Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2006

F2 tornado, Hamilton Xrds to Louisville, Alabama, November 15, 2006

Name: F2 tornado, Hamilton Xrds to Louisville, Alabama, November 15, 2006
Start: 2006-11-15T18:12:00.000Z
Location: Hamilton Xrds to Louisville, Alabama

From Hamilton Xrds to Louisville, this F2 tornado ran 19.8 miles across Pike, Coffee and Barbour counties on November 15, 2006, touching down at 12:12 PM CST and reaching 650 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $507,000 of property damage.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mphthis tornado
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating: F2
Date: November 15, 2006
Touchdown: 12:12 PM CST (18:12 UTC)
Path length: 19.8 miles (31.8 km)
Path width: 650 yards (594 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $507,000
Counties: Pike, Coffee and Barbour counties
Touchdown point: 31.610, -85.840
Lift-off point: 31.840, -85.640
Record number: 1046

What the Weather Service recorded

A strong storm system brought severe weather and heavy rainfall to much of Central Alabama.

This tornado, which is believed to have initially touched down just across the Coffee County line near the Roeton community, entered Pike County about 1.5 miles southwest of Hamilton Crossroads. The tornado track crossed US Highway 231, State Highway 10, and State Highway 130 before crossing the Pea River into western Barbour County. Numerous trees were blown down or snapped off along the path. Numerous structures suffered significant damage, including a water tower that completely collapsed, a fire department building, and several homes.

The Hamilton Crossroads tornado crossed from Pike into Barbour County, and traveled another 3 miles before lifting. Damage in the Barbour County portion was relatively minor, and consisted of mainly downed trees.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Moderate Risk, with a 0.15 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 16:29 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Nov 15, 11:40 AM CST, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 15, 11:40 AM CST, 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1140 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

.UPDATE...WEATHER AND AVIATION DISCUSSION.

&&

.UPDATE...ACTIVE STORM SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE AREA.  TORNADO
WATCHES REMAIN IN EFFECT.  WILL START TO TRIM BACK PORTIONS OF
WATCHES DURING THE AFTERNOON.  ACTUAL FRONT IS BACK IN MISSISSIPPI...
WITH SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT.

&&

.AVIATION...DISCUSSION FOR 18Z TAFS.

ACTIVE WEATHER PERIOD ACROSS THE AREA.  SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES
REMAIN IN EFFECT.  IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH
03Z WITH NUMEROUS SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS...CEILINGS BELOW 1000 FEET.
DAMAGING WINDS/ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE.  WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO 35 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED.  AFTER 03Z...SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE SHIFTING EAST...EXPECT ISOLATED SHOWERS WITH CEILINGS 1000 TO
2000 FEET.

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.

&&

KSL

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 14, 8:25 PM CST, 15 hours 47 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
825 PM CST TUE NOV 14 2006

ALZ011>015-017>050-160230-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
825 PM CST TUE NOV 14 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

ON WEDNESDAY...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
INCLUDING DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND POSSIBLY A FEW TORNADOES.
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF A COLD
FRONT...AND ARRIVE IN WEST CENTRAL ALABAMA BY 8 AM. THIS
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE INTERSTATE 65 CORRIDOR
BETWEEN 10 AM AND 1 PM AND EXIT THE STATE BY 6 PM.  HOWEVER...
ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE MAIN
LINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLD FRONT.

WHILE THERE IS SOME QUESTION AS TO HOW UNSTABLE THE AIRMASS WILL
BECOME OVER CENTRAL ALABAMA...SEVERE STORMS WITH WINDS NEAR 70 MPH
AND A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE FROM 8 AM THROUGH 6 PM. AT THIS
TIME...THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE STORMS WILL BE FOR AREAS SOUTH OF
A LINE FROM CARROLLTON TO BIRMINGHAM...TO HEFLIN.  HOWEVER...STRONG
TO SEVERE STORMS MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE FARTHER TO THE NORTH.

IN ADDITION TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE STORMS...CONDITIONS WILL BECOME
BREEZY WEDNESDAY MORNING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL
BE POSSIBLE WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL ALSO BE A THREAT WITH THIS SYSTEM. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WITH ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE
POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS
TIME...LOCALIZED FLOODING MAY BECOME PROBLEMATIC DUE TO CLOGGED
DRAINAGE AREAS FROM FALLING LEAVES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WILL
LIKELY BE NECESSARY ON WEDNESDAY.

12/SIRMON

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 15, 11:16 AM CST, 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1116 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1045 AM     TSTM WND DMG     2 W REFORM              33.38N 88.05W
11/15/2006                   PICKENS            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            SEVERAL TREES DOWN JUST WEST OF REFORM.

&&

DCW

Special weather statement, Nov 15, 11:22 AM CST, 50 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1122 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

ALZ045-151815-
MACON-
1122 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR MACON COUNTY UNTIL 1215 PM
CST...

...WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORM...

AT 1121 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
BAND OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN MACON COUNTY...MOVING EAST AND
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR FRANKLIN...
TUSKEGEE...NOTASULGA AND SOCIETY HILL THROUGH 1215 PM CST.

