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318 
NOUS44 KHUN 252331
PNSHUN
ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-261145-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
631 PM CDT Sat Mar 25 2023

...NWS Damage Survey for 03/24/2023 Tornado Event #3... 

..Plantation Springs Tornado...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    120 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.6019 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100.0 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             03/24/2023
Start Time:             10:54 PM CDT
Start Location:         1 S Saint Florian / Lauderdale County /
AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.849 / -87.6285

End Date:               03/24/2023
End Time:               10:56 PM CDT
End Location:           1 SSE Saint Florian / Lauderdale County /
AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.856 / -87.6226

Survey Summary:
Plantation Springs Tornado: The tornado touched down in the
Hunter Ridge subdivision northeast of Florence and south of 
Saint Florian along County Road 61, removing part of a roof 
at the back of the neighborhood. The tornado then moved 
northeast into the Plantation Springs subdivision, damaging 
roofs to 2 homes on the southeastern corner of Plantation 
Springs Drive around the Blackberry Trail Golf Course. The 
tornado then strengthened to its strongest and widest point 
between Cottonwood Trail and Karley Lane, producing the most 
widespread structure damage along its path here. About half 
of the roofs of several homes were destroyed, and the backside
of the homes sustained severe damage as the tornado moved 
through the area. At this point, the tornado was about 100 yards
wide, and producing 120mph winds at peak intensity at this 
location, classifying it as an EF2 tornado. The last house 
on the northeast corner of Plantation Springs Drive sustained 
the worst damage near the golf course, with more than half the
roof destroyed and two rooms with walls collapsed at this location.
Thankfully, the tornado lifted shortly after this last house on 
the street, and little/no damage was noted to the northeast of 
this location back onto County Road 61. Path length was 0.6 miles,
beginning at 10:54 PM and ending at 10:56 PM. 

City of Florence Thunderstorm Wind Damage: As a line of severe storms 
moved across the city of Florence, numerous trees were snapped and
uprooted. NWS and EMA officials scoured numerous streetsin North 
Florence, trying to find some sort of path to the damage, but it 
was too widespread to determine that it was a tornado that moved 
through the city. Most/all of the trees were blown down and facing 
the northeast, including several large oak trees that were several 
feet in diameter. After assessing the damage to North Florence, it 
was determined that thunderstorm winds of 70-80mph occurred between 
North Wood Avenue, Chisolm Road, Hermitage Drive, eastward to 
Helton Drive/Hwy 157. 

Thanks to the Lauderdale County EMA for their assistance with the
storm surveys. 

&&

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.

$$