Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2008
EF1 tornado, Elamville to Richards Xrds, Alabama, February 17, 2008
From Elamville to Richards Xrds, this EF1 tornado ran 21.4 miles across Barbour County on February 17, 2008, touching down at 4:17 PM CST and reaching 75 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $35,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
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.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 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
- EF1
- Date
- February 17, 2008
- Touchdown
- 4:17 PM CST (22:17 UTC)
- Lifted
- 4:38 PM CST (22:38 UTC)
- On the ground
- 21 minutes
- Path length
- 21.4 miles (34.4 km)
- Path width
- 75 yards (69 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $35,000
- County
- Barbour County
- Touchdown point
- 31.707, -85.671
- Lift-off point
- 31.869, -85.360
- Record number
- 0802171617-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A broken squall line, sparked by an advancing cold front and strong upper level storm, caused severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across Central Alabama.
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.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
12 minutes of warning. NWS BMX issued a tornado warning for this county at 22:05 UTC, 12 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 22:45 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 18:34 UTC and running to 00:55 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 UTC | 00:00 UTC | Lake Wind Advisory | BMX |
| 18:34 UTC | 00:55 UTC | Tornado Watch | BMX |
| 19:50 UTC | 20:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | BMX |
| 20:41 UTC | 21:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | BMX |
| 21:37 UTC | 21:55 UTC | Tornado Warning | BMX |
| 22:05 UTC | 22:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | BMX |
| 22:10 UTC | 23:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 22:40 UTC | 23:05 UTC | Tornado Warning | BMX |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.10 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 19:42 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.
The surface observations
Troy Municipal (TOI), 48 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:36 UTC | 66.2 | 64.4 | 190° 11 kt | 1007.8 | +TSRA BR | |
| 20:53 UTC | 67 | 63 | 200° 9 kt | 1007.5 | TSRA BR | |
| 21:06 UTC | 66.2 | 62.6 | 200° 7 kt | 1007.5 | VCTS -RA | |
| 21:40 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 300° 5 kt | 1007.8 | TSRA BR | |
| 21:48 UTC | 64.4 | 62.6 | 5 kt | 1007.8 | +TSRA BR | |
| 21:53 UTC | 65 | 63 | 270° 10 kt | 19 | 1008.5 | +TSRA BR |
| 22:06 UTC | 64.4 | 59 | 190° 16 kt | 25 | 1006.4 | TSRA |
| 22:09 UTC | 64.4 | 59 | 180° 13 kt | 25 | 1006.8 | TSRA |
| 22:17 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 220° 11 kt | 21 | 1007.5 | VCTS -RA |
| 22:32 UTC | 66.2 | 60.8 | 200° 14 kt | 19 | 1007.8 | -RA |
| 22:39 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 200° 15 kt | 1007.5 | -TSRA | |
| 22:53 UTC | 65 | 60 | 200° 12 kt | 20 | 1007.1 | TS |
| 23:00 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 200° 12 kt | 1007.1 | ||
| 23:53 UTC | 62 | 59 | 180° 7 kt | 1007.1 |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Se Goshen | Pike, AL | POSSIBLE TORNADO...ROAD DAMAGE REPORTED IN HENDERSON. |
| 20:17 UTC | TORNADO | 5 Wnw Jack | Coffee, AL | TORNADO TRACKED ACROSS FAR NORTHWESTERN COFFEE COUNTY. ROOFS REMOVED FROM TWO BARNS WITH A ROOF ON A SINGLE FAMILY HOME PARTIALLY REMOVED. DAMAGE RATED BY STORM SURVEY AS AN EF-1 TORNADO WITH MAXIMUM WINDS OF 95 MPH. PAT |
| 20:23 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 12 S Troy | Pike, AL | THE BEGINNING POINT OF THIS TORNADO HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED IN SOUTH ALABAMA. THE TORNADO ENTERED SOUTHERN PIKE COUNTY SOUTHWEST OF HENDERSON. THE TORNADO ENDED NEAR CR 6 AND CR 57. AT LEAST ONE HOME AND ONE CHURCH WERE |
| 20:30 UTC | TORNADO | 8 S Troy | Pike, AL | POSSIBLE TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN SPRING HILL. |
| 21:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Simsville | Bullock, AL | ONE PINE TREE UPROOTED AND BLOWN ACROSS US HWY 82 AND ONTO A BARBED WIRE FENCE. A FEW OTHER PINE TREES SNAPPED IN A UNIFORM DIRECTION. |
| 21:35 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nw Luverne | Crenshaw, AL | ROOF OFF OF BUSINESS NEAR INTERSECTION OF HWY 10 AND HWY 331...ABOUT 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF LUVERNE. EVENT TIME ESTIMATED. |
| 21:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Seale | Russell, AL | TREES DOWN ON HWY 431 NEAR SEALE. |
| 21:48 UTC | TORNADO 2 | Cottonton | Russell, AL | *** 4 INJ *** TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF US HWY 431 AND CR 51. 2 MOBILE HOMES COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND 2 OTHER HOMES SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED. NUMEROUS TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ALONG THE PATH...WHICH EX |
| 21:48 UTC | TORNADO | Cottonton | Russell, AL | CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCHDOWN IN COTTONTON. |