THE PRIMARY THREAT IS STRONG GUSTY WIND OF 35 TO 45 MPH. WINDS OF
THIS MAGNITUDE WILL BREAK OFF SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BLOW AROUND
UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND TRASH CANS. IF WEATHER
PERMITS...SECURE LOOSE ARTICLES BEFORE THE STORMS ARRIVE.

61

Special weather statement, Nov 15, 11:36 AM CST, 36 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1136 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

ALZ015-023-151800-
TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-
1136 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT IN EFFECT FOR TUSCALOOSA AND WALKER
COUNTIES UNTIL NOON CST...

...WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS...

AT 1131 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM CURRY TO 12 MILES WEST OF FOSTERS...MOVING
EAST AT 35 MPH.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR
PARRISH...JASPER...SAMANTHA...CURRY...NORTHPORT...CORDOVA...
TUSCALOOSA AND TUTWILER THROUGH NOON CST.

THE PRIMARY THREATS ARE STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH AND MINOR
FLOODING. STRONG WINDS WILL BREAK OFF SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BLOW
AROUND UNSECURED OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN FURNITURE AND TRASH CANS.
PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS...FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS...RISING
WATER ALONG CREEKS AND FLOODED UNDERPASSES ARE POSSIBLE. REMEMBER.
TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SEEK SHELTER IN A SUBSTANTIAL
ENCLOSED BUILDING ON HIGH GROUND. IF OUTDOORS AND NO SUBSTANTIAL
SHELTER IS AVAILABLE.... TAKE SHELTER IN AN AUTOMOBILE...AVOID LOW
LYING AREAS. NEVER DRIVE ACROSS ROADWAYS WITH WATER FLOWING OVER THEM
OR...COVERED WITH WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH.

JD/81

Local storm report, Nov 15, 11:57 AM CST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1157 AM CST WED NOV 15 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1125 AM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S DADEVILLE           32.82N 85.77W
11/15/2006                   TALLAPOOSA         AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DAMAGE TO A STRUCTURE AT 1479 LOVELADY ROAD JUST SOUTH OF
            DADEVILLE.

&&

DCW

Local storm report, Nov 15, 12:06 PM CST, 6 minutes before

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Local storm report, Nov 15, 12:11 PM CST, 1 minute before

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The surface observations

Troy Municipal (TOI), 30 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)	Temp (°F)	Dew point (°F)	Wind	Gust (kt)	Pressure (mb)	Weather
00:00 UTC

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2006 tornado in Alabama Every tornado in Alabama since 1950 Warnings in force in Alabama now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of November 15, 2006

27 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
November 15	1:55 AM CST	F2	Saint Helena Parish, LA	6.0	100	1	2	$500,000
November 15	2:30 AM CST	F3	Lamar, MS	13.0	500		6	$1.5 million
November 15	2:50 AM CST	F2	Washington Parish, LA to MS	22.2	440		1	$690,000
November 15	3:31 AM CST	F3	Jones, MS	15.9	850		1	$1.9 million
November 15	3:40 AM CST	F1	Jones, MS	0.8	150
November 15	3:50 AM CST	F1	Lamar, MS	1.0	70			$100,000
November 15	4:57 AM CST	F1	Greene, MS	4.5	300			$750,000
November 15	5:07 AM CST	F1	Plaquemines Parish, LA	0.5	35			$10,000
November 15	5:44 AM CST	F1	Washington, AL	7.8	300			$750,000
November 15	6:22 AM CST	F1	Jackson, MS	0.5	35			$50,000
November 15	8:48 AM CST	F0	Baldwin, AL	1.1	50			$50,000
November 15	9:09 AM CST	F1	Baldwin, AL	1.3	150			$100,000
November 15	9:55 AM CST	F1	Montgomery, AL	5.9	250			$150,000
November 15	10:25 AM CST	F2	Montgomery, AL	6.8	250		6	$500,000
November 15	10:40 AM CST	F1	Elmore, AL	1.6	150			$25,000
November 15	11:02 AM CST	F1	Elmore, AL	5.2	100			$30,000
November 15	11:11 AM CST	F0	Tallapoosa, AL	0.1	25			$15,000
November 15	11:30 AM CST	F2	Covington, AL	15.8	300			$1.0 million
November 15	11:53 AM CST	F0	Coffee, AL	3.0	150		2	$350,000
November 15	12:02 PM CST	F0	Chambers, AL	0.2	75			$50,000
November 15	12:53 PM CST	F0	Barbour, AL	0.1	50			$10,000
November 15	3:00 PM EST	F1	Chattahoochee, GA	1.5	150		9	$501,000
November 15	2:38 PM CST	F1	Henry, AL	3.6	100			$150,000
November 15	10:51 PM EST	F1	Gaston, NC	0.1	30			$50,000
November 15	11:15 PM EST	F0	Lincoln, NC	0.1	30
November 15	11:22 PM EST	F2	Lincoln, NC	1.0	30
November 15	11:45 PM EST	F1	Iredell, NC	6.0	40	1	1	$110,000

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.