National Weather Service Raw Text Product

047 
NOUS44 KHUN 182340
PNSHUN
ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-191145-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
540 PM CST Tue Feb 18 2025

...NWS Damage Survey for 02/15/2025 and 02/16/2025 Tornado Event Update #5

.Update...To include an extension to the Tuscumbia into Muscle Shoals Tornado

.Tuscumbia - Muscle Shoals Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    105 mph
Path Length /statute/:  4.30 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   215 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             02/15/2025
Start Time:             11:12 PM CST
Start Location:         1 SW Tuscumbia / Colbert County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.7212 / -87.7166

End Date:               02/15/2025
End Time:               11:21 PM CST
End Location:           Muscle Shoals / Colbert County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.7443 / -87.6494

Survey Summary:
NWS Huntsville and Colbert County EMA surveyed damage in the
downtown Tuscumbia area consistent with EF-1 damage. The tornado
touched down near the intersection of Lamar Road and Frankfort Road.
The tornado caused immediate and widespread damage in neighborhoods
southwest of downtown Tuscumbia. This includes roof damage to an
elementary school off Glendora Avenue. Damage indicators were
mostly a combination of uprooted hard and softwood trees.
Numerous homes had roof damage associated with felled trees. As
the tornado tracked into downtown, power lines and traffic
signals were destroyed. Significant roof damage occurred near 5th
and Main Streets where a metal roof was completely removed. As the
tornado moved out of the downtown area, numerous trees were again
uprooted along 5th and 6th Streets through Commons Street. The
tornado lifted east of Commons Street before reaching Kings
Avenue. 

A NWS Survey team found additional damage on February 18th, 
connecting further damage into Muscle Shoals. The tornado snapped
trees before crossing George Wallace Boulevard and the Southern
Railway. Additional trees were snapped or uprooted as the tornado
moved northeast approaching Woodward Avenue. At this location, 
part of a service station canopy was removed. Fences were knocked
down on adjacent streets in this area. More softwood trees
were snapped or uprooted as the tornado moved through residential
areas approaching Muscle Shoals High School. On school property, 
several trees were snapped, some near the base, but the building
itself didn't sustain any damage. No damage was found northeast of
Avalon Avenue. There were other sporadic trees randomly snapped
south of this location along portions of Washington Drive and
Colorado Avenue, but this wind damage was determined to be strong
winds in the rear flank downdraft of the occluding tornadic 
circulation. The Northwest Alabama Regional Airport measured an 
84 MPH wind gust as the tornado occluded just northwest of the
airfield. 

.Waco Tornado...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    115 mph
Path Length /statute/:  3.93 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   170 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               1

Start Date:             02/15/2025
Start Time:             11:20 PM CST
Start Location:         4 ESE Russellville / Franklin County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.4791 / -87.6587

End Date:               02/15/2025
End Time:               11:27 PM CST
End Location:           6 SE Littleville / Franklin County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.5136 / -87.6082

Survey Summary:
An NWS and Franklin County (AL) EMA survey team determined that
an EF-2 tornado caused damage in central Franklin County. 

The tornado quickly formed while embedded within the line of severe
thunderstorms late Saturday night. It touched down just south of
Russellville Rd. and east of Harris Creek. There the tornado blew
out the doors of a large, metal storage shed and lofted an ATV
across the property. The tornado shifted ENE just south of
Russellville Rd. and Hwy 75 where it uprooted numerous hardwood
trees, some of which fell on houses. Residents at this location
received advanced NWS warnings and took refuge in their tornado
shelter before their home was impacted. Several homes also
experienced partial roof loss further east on Russellville Rd.
The tornado shifted north Hwy 24 where the vortex contracted and
strengthened. Among uprooted hardwood trees on one property, the
upper quarter of a large silo collapsed. Further east, numerous
trees were uprooted, some on houses and cars. Near Hwy 78 and Hwy
83 junction, a manufactured home was impacted with roof and
siding damage. The resident was thankful for the early warning
from the NWS as it allowed time for her family to safely seek
refuge. The tornado tracked ENE of Hwy 78 and destroyed several
small farm buildings before impacting homes near the McGuire Loop
area. Near McGuire Loop and Rocky Glen Rd., the tornado knocked
down numerous power lines in trees before completely removing the
roof of one single-family residence. This is where the strongest
intensity of the tornado likely occurred with a maximum wind of
115 miles an hour. The tornado traveled to the NE portion of
McGuire Loop where pine trees were snapped. The tornado lifted
west of Hwy 87.

.Wilson Lake Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    94 mph
Path Length /statute/:  13.42 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   250 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             02/15/2025
Start Time:             11:22 PM CST
Start Location:         3 WSW Killen / Lauderdale County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.841 / -87.5765

End Date:               02/15/2025
End Time:               11:33 PM CST
End Location:           3 WNW Rogersville / Lauderdale County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.8441 / -87.3441

Survey Summary:
An NWS survey team, with assistance from Lauderdale County EMA, 
surveyed damage in southern Lauderdale County, near Wilson Lake, 
which was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. Maximum winds were 94 
MPH.

