National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Weather and Heavy Rain from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic; Heat Persists in the East

Widespread strong thunderstorms with damaging winds and locally heavy rain are expected from the Upper Ohio Valley into the southern Mid-Atlantic today and portions of the central Appalachians and Carolinas on Saturday. Monsoonal moisture will bring a flash flooding threat to the Desert Southwest. Sweltering heat persists from the Plains to the southern Mid-Atlantic through tonight. Read More >

Preliminary Storm Survey Information
 
Storm surveys have been completed examining storm damage that occurred in the early morning hours on Wednesday, December 10th.  Information found in these surveys is described below. All tornado ratings are using the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Central Jackson County
Rating EF-2 Peak Wind 125 mph
Path Length 3.7 miles Peak Path Width 300 yards
Survey Map

A squall line produced hail and thunderstorm wind damage across portions of the Tennessee Valley in addition to a tornado that tracked across central Jackson County near Pikeville, Alabama. The tornado initially snapped several cedar trees near county road 21 before toppling three high voltage power line towers. It then rapidly proceeded northeast, snapping trees, collapsing several barns, and ripping off roofs before lifting near the end of county road 34.

The tornado damage path was approximately 3.7 miles in length, and approximately 300 yards in width. Maximum wind speeds were approximately 125 mph, rating this tornado as an EF-2 on the enhanced Fujita scale.

The storm survey was completed by National Weather Service Huntsville Meteorologists David Nadler, Stephen Latimer, and Andrew Pritchett along with Victor Manning of Jackson County EMA.

 

Snapped Cedar Tree near Pikeville Snapped Oak Tree near Pikeville Collapsed Barn near Pikeville Collapsed Power Line Tower