October 26, 2010 Storm Survey

Summary  

Starting in the early afternoon hours and continuing through the early evening hours, supercell thunderstorms developed over northern Alabama, as a strong cold front pushed into the region.  These supercells produced long-lived low to mid level rotation, but luckily only produced 4 fairly weak tornadoes. Two of these tornadoes occurred (1 - Hillsboro in northeastern Lawrence/1 - Greenbrier in southeastern Limestone) in northwestern Alabama in the early afternoon hours. Two additional and more potent, longer track tornadoes occured in Marshall and Dekalb counties around 6 pm CDT. The longest track tornado of the day touched down next in northeastern Alabama at 6:03 pm CDT. This was also the strongest tornado of the day with a path length of 4.5 miles and a EF-1 damage rating.   This tornado produced widespread significant damage to farm structures and large trees along it's path (mainly in western and northwestern portions of Geraldine).  A weaker EF0 tornado affected the Albertville/McVille areas of Marshall county at 6:13 pm.  It mainly produced tree damage across it's path. Luckily, shortly after 8 pm CDT this activity pushed east into Georgia.

This tornado touched down briefly along highway 20 near CR 127 in Hillsboro.  It began at 123 pm CDT.  The tornado uprooted several trees and snapped several hardwood trees in that area.

Southeastern Limestone County (Greenbrier)

This tornado touched down very briefly along Greenbrier road just north of the I-565 interchange at 3:40 pm CDT .  The tornado first touched down on the east side of the Target Distribution Center and tracked across Greenbrier road before dissipating.  Several small trees were snapped and some larger limbs were broken off trees.

A short-lived tornado touched down along Hamby road in the McVille community at 613 pm CDT. Light, sporadic damage was produced along this road. Most of the damage was confined to the loss of roof materials from barns and some other light tree damage. One large tree was snapped by the tornado in this area though.

The tornado touched down near the intersection of CR 389 and 391 at 603 pm CDT. Trees were snapped in this area along with the loss of a roof on a barn. Similar damage was observed alogn CR 23 nad CR 9 in the tornado path. The tornado briefly weakened, producing little damage until crossing highway 227. Beginning in that area and extending to CR 329 significant structural damage was observed. One location suffered significant damage to a home that was pushed from it's foundation. In addition, a nearby workshop sustained heavy damage along with an RV, a boat, and two vehicles.

Storm Reports

NWUS54 KHUN 271158
LSRHUN

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
658 AM CDT WED OCT 27 2010

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

1154 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E MUSCLE SHOALS       34.75N 87.61W 
10/26/2010  M48.00 MPH       COLBERT            AL   ASOS            

1154 AM     TSTM WND DMG     FLORENCE                34.83N 87.67W 
10/26/2010                   LAUDERDALE         AL   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            A TREE WAS UPROOTED ONTO A HOUSE PRODUCING MINOR DAMAGE. 
            TIME ESTIMATED.

0250 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W OWENS CROSSROADS    34.58N 86.55W 
10/26/2010                   MADISON            AL   AMATEUR RADIO   

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF GREEN 
            COVE ROAD AND HIGHWAY 231. 

0358 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 SW MADISON            34.67N 86.79W 
10/26/2010                   LIMESTONE          AL   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            BARN ROOF TORN OFF JUST NORTH OF MADISON BLVD ON COUNTY 
            LINE ROAD. 

0400 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S MADISON             34.69N 86.75W 
10/26/2010                   MADISON            AL   PUBLIC          

            PUBLIC REPORT OF TREE FALLING ON HOUSE ON JACKSON AVE IN 
            MADISON.

0546 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 WSW GUNTERSVILLE      34.35N 86.30W 
10/26/2010                   MARSHALL           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ALONG GUNTER AVENUE NEAR THE 
            INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 79/431 IN GUNTERSVILLE.

0612 PM     TSTM WND DMG     5 W GERALDINE           34.35N 86.09W 
10/26/2010                   DEKALB             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 23 NEAR 
            WHITON/ROGERS COMMUNITY. POSSIBLE TORNADO.

0625 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 NNE GERALDINE         34.39N 85.99W 
10/26/2010                   DEKALB             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOUSES ALONG WITH NUMEROUS TREES AND
            POWERLINES DOWN ALONG HIGHWAY 227 BETWEEN GROVE OAK AND 
            GERALDINE. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE ALONG COUNTY ROAD 333. 
            POSSIBLE TORNADO.


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