April 30 2017 - Northern Cullman County Tornado

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
329 PM CDT Mon May 1 2017


...NWS Damage Survey for the 04/30/2017 Tornado Event...

.Overview...NWS survey team finds an EF-0 tornado in Northern 
Cullman County.

.Vinemont Tornado...

Rating:                   EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind:      75 MPH
Path length /Statute/:    10.05 Miles
Path width /Maximum/:     215 Yards
Fatalities:               0
Injuries:                 0

Start date:               April 30, 2017
Start time:               2:12 PM CDT
Start location:           0.5 SW Vinemont
Start Lat/Lon:            34.24 / -86.87

End date:                 April 30, 2017
End time:                 2:20 PM CDT
End location:             3 SE Eva
End_lat/lon:              34.30 / -86.72

Survey Summary: 

A NWS survey team determined the minor damage across portions of 
northern Cullman County was attributed to a weak EF-0 tornado with 
peak winds of 75 MPH.

A strong, bowing line of storms moved quickly through Cullman County 
the afternoon of April 30. Within the bowing segment, rotation was 
detected on radar which tracked through the north central portions 
of the county. 

The damage team found several EF-0 damage indicators in the Vinemont 
area in the form of uprooted softwood trees and large limb damage. 
General storm motion from the severe line was northeast. Debris was 
observed either in a convergent pattern or oriented in sporatic 
directions.

The tornado continued north of CR 1422 and CR 1518 toward the 
Cullman/Morgan Co. line, south of Eva, AL. In this area, the most 
concentrated area of damage was observed near CR 1526. Amongst several 
trees uprooted, a metal roof was blown off a large garage/barn and 
pushed into a single family residence. Additionally, minor roof shingle 
damage was reported further north on CR 1526. The tornado likely 
dissipated nearly CR 1527, south of the Morgan County line.   


EF Scale:  The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies Tornadoes into
the following categories.

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 MPH
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 MPH
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 MPH
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 MPH
EF4...Violent...166 To 200 MPH
EF5...Violent...>200 MPH

Note:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.