNTIL 630 PM
CDT...

AT 607 PM CDT...TRAINED STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED REPORTED A TORNADO
NORTHWEST OF LEXINGTON IN LAUDERDALE COUNTY NEAR THE TENNESSEE STATE
LINE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...ARDMORE...
ELKMONT...LESTER...BETHEL...GOOD SPRINGS...HOLLAND GIN...LEGGTOWN AND
MT ROZELL.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. DO NOT RUN OUTSIDE TO FIND THE
TORNADO...TAKE COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING NOW!

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUES FOR THE AREA UNTIL 8 PM CDT.

REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY...SO
IT WILL BE RELAYED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
HUNTSVILLE.

LAT...LON 3500 8720 3499 8683 3492 8681 3491 8682
3491 8689 3490 8690 3490 8698 3489 8699
3487 8721 3498 8721

[Brent]

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
627 PM CDT MON OCT 18 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 622 PM CDT...AMATEUR RADIO WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO
JUST EAST OF THE LAUDERDALE LIMESTONE COUNTY LINE ALONG HIGHWAY
99...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. THIS WARNING EXTENDS THE EARLIER
WARNING.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE...
ARDMORE.

TORNADOES AT NIGHT ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU
SEE OR HEAR THE TORNADO...IT MAY BE TOO LATE. TAKE COVER NOW.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IN A STURDY BUILDING OR GO
UNDERGROUND NOW. MOBILE HOMES...VEHICLES...AND HIGHWAY OVERPASSES ARE
NOT SAFE!

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 3500 8720 3499 8679 3493 8679 3493 8689
3492 8690 3492 8701 3491 8702 3490 8721
3498 8721

[Rose_TNSkywarn]

This tornado is right on the Giles County, TN line and the Alabama line. It looks like the path is approximately 15 miles south of where I am.

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN
629 PM CDT MON OCT 18 2004

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NASHVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
SOUTHERN GILES COUNTY IN TENNESSEE

* UNTIL 700 PM CDT

* AT 624 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO JUST SOUTH OF
MINOR HILL...OR ABOUT 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PULASKI...MOVING EAST
AT 20 MPH.

* THE TORNADO IS EXPECTED TO BE NEAR...
ELKTON BY 700 PM CDT

Rose
Giles County Skywarn

[vbhoutex]

Dang!! Is this all the same tornado?? If it is it is a LONG tracker for sure!!!

[Brent]

Dang!! Is this all the same tornado?? If it is it is a LONG tracker for sure!!!

Yes. Apparently it was NOT on the ground the whole time though.

Damage pictures I've seen aren't too bad(mainly tree and powerline damage).

[Wnghs2007]

Dang!! Is this all the same tornado?? If it is it is a LONG tracker for sure!!!

Yes. Apparently it was NOT on the ground the whole time though.

Damage pictures I've seen aren't too bad(mainly tree and powerline damage).

Thats good to hear.

[michaelwmoss]

Did any of the supercells produce "Families" of tornadoes tonight?

[Rose_TNSkywarn]

No tornado families. We did have some pretty severe weather come through between 3:30am and 4:30am. Another tornado warning. All the southern counties in TN are under flash flood warnings.

I did hear on the news that at least one home in Lawrenceburg has sustained major damage and the houses around it also sustained damage last night. I'm not sure exactly when the damage occurred, however they were speaking of it at approximately 4:15am.

All in all the damage was minimal from the storms last night. We are still at some risk today for more severe storms. Spotters are on standby for possible activation today and tonight.

[michaelwmoss]

Could be the start of several outbreaks of severe weather before a full-fledged winter pattern sets in

[Brent]

Storms are training over the same area. There's a tornado threat today, mainly over Mississippi and Western Tennessee. Shouldn't be a major tornado outbreak. Looks like the storms will reach me sometime later, but there's no severe threat down here.

[vbhoutex]

Could be the start of several outbreaks of severe weather before a full-fledged winter pattern sets in

It is that time of year, especially in the South. Surprisingly with the fronts coming through here we have had very little in the way of severe.

[JenyEliza]

Storms are moving into GA now.

[vbhoutex]

Is there any more word on the casualties? This started off with there being reported injuries and we have heard nothing more unless I missed it.

[Brent]

Is there any more word on the casualties? This started off with there being reported injuries and we have heard nothing more unless I missed it.

I haven't heard either. They sound like minor injuries.

JenyEliza... Small Plane crash in Downtown Atlanta, probably due to heavy rain. 2 people killed.

I'm under a tornado watch until 4pm CDT. Oh joy..

[Brent]

3 minor injuries. Here's all the storm reports.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT ... SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
909 PM CDT MON OCT 18 2004

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION...ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0445 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 E RIVERTON 34.88N 88.04W
10/18/2004 COLBERT AL EMERGENCY MNGR

TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN IN RIVERTON AREA.

0455 PM TORNADO 12 NNW FLORENCE 34.99N 87.75W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

SPOTTER REPORT TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR COUNTY RD 6 AND
COUNTY RD 9...JUST NORTHWEST OF PETERSVILLE.

0455 PM TSTM WND DMG 15 W FLORENCE 34.83N 87.93W
10/18/2004 COLBERT AL AMATEUR RADIO

TREES DOWN IN COLBERT PARK AREA.

