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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
1055 AM CDT Wed Apr 5 2023

...NWS Damage Survey for 03/24/23 Tornado Event...

Update... #1

.Plantation Springs...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    120 mph
Path Length /statute/:  3.8164 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   300.0 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             03/24/2023
Start Time:             10:54 PM CDT
Start Location:         1 SSE Florence / Lauderdale County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.8086 / -87.6553

End Date:               03/24/2023
End Time:               11:02 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 near the
intersection of Sweetwater Ave and Huntsville Rd in Southeast
Florence, AL. The tornado nearly paralleled Sweetwater Creek as
it tracked northward. Along Sweetwater Creek and Sweetwater Ave,
numerous trees were uprooted and snapped  along with structure
damage to small outbuilding and minor single family home roof
damage.  As it crossed Highway 43, more trees and minor structure
damage was observed near Mall Rd and north of Hough Rd. The
tornado approached 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 yardswide, 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 onthe 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 stormsmoved across the city of
Florence, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. NWS and EMA
officials scoured numerous streets in North Florence, trying to
find some sort of path to the damage, but itwas 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 thestorm 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.

$$

Amin/Barron/Weber