Damaging Wind in Alabama, January 7, 1998

Name: Damaging Wind in Alabama, January 7, 1998
Start: 1998-01-07T10:55
End: 1998-01-07T11:05
Location: Alabama

January 7, 1998 · NWS BMX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $90,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:55 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chilton

When: January 7, 10:55 AM CST to 11:05 AM CST
Where: Chilton County, Clanton to 5 mi NNW of Clanton
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage: $90,000
Coordinates: 32.880, -86.700

What was believed to be a downburst damaged a number of structures and downed trees and power lines in central Chilton County between Clanton and Thorsby around New Salem Church and Collins Chapel. Two mobile homes were destroyed, five mobile homes were damaged, at least eight permanent homes were damaged, two vehicles were damaged, and a number of trees were down. Three poles along a major power line were also downed forcing US 31 traffic to be rerouted for several hours. The damage area was surveyed by NWS meteorologists and the damage pattern was consistent with straight-line wind.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Alabama, January 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5628419.