Damaging Winds in Alabama, February 13, 2000

A downburst event began around 7:28 pm and continued about 4 minutes until 7:32 pm. Minor damage occurred just west of Huntsville Park with damage at Joe Davis Stadium and a shopping area known as Stadium Place. Several businesses sustained significant damage including an NTB store where the wind collapsed an exterior wall and threw roofing materials across Memorial Parkway. A number of other businesses in the immediate area sustained damage, too. Two people were apparently slightly injured as they sought shelter when the wind struck while eating at one of the restaurants that was damaged. After crossing Memorial Parkway, the downburst worked its way eastward blowing down numerous trees and power lines. The wind damage extended up the west side of a ridge running north from Garth Mountain. Significant damage ends near the top of the ridge. Most homes that were damaged had roof damage that consisted mainly of shingles being removed. One tree fell on a car and severely damaged it. One man was killed as he was walking across the Tennessee River Bridge in Madison County and fell off. County authorities were unsure whether it was directly related to the high wind or he jumped.

On the Redstone Arsenal, several large buildings just north of the Tennessee River were damaged, at least one severely. A large stand of pine trees was 70 percent destroyed. Either this downburst proceeded east-northeast or a second downburst occurred east-northeast of the first one damaging several houses just outside the arsenal. Damage to the homes was primarily shingle damage.