| 21:51 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Elba | Coffee, AL | 1962 CR 208 SHED DESTROYED...FEMALE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN NEW BROCKTON...4 CHICKEN HOUSES AND A RESIDENCE DESTROYED...TREE ON RESIDENCE ON CR 208 |
| 21:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Victoria | Coffee, AL | BARN DESTROYED AND BLOWN ON TO ROAD |
| 22:00 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 6 Ene Jack | Coffee, AL | TREES DOWN. ROOF DAMAGE TO SHED. |
| 22:01 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 6 Ene Jack | Coffee, AL | TREES DOWN. ROOF DAMAGE TO SHED. |
| 22:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Roeton | Coffee, AL | NUMEROUS POLES DOWN. TREE DOWN ON CR 315 TREE FELL ON RESIDENCE CR 110 |
| 22:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Ariton | Dale, AL | 1 BARN DESTROYED. 1 RESIDENCE HEAVILY DAMAGED. |
| 22:15 UTC | HAIL 0.88 | 4 N Batesville | Barbour, AL | REPORTED ALONG COUNTY ROAD 89. |
| 22:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Victoria | Coffee, AL | BARN DESTROYED AND BLOWN ON TO ROAD |
| 22:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Elba | Coffee, AL | 1962 CR 208 SHED DESTROYED...FEMALE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN NEW BROCKTON...4 CHICKEN HOUSES AND A RESIDENCE DESTROYED...TREE ON RESIDENCE ON CR 208 |
| 22:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Roeton | Coffee, AL | 1 BARN DESTROYED ON COUNTY ROAD 104 |
| 22:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Ariton | Dale, AL | 1 BARN DESTROYED. 1 RESIDENCE HEAVILY DAMAGED. |
| 22:39 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 6 E Clayton | Barbour, AL | MINOR DAMAGE TO A TRAILER. A FEW TREE TOPS SNAPPED OFF AND POWERLINES DOWN. NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CR79 AND AL30. |
| 22:40 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 3 Sse Baker Hill | Barbour, AL | BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN. BARN/OUT BUILDING DESTROYED WITH DEBRIS BLOWN 100 YARDS TO THE NORTH. METAL ROOFING CURLED UP ON GARAGE. WINDOW SHUTTER TORN OFF BRICK FACING. TWO FOOT DIAMETER PINE TREE UPROOTED ACROSS EUBANKS |
| 22:49 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Abbeville | Henry, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN ABBEVILLE. |
| 00:25 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Abbeville | Henry, AL | CAR BLOWN OFF ROAD JUST SOUTH OF ABBEVILLE NEAR HIGHWAY 431 AND STATE ROAD 10. NO INJURIES. |
| 00:38 UTC | HAIL 1.75 | Screamer | Henry, AL | NUMEROUS REPORTS OF QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL ACROSS THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF HENRY COUNTY. |
| 00:38 UTC | TORNADO | Screamer | Henry, AL | SEVERAL TREES DOWNED WITH THE TOPS CUT OFF OF OTHERS. EMERGENCY MANAGER SUSPECTS DAMAGE WAS FROM A TORNADO. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2008 tornado in AlabamaEvery tornado in Alabama since 1950Warnings in force in Alabama nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of February 17, 2008
25 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 17 | 12:00 AM CST | EF1 | Barbour, AL | 2.3 | 50 | $75,000 | ||
| February 17 | 1:30 AM CST | EF1 | Saint Landry Parish, LA | 5.6 | 125 | $125,000 | ||
| February 17 | 3:42 AM CST | EF1 | Saint Helena Parish, LA | 0.3 | 15 | $30,000 | ||
| February 17 | 3:55 AM CST | EF1 | Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 2.0 | 15 | $15,000 | ||
| February 17 | 4:25 AM CST | EF0 | Washington Parish, LA | 0.1 | 15 | $8,000 | ||
| February 17 | 5:05 AM CST | EF0 | Washington Parish, LA | 0.3 | 15 | $20,000 | ||
| February 17 | 11:59 AM CST | EF1 | Escambia, FL | 5.1 | 200 | $750,000 | ||
| February 17 | 12:14 PM CST | EF1 | Santa Rosa, FL | 2.1 | 75 | $200,000 | ||
| February 17 | 12:26 PM CST | EF2 | Dallas, AL | 7.6 | 400 | $350,000 | ||
| February 17 | 1:04 PM CST | EF2 | Escambia, AL | 14.4 | 500 | $950,000 | ||
| February 17 | 1:05 PM CST | EF1 | Chilton, AL | 1.2 | 200 | $150,000 | ||
| February 17 | 1:42 PM CST | EF1 | Coosa, AL | 10.8 | 100 | $105,000 | ||
| February 17 | 1:47 PM CST | EF0 | Tallapoosa, AL | 4.5 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| February 17 | 2:03 PM CST | EF0 | Clay, AL | 1.6 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| February 17 | 2:17 PM CST | EF1 | Coffee, AL | 1.2 | 100 | $25,000 | ||
| February 17 | 2:22 PM CST | EF1 | Randolph, AL | 14.7 | 150 | $100,000 | ||
| February 17 | 2:23 PM CST | EF1 | Pike, AL | 8.4 | 250 | $60,000 | ||
| February 17 | 2:24 PM CST | EF2 | Lowndes, AL | 11.0 | 225 | 10 | $215,000 | |
| February 17 | 3:52 PM EST | EF1 | Carroll, GA | 4.0 | 150 | $150,000 | ||
| February 17 | 2:58 PM CST | EF3 | Autauga, AL | 14.7 | 440 | 50 | $10 million | |
| February 17 | 3:40 PM CST | EF2 | Russell, AL to GA | 17.1 | 1,000 | 4 | $140,000 | |
| February 17 | 5:05 PM EST | EF0 | Chattahoochee, GA | 48.5 | 100 | $310,000 | ||
| February 17 | 4:38 PM CST | EF0 | Barbour, AL | 0.4 | 300 | $6,000 | ||
| February 17 | 6:18 PM EST | EF1 | Crawford, GA | 10.0 | 250 | 8 | $550,000 | |
| February 17 | 7:01 PM EST | EF0 | Jones, GA | 2.4 | 50 | $50,000 |
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.