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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
619 PM CDT Tue Apr 21 2020

...NWS Damage Survey For April 19, 2020 Tornado Event...

.Covington County Tornado...

Rating:                 EF-2
Estimated Peak Wind:    120 mph
Path Length /statute/:  1.2 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   300 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               1

Start Date:             Apr 19 2020 
Start Time:             1049 pm CDT
Start Location:         5.3 miles NE of Andalusia AL
Start Lat/Lon:          31.3479/-86.3955

End Date:               Apr 19 2020
End Time:               1052 pm CDT
End Location:           5.9 miles ENE of Andalusia AL
End Lat/Lon:            31.3364/-86.3800

A tornado touched down just to the northwest of County Road 70
and traveled approximately one and a quarter of a mile towards
the southeast. The tornado rapidly intensified after touchdown
and produced EF-2 damage. A stand of pine trees were snapped
near the bases with no tree left undamaged. The tornado then
widened and severely damaged a duplex, sweeping it from its
foundation with portions of the debris lofted across C.R. 70
approximately 75 yards away. The duplex did not have proper
anchoring to the slab. A nearby concrete block workshop was
also destroyed with the roof removed and 26 foot high concrete
block walls toppled. A storage unit to the south was also
completely destroyed. This damage was assessed as EF-2 tornado
intensity.

Across C.R. 70, another single family home was significantly
damaged. Large portions of the roof were removed along with
partial wall failure. Doors and windows were blown in at the
home. This damage was assessed as EF-1 intensity.

The tornado continued southeastward and heavily damaged
another stand of mixed softwood and hardwood trees, with many
of them snapped either near the base or one quarter of the
way up. This damage was assessed as EF-2 tornado intensity.
Immediately beyond the tree damage was a metal garage building
where the roof was partially removed and a complete wall was
ripped off.

The tornado traveled farther southeast through a wooded area
and came out into a pasture where it severely damaged and
destroyed 4 large chicken houses. The chicken house walls were
bolted into the foundation and were completely removed in
several locations. This tornado damage was assessed at EF-2
intensity.

The tornado began to weaken as it crossed Harmony Church Road
and dissipated just to the southeast where trees were snapped
and uprooted just prior to the end of the tornado track. EF-1
damage was assessed prior to tornado dissipation.

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.

$$