Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, December 16, 2019

Public reports hail larger than quarter near Madison.

Multiple trees were knocked down near Allsboro, two miles south of U.S. Highway 72.

A tree was knocked down on Old Memphis Pike.

Trees were knocked down on Claunch Loop and Ligon Springs Road.

A brief tornado touched down along Patrick Lane just west of Red Rock Road, crossed northeast and lifted back up|in a grove of trees just behind a house. The worst damage was in this grove of trees, where some tree trunks were snapped.

A house under construction partially collapsed.

The damage path began on Underwood Mountain Road where several small hardwood trees were snapped. Tree damage continued on a northeast track onto County Farm Road where several large hardwood trees were both snapped and uprooted. More extensive damage was seen along Lynn Drive, Thomas Road, and Woodmont Drive where several residential structures sustained at |least minor roof damage and many large hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped. At least three sheds were heavily damaged and metal roofing materials were lifted into trees or blown |downstream. Tree damage continued on a path to Foster Nolen Road, where the most extensive damage occurred. Significant roof damage was observed on at least three single family homes. A roof was completely blown off of a brick single family residence, where bricks were blown off the western facing wall and several windows were blown out. A camping trailer was overturned and several |small sheds were destroyed. Extensive tree damage was seen with many large hardwood trees uprooted and snapped near the base. There was evidence suggesting the tornado cycled around this |location before continuing east.

Tree damage continued along US-43 where several hardwood trees were snapped. Four trailers were overturned at the Longhorn R Arena off of 3 Mile Lane and several large hardwood trees were |uprooted. Extensive shingle damage occurred at one brick single family residence on the eastern side of 3 Mile Lane. Tree damage continued along the path through Gargis Lane, where branches were |snapped on a few smaller hardwood trees. Additional damage was found along Alabama Highway 20. A tin barn was destroyed behind a house, and some shingle/roof damage and tree damage was observed.

Trees were knocked down near Colbert Heights Daycare.

Trees were knocked down on Woodmont Drive and Milk Springs Road.

A power pole was knocked down on the road with live wires at the intersection of CR 4 and CR 137.

Trees were knocked down on West 10th Street and North Raleigh Avenue.

Power lines were knocked down in the road on CR 137. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down in the road at CR 14 and CR 15, causing a vehicle wreck at that location. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down on Ricks Lane.

Power lines were knocked down on East Tombigbee Street at Walnut Street. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down on Wildwood Park Road.

A tree was knocked down at 1758 Eunice Avenue. Time estimated by radar.

A power line was knocked down on Cloverdale Road around Heathrow. Time estimated by radar.

Trees were knocked down on Hillcrest Avenue.

Trees were knocked down on River Road.

Power lines and a power pole were knocked down at 165 CR 122. Time estimated by radar.

A team consisting of National Weather Service, Lawrence County Emergency Management, and an Auburn University Structural Engineering survey team determined the damage in northern Lawrence County was attributed to a strong EF-2 tornado.

Damage was first observed along CR 101 north of CR 143. Large-limb tree damage was the primary damage indicator observed in this area, with estimated winds of 107 mph close to touchdown.

East of CR 101, the tornado intensified significantly as it approached CR 265. Approximately 1 mile south of Highway 20, major damage occurred to three structures. Structure damage indicators were a combination of single wide and double wide manufactured homes. It should be noted that one of the structures listed as a double wide was a prefabricated home with no anchor system. The traditional double wide manufactured home included an auger anchor system while the single wide home had a pan anchor system. Regardless of the anchor, each system failed due to intense lifting force, which led to the structure to roll off its plot, causing total destruction. Two fatalities and an injury were reported at the double wide home, with additional injuries at the other destroyed structures.

Thanks to preliminary footage from an Alabama Emergency Management Agency drone team, the tornado was observed to take a slight right turn and continue toward the Courtland area. Along and south of Alabama Highway 20 in Courtland, uprooted and large snapped tree branches were the main damage indicators. A small mobile home was slightly shifted off its plot, denoting mid-range EF-0 winds. The path continued east-northeast and crossed U.S. Highway 72, causing more tree damage on CR 150. Along CR 150, south of CR 400, the strongest damage indicator was a small and well-built block outbuilding. This structure was mostly destroyed, except for a back wall. The tornado continued to weaken as it approached and crossed CR 389. Large tree branches were downed and minor roof damage was observed at three residences. Minor tree damage continued toward the river in the vicinity of CR 400.

The tornado crossed the Tennessee River and laid down again on the Limestone County shore near Brigadoon Drive.

A tree was knocked down into the road at 2289 Sky Park Road. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down on Koger Street. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at CR 27 near CR 30. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at CR 170 and CR 71. Time estimated by radar.

Trees were knocked down on River Road and Point Road.

A tree was knocked down on Hickory Cove Road near Taylor Drive.

A tree was knocked down on CR 31 between CR 34 and CR 432.

A tree was knocked down on power lines on CR 25 north of Highway 64. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down on CR 33 south of Pleasant Valley Church. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down onto the road at 4701 CR 33. A vehicle rain into the tree shortly after. Time estimated by radar.

