Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, February 17, 2008

The tornado touched down at the intersection of CR-72 and AL-33, near Blue Springs State Park. It then traveled northeastward about 2 miles, before lifting at CR-41 just east of the park. Four houses and one mobile home sustained roof damage, and several trees were snapped off.

Quarter size hail was reported at several locations in Hale County, including in and around Greenville, Sawyerville, and Havana Junction.

Nickel size hail was observed near the Hale and Perry County line.

Several trees were blown down near the Bibb and Perry County line.

Reported just off CR-52, in the Brandywine Subdivision.

Several trees were blown down around the Shelby County Airport.

The tornado touched down near Warrior Drive, just southeast of the Perry County line. It then tracked northeastward across AL-219 near the intersection of CR-230, moved right through the Summerfield Community, and crossed CR-37, before lifting just east of the intersection of CR-37 and CR-844. At least 5 structures, including 2 mobile homes and a metal warehouse, were destroyed. Twelve to fifteen additional structures, including several homes and an auto body shop, were damaged to varying degrees. Hundreds of trees were either snapped off or uprooted along the damage path.

Downburst winds, estimated around 70 mph, blew down numerous trees and power lines, near and southwest of the city of Clanton.

Within a larger area of straight line wind damage, a short tornado damage path was found near and northeast of exit 205 on Interstate 65, southeast of the city of Clanton. The heaviest damage was sustained by a mobile home along County Road 41, where two large oak trees fell on the mobile home and demolished it. Several fast food restaurant signs and a couple of road signs were damaged or destroyed, and a couple hundred trees were also snapped off or uprooted.

Several trees and power lines were blown down in the city of Verbena.

The tornado touched down along US Highway 280 near the Bradford Community. The tornado moved northeastward and crossed AL-9, before crossing into Tallapoosa County east of Goodwater. The most significant damage occurred in Coosa County, near the intersection of CR-77 and AL-9. At least 6 homes suffered varying degrees of damage, and at least three automobiles were heavily damaged by fallen trees.

The tornado touched down near Pearson Chapel Road, north of Barnett Road. It then traveled northeastward and ended just north of Hackneyville before it crossed County Road 5. A few homes suffered minor roof damage and a few trees were either snapped off or lost some limbs.

The tornado that touched in Coosa County moved into the northeastern portion of Tallapoosa County, between Goodwater and Hackneyville. It then continued to move northeast, crossing AL-63, before lifting just before the Tallapoosa and Clay County line. In Tallapoosa County, most of the damage was limited to broken limbs and snapped softwood trees.

The tornado touched down near Fuller Road where minimal tree damage occurred and one home sustained roof damage. It then tracked northeast before lifting near catfish road. A small catfish restaurant had a part of the roof torn off. Several trees were snapped off along the short path. One vehicle was partially lifted into the air and the roof debris was deposited underneath it. There were approximately 100 people in the catfish restaurant when the tornado hit. These people were in the basement after the owner took action when hearing the warning. No injuries were reported.

The tornado touched down on CR-15 near the Pleasant Grove Church, about 3 miles southwest of Wedowee. It then tracked northeast, damaging five homes, at least two vehicles and three barns. One shop and numerous other outbuildings were significantly damaged or destroyed. Additionally, several dozen trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path. The tornado lifted near the Georgia state line at CR-477.

This tornado was already on the ground when it entered Pike County from Coffee County, about 5 miles southeast of Henderson. The tornado moved northeast, crossing AL-87 and AL-167, before lifting north of the intersection of CR-6 and CR-57. In Pike County, one home and one church were damaged, and a greenhouse had its windows blown out. Numerous trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path.

The tornado touched down in the Collirene Community, about 14 miles west of Hayneville. It then tracked northeastward, and ended just north of US Highway 80, several miles west of Lowndesboro. At least 11 structures, most of them mobile homes, were damaged with three of these being completely destroyed. Hundreds of trees were either snapped or were uprooted along the damage path. The most extensive damage occurred in and near the Collirene Community. Ten injuries were attributed to this tornado.

The tornado touched down near the waste water treatment facility south southwest of the city of Prattville. It then tracked northeastward and crossed US Highway 82, US Highway 31, and Cobbs Ford Road. The southern and eastern parts of Prattville sustained significant damage. The highest winds likely occurred along Cobbs Ford Road/East Main Street near McQueen Smith Road and in the Silver Hills Subdivision. An estimated 200 residential homes and 40 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path. In addition, 50 injuries were reported, but there were no fatalities.

The Prattville Tornado continued into Elmore County near Millbrook. It continued its northeast motion, and crossed Interstate 65 and AL-14. It then veered to the left, and moved almost due north for several more miles, before lifting just west of Speigner Lake. In Elmore County, the tornado snapped and uprooted several trees and produced generally light structural damage to several buildings.

Several trees were uprooted and snapped, with one of them falling across US-82 and onto a barbed wire fence.

Several trees were blown down on US-431, near Seale.

The tornado touched down near the intersection of US Highway 431 and CR-51 in the southern portion of the county. It then tracked northeastward to the Chattahoochee River near the Cottonton community, before crossing the river into Georgia. The most significant damage was located near CR-12. At least two mobile homes were destroyed and two frame houses received significant damage. Numerous trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path. At least one vehicle was flipped over. Four injuries were reported.

The tornado touched down near River Road and AL-10, where it snapped two wooden power poles. It then tracked northeast, across AL-51 just to the north of Clio, and rain roughly parallel to AL-51 south and west of Louisville, before lifting near the intersection of CR-79 and AL-30 several miles east of Clayton. Along the path, numerous trees were uprooted or snapped and several mobile homes sustained minor damage.

A weak tornado touched down briefly near Eubanks Road (also known as CR-12) where it destroyed a barn, tore shingles off a roof, uprooted a large pine tree and damaged a tin roof. It then tracked northeast along CR-79 a short distance, before lifting near the intersection of CR-79 and AL-18. Along the path several trees were uprooted or snapped and several road signs sustained minor damage.