The tornado initially touched down in the vicinity of Myrtle 
Road (in the Kendale Gardens subdivision) where it produced the 
only structural damage observed by the survey team. This 
structural damage was due to a large, uprooted hardwood tree 
falling into the front portion of a residence. The tornado then 
traveled eastward, crossing the mouth of Shoal Creek and far 
northern extent of Wilson Lake before moving back onshore and 
producing tree damage along the southern portion of Lingerlost 
Road. Afterwards, the tornado moved generally eastward across 
rural portions of southern Lauderdale County (north of Wilson Lake
and south of U.S. Highway 72), producing clusters of tree damage 
on Lauderdale C.R. 31 and in the general vicinity of the 
intersection of Lauderdale C.R. 33 and Walnut Creek Road. From 
this point, the tornado headed east-northeastward, crossing 
Bluewater Creek and producing sporadic tree damage in Elgin and 
along the western shore of Second Creek. The tornado lifted along 
Lauderdale C.R. 53 (north of Thorntontown), where tree damage was 
also observed.

.Hatton Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    95 mph
Path Length /statute/:  1.50 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   150 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             02/15/2025
Start Time:             11:33 PM CST
Start Location:         9 SSW Town Creek / Lawrence County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.5487 / -87.4985

End Date:               02/17/2025
End Time:               11:34 PM CST
End Location:           9 SSW Town Creek / Lawrence County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.5509 / -87.4727

Survey Summary:
NWS Huntsville and Lawrence Co. EMA determined damage near
Hatton, AL was attributed to an EF-1 tornado with maximum of
95 MPH.The tornado, embedded in a line of severe thunderstorms,
was only briefly on the ground for approximately 1.5 miles. The
tornado likely touched down west of CR 129, and damage was
observed near CR 129 and along CR 131. Damage indicators were
mainly a mix of snapped and uprooted trees and farm outbuildings.
Damage was tracked eastward along CR 131 and likely lifted west
of CR 132. 

.Rogersville Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    95 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.38 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   115 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             02/15/2025
Start Time:             11:37 PM CST
Start Location:         Rogersville / Lauderdale County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.8259 / -87.2898

End Date:               02/15/2025
End Time:               11:39 PM CST
End Location:           Rogersville / Lauderdale County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.8293 / -87.2845

Survey Summary:

This damage survey began on Wheeler St. (AL Hwy 207) in
Rogersville, which coincided with the southwestern-most damage
point. In the general vicinity, several businesses experienced
minor damage to awnings, the tin top of a business  roof was
removed (and blown north) but the main portion of the roof
remained, and a business on Church Street had windows blown out.
From here, going northeastward to College St. we observed
significant tree damage. We noticed that one large pine tree fell
toward the east, while an adjacent (but severely hallowed-out)
oak tree fell toward the northeast. Thus, we suspect this may
have been where a small tornado initiated. A resident at this
location did receive warning from NWS Huntsville and made the
decision to seek shelter. 

Traveling northeastward from here was Macke Rd., where there was 
continued evidence of a small tornado. At this location, we 
noticed one uprooted hardwood and one uprooted softwood tree lying
in a convergent pattern, and also were informed that power lines 
and poles had been blown down, but were recently repaired. A 
resident at this location did receive warning from NWS Huntsville 
and was very thankful for the advance notice. The maximum width of
the tornado is assumed to have been at this point. 

Greer Dr. represents the northeastern-most damage point and end 
point of the tornado. At this location, a large hardwood tree was 
uprooted and fell on a residence, causing damage to the roof in a 
few locations. On the way to Greer Dr., there were several snapped
softwood trees and uprooted hardwood trees (aligned in the same 
direction) along Hudson St. and between Warren St. and Weaver Dr. 
This tree damage was likely associated with RFD flow immediately 
south of the tornado. 

Thank you to the Lauderdale EMA for their assistance in 
conducting the survey. 

..Mount Hebron Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    100 mph
Path Length /statute/:  0.76 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   30 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             02/16/2025
Start Time:             1:05 AM CST
Start Location:         3 SSE Douglas / Marshall County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.133 / -86.3162

End Date:               02/16/2025
End Time:               1:11 AM CST
End Location:           3 SSE Douglas / Marshall County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.136 / -86.3035

Survey Summary:
The tornado rapidly developed along a line of severe storms
entering Southwestern Marshall County, first producing damage by
snapping several softwood trees along Mount Hebron Road. The
tornado continued along this road as it approached Mount Hebron
Douglas Road, snapping large softwood branches along its path.
The most concentrated damage occurred just northeast of the
intersection with Mount Hebron Douglas Road, where several farm
outbuildings and barns were destroyed. This was at and
immediately east of the intersection with New Clear Creek Road.
Here, a power pole was snapped about 5 to 7 feet from the top of
the pole. Also at this location, a cattle trailer was overturned
and moved several feet. A well-built farm outbuilding suffered
collapsed walls here at this location, and the combination of
this and the power pole led to the strongest point in this short-
lived tornado: 100mph winds and 30 yards in width. The tornado
continued northeast of this location to the farm next door,
destroying a small hay barn and another farm outbuilding across
the street. This particular building had a covered overhang and
was open on the end where the tornado approached, which
contributed to it's failing here. For this reason, the wind
speeds were lower than at the adjacent farm to the southwest. No
further damage was noted northeast of this hay barn location
between here and Chestnut Drive. 

Other damage was noted in the vicinity of Mount Hebron Road to the
north and the south, which was mainly large branches blown down or
sporadic trees here and there that were broken. This was determined
to be related to straight-line winds from the line of storms, as all
damage was noted to be laying in the same direction and not convergent
in nature. 

Thanks to Marshall County EMA for assistance on today's survey, 
and thanks to local news media for passing along both reports and 
videos from last night's event. 

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0.....65 to 85 mph
EF1.....86 to 110 mph
EF2.....111 to 135 mph
EF3.....136 to 165 mph
EF4.....166 to 200 mph
EF5.....>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.


$$
Barron / Cramer / 12 / JMS / DD / Bryant / Smith

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