A tree and power lines were knocked down on CR 31 one mile from U.S. Highway 72. Time estimated by radar.

Thunderstorm winds overturned an 18-wheeler on Highway 20 at the intersection of CR 150.

An EF-1 tornado developed near the border of Joe Wheeler State Park and the Tennessee River. Almost immediately, a large swath of trees were either snapped or uprooted. Both hardwood and softwood trees were toppled, leading to a rating of high-end EF-1. Park officials estimate thousands of trees fell as a result of this tornado. The peak width was 500 yards, with evidence of multiple vortices present both to the east and west of the bay. There were multiple swaths of convergent tree damage, as well as gaps of standing trees in between these swaths. It is worth noting that several structures remained standing in the middle of these swaths and all damage to those structures was the result of falling trees.

Continuous tree damage was observed across the remainder of Joe Wheeler State Park. Sporadic damage was then noted with trees along McLean Drive, across Lover's Lane, and over to Braden Cove where an RV was toppled, several houses had minor roof damage, and a few trees were snapped. The tornado then shrank considerably and uprooted a few pine trees and then lifted just east of Tipton Road.

A trampoline and street signs were blown into the road at 4543 CR 51. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 1339 CR 559. Time estimated by radar.

Power lines were knocked down on CR 91, about 1.5 miles south of U.S. Highway 72.

A power pole was snapped with a transformer hanging. This was at the intersection of CR 555 at CR 26. Time estimated by radar.

Power poles were knocked down on CR 555 just south of CR 92. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down onto power lines at 190 McGraw Circle. Time estimated by radar.

A power pole was knocked down across the road at CR 530 at CR 52.

A tornado started right onshore of the Wheeler Lake / Tennessee River just east of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant. The worst damage was east of the Power Plant, with snapped tree trunks, and also near Neely Hill Loop, where the roof of a home was taken off. The tornado periodically snapped or uprooted trees in between these locations before destroying a large shed just north of Tanner along U.S. Highway 31. The tornado finally lifted near Hatfield Lake Road.

The tornado touched down in Lawrence County, traveling over 14 miles and producing EF-2 damage before crossing the Tennessee River and entering Limestone County near Brigadoon Drive. At this location, a home on the river was observed to have metal roofing blown off. Additionally, hardwood trees were uprooted in the neighborhood. The tornado continued toward the Ripley Road and Batts Road. intersection where it caused minor roof damage to a single family home, uprooted trees, and destroyed a small shed. The tornado crossed Ripley Road where a couple more trees were uprooted and large branches were knocked down before it lifted near the southern area of Snake road.

A tree was knocked down onto a trailer at this location.

One inch hail was reported via mPING.

An eight foot section of wooden fence was blown over and stripped off of support posts. This occurred off of Chadwick Drive near the French Mill Community. Time estimated by radar.

Hail up to the size of half-dollars was reported via mPING.

A hanging traffic light was knocked out due to thunderstorm winds at the intersection of Church Street and Mill Road. Time estimated by radar.

A hardwood tree was knocked down at this location.

Peak gust at the Huntsville International Airport.

Minor tree damage was noted just north of Harbin Road on Summer Cove Circle. The tornado started producing sporadic tree damage on Pettus Road as it approached the Summerfield Subdivision. It skipped along a path producing major structural damage off of Running Brook Court, removing nearly two thirds of a roof here. Minor roof and siding damage occurred to surrounding homes here as well. It was this damage that was rated EF-1, with wind speeds of 105 mph. Along Sarah Jane Drive, tornadic winds lifted up an awning and caused damage to a home, windows were broken and fences were not only blown over but broken apart and lofted onto and into a house on Jasmine Drive. This house experienced damage from additional debris along with fence segments and posts that impaled the home. Minor damage was noted as the tornado proceeded to move northeast with small branches and shingle damage observed in the Legacy neighborhood. A small outdoor metal shed was damaged and several trees were snapped or uprooted along Douglass Road near Golden Oak Drive before it lifted.

Four large trees were knocked down in the Chadrick neighborhood.

A carport was blown onto power lines in the area of Monroe Road and U.S. Highway 431.

A tornado developed northeast of Liberty Hill Road, downing numerous trees in a wooded area on a farm. From there, it approached Monroe Road, with sporadic tree damage noted through the Spencer Lake and Spencer Estates Subdivisions. Minor roof damage was noted to a couple of homes in Spencer Lake, with one home on Madelyn Drive sustaining moderate roof damage, spraying shingles and debris northeast into a field. It was at this point that the tornado was rated EF-0, with wind speeds of 80 mph. Additional minor tree and roof damage was noted in Spencer Estates, uprooting a large magnolia tree. The tornado moved toward U.S. Highway 231 and damaging a billboard before dissipating on the east side of the highway.

Power lines were knocked down on Meridian Street NE and Wholesale Avenue NE.

A tree was knocked down at this location.

Trees down on Highway 101 at the Big Nance Creek Bridge.