0505 PM TORNADO 10 NW FLORENCE 34.93N 87.79W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR

*** 3 INJ *** 3 SLIGHTLY INJURED TAKEN TO HOSPITAL...2
TRAILER HOMES DAMAGED...1 ROOF OFF BARN.

0505 PM TORNADO 10 NW FLORENCE 34.93N 87.79W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR

*** 3 INJ *** 3 SLIGHTLY INJURED TAKEN TO HOSPITAL...2
TRAILERS DAMAGED AND A BARN ROOF TAKEN OFF.

0522 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 8 E LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.23W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

TORNADO DEVELOPING ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF GRASSY...NEAR
LIMESTONE AND LAUDERDALE COUNTY LINE.

0530 PM TORNADO 10 N FLORENCE 34.97N 87.67W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

TORNADO TOUCHDOWN NEAR ZIP CITY...NO REPORT OF DAMAGE.

0540 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 10 NE FLORENCE 34.93N 87.54W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

STRONG ROTATION REPORTED JUST ABOVE GROUND NEAR
INTERSECTION OF HWY 43 AND HWY 64.

0550 PM TORNADO 10 NE FLORENCE 34.93N 87.54W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

TORNADO ON THE GROUND 5 MILES N OF HWY 72...NEAR COUNTY
RD 31.

0600 PM HAIL 5 E LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.28W
10/18/2004 0.25 INCH LAUDERDALE AL AMATEUR RADIO

NEAR GRASSY

0600 PM HAIL 5 E LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.28W
10/18/2004 0.25 INCH LAUDERDALE AL AMATEUR RADIO

HAIL REPORTED IN GRASSY.

0605 PM TORNADO E LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.37W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR

TORNADO ON GROUND...CONFIRMED DAMAGE IN AREA

0605 PM TORNADO LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.37W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL EMERGENCY MNGR

TORNADO ON GROUND...CONFIRMED DAMAGE IN AREA.

0605 PM TORNADO LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.37W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL AMATEUR RADIO

NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TORNADO ON GROUND BETWEEN CENTER HILL
AND LEXINGTON.

0618 PM TORNADO 2 N LEXINGTON 34.99N 87.37W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL AMATEUR RADIO

DAMAGE TO HOUSE LOCATED CLOSE TO TN STATE LINE NEAR HWY
101.

0622 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 8 E LEXINGTON 34.97N 87.23W
10/18/2004 LAUDERDALE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

TORNADO DEVELOPING ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF GRASSY...NEAR
LIMESTONE AND LAUDERDALE COUNTY LINE.

0627 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 WSW LESTER 34.98N 87.19W
10/18/2004 LIMESTONE AL AMATEUR RADIO

NEAR HWY 99.

0630 PM TORNADO LESTER 34.99N 87.15W
10/18/2004 LIMESTONE AL TRAINED SPOTTER

NUMEROUS SPOTTER REPORTS OF ROTATION NEAR LESTER.

[vbhoutex]

Good to know the injuries appear to be less than was originally thought.

[Brent]

Storm survey:

NOUS44 KHUN 192257
PNSHUN

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
555 PM CDT TUE OCT 19 2004

...STORM SURVEY COMPLETED FOR TORNADO EVENT OF OCTOBER 18TH...

MEMBERS OF NWS HUNTSVILLE AND COLBERT AND LAUDERDALE COUNTY
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES SURVEYED THE SCATTERED DAMAGE THAT
OCCURRED DURING MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING.

THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED ACROSS NORTHWEST COLBERT AND THROUGH
LAUDERDALE COUNTY WAS DETERMINED TO BE PRIMARILY F-1 TORNADO DAMAGE.
THE INITIAL DAMAGE PATH OF THE TORNADO WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEGUN
ABOUT TWO MILES EAST OF THE RIVERTON COMMUNITY IN NORTHWEST COLBERT
COUNTY. THE INITIAL DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE F-1 DAMAGE WITH
MAXIMUM WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE AT 100 MILES AN HOUR. THE INITIAL
DAMAGE WIDTH OF THE TORNADO WAS DETERMINED TO BE AT 200 YARDS. THE
F-1 DAMAGE PATH WAS INDICATED TO BE AT AROUND A HALF OF A MILE.

THE TORNADO QUICKLY WEAKENED TO AN F-0...WITH WINDS ESTIMATED TO BE
AT AROUND 60 MILES AN HOUR...WITH A 20 YARD PATH WIDTH. THE TORNADO
LIFTED AND THEN RESUMED ITS PATH...TOUCHING DOWN ALONG THE NATCHEZ
TRACE PARKWAY IN FAR SOUTHWEST LAUDERDALE COUNTY. THE DAMAGE PATH
WIDTH WAS AT 100 YARDS AND INTENSITY OF F-1 WITH A WIND SPEED OF 90
MILES AN HOUR NOTED. THE TORNADO CONTINUED ITS PATH FOR AROUND FIVE
MILES...INCREASING TO A 150 YARD PATH WIDTH AND WIND SPEEDS AT A
MAXIMUM OF 110 MILES AN HOUR NEAR CENTRAL HEIGHTS.

THE TORNADO LIFTED AGAIN AND THEN TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT TWO MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LEXINGTON...REACHING A F-1 INTENSITY WITH WIND SPEEDS
NOTED AT 90 MILES AN HOUR AND A 150 TO 200 YARD PATH WIDTH. THE
TORNADO CONTINUED WITH A F-1 INTENSITY AS IT TRAVELED EAST AND
NORTHEAST TO THE ALABAMA/TENNESSEE STATE LINE.

STORM SURVEY COMPLETED BY:
TIM TROUTMAN...WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST

[michaelwmoss]

A weak "Family" of tornadoes but nevertheless still very dangerous.