March 28, 2009 storm survey

Storm surveys have been completed examining storm damage that occurred in the early evening hours on Saturday, March 28th. Information found in these surveys is described below. All tornado ratings use the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Eastern DeKalb County

Rating	EF-1	Peak Wind	105 mph
Path Length	2.6 miles	Peak Path Width	50 yards

Severe thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon of March 28th, 2009 as a cold front moved into the Tennessee Valley. Discrete thunderstorm cells developed intitially then eventually merged into a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) as the line pushed into northeastern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee during the early evening hours. One of these severe thunderstorms within the line produced an EF-1 tornado in DeKalb County. The tornado touched down around 8:16 pm CDT approximately 5 miles north-northwest of Fort Payne, AL. Numerous large pines and other trees were snapped and uprooted along County Road 610 and Route 885, about 4 miles west of Valley Head, AL. A large tree fell on a house along Route 885 causing significant roof damage. Trees were also uprooted along County Road 608 and additional damage was found near Highway 11 and Bethel Road, just south of Hammondville.

This is a radar image from 8:11pm as the tornado began to touch down in DeKalb County). The tornado is located within the bowing segment of the line...south of Sylvania and east of Rainsville.

This storm relative velocity image, also from 8:11pm, shows very broad circulation north of the Fort Payne area. The actual tornado circulation is indicated where the brightest green shading is closest to the red shading.

Western Franklin County, TN

Rating	EF-1	Peak Wind	90 mph
Path Length	1.5 miles	Peak Path Width	60 yards

Another thunderstorm within the line produced an EF-1 tornado in Franklin County, Tennessee. The tornado touched down around 7:00 pm CDT approximately 2 miles north-northwest of Huntland, TN. Numerous trees were snapped with several cedar trunks uprooted along a path north of Highway 64 between Huntland and Maxwell. Shingles and roof panels were peeled back on a home and barn along Stratton Road and Pleasant Ridge Road near Branchville.

This is a radar image from approximately 7:05pm as the tornado was briefly on the ground in Franklin County.

This storm relative velocity image, also from about 7:05pm, shows a weak circulation northwest of the Huntland community.

Jackson County, AL

Rating	EF-0	Peak Wind	85 mph
Path Length	1.6 miles	Peak Path Width	40 yards

Just prior to the tornado touch down in DeKalb County, a thunderstorm produced a brief tornado in central Jackson County. This tornado touched down at about 8:11 pm approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Pisgah. A roof was completely ripped off a barn along County Road 60 and two houses sustained significant roof damage along County Road 58, just northeast of Pisgah. Debris from the barn roof was thrown nearly 200 yards.

This is a radar image from approximately 8:11pm as the tornado was briefly on the ground in Jackson County. The circle denotes the location of the tornado.

This storm relative velocity image, also from about 8:11pm, shows a weak circulation just northeast of the Pisgah community.