Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2009
EF0 tornado, Hightogy, Alabama, April 2, 2009
This EF0 tornado ran 0.0 miles across Lamar County on April 2, 2009, touching down at 3:15 PM CDT and reaching 10 yards wide. It killed nobody.
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 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
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
- EF0
- Date
- April 2, 2009
- Touchdown
- 3:15 PM CDT (20:15 UTC)
- Path length
- 0.0 miles (0.0 km)
- Path width
- 10 yards (9 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Lamar County
- Touchdown point
- 33.690, -88.092
- Lift-off point
- 33.690, -88.092
- Record number
- 0904021415-01
What the Weather Service recorded
A cold front pushing through the southeastern states brought several rounds of severe thunderstorms to central Alabama. The storms produced widespread damaging winds and two tornadoes.
A public official observed a brief tornado touchdown on AL-17, near the Hightogy community. Subsequent investigation revealed no known damage.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 18:33 UTC and running to 23:02 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 UTC | 00:14 UTC | Lake Wind Advisory | BMX |
| 18:33 UTC | 23:02 UTC | Tornado Watch | BMX |
| 19:21 UTC | 20:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 19:53 UTC | 20:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 19:57 UTC | 20:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 23:02 UTC | 01:49 UTC | Tornado Watch | BMX |
| 00:18 UTC | 01:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 01:00 UTC | 08:59 UTC | Wind Advisory | BMX |
| 01:02 UTC | 01:23 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 01:12 UTC | 01:29 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm 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. The outlook in force was issued at 20:02 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 air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 12:00Z
8.3 hours before the tornado, 134 km from the path. April 2, 2009.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1268 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 528 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 463 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 41 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 177 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 192 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.2
- Supercell composite
- 7.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.2 K/km
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 00:00Z
3.7 hours after it, 134 km from the path. April 3, 2009.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 197 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- 0 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 14 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 566 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 80 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 21 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 231 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 363 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 1.4
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.7 K/km
The surface observations
Columbus Afb (CBM), 33 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:47 UTC | 75.2 | 64.4 | 160° 10 kt | 996.6 | ||
| 18:55 UTC | 74 | 64.4 | 190° 13 kt | 18 | 996.6 | |
| 18:57 UTC | 73.4 | 64.4 | 190° 13 kt | 18 | 996.6 | TS |
| 19:08 UTC | 73.4 | 64.4 | 170° 14 kt | 996.3 | -TSRA | |
| 19:25 UTC | 71.6 | 66.2 | 280° 14 kt | 23 | 998.3 | -TSRA |
| 19:31 UTC | 68 | 62.6 | 260° 18 kt | 23 | 998.3 | -TSRA |
| 19:53 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 260° 14 kt | 20 | 998.3 | +TSRA BR |
| 19:55 UTC | 62.8 | 60 | 260° 15 kt | 20 | 998.3 | -TSRA BR |
| 20:09 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 3 kt | 998 | -TSRA | |
| 20:14 UTC | 62.6 | 59 | 310° 3 kt | 997.3 | VCTS -RA | |
| 20:19 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 270° 4 kt | 997.6 | VCTS -RA | |
| 20:21 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 280° 4 kt | 997.6 | VCTS -RA | |
| 20:22 UTC | 62.6 | 59 | 280° 3 kt | 997.6 | -RA | |
| 20:24 UTC | 62.6 | 59 | 0° 0 kt | 997.6 | -RA | |
| 20:27 UTC | 62.6 | 59 | 0° 0 kt | 997.3 | ||
| 20:55 UTC | 64.2 | 60 | 110° 5 kt | 995.6 | ||
| 20:59 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 120° 5 kt | 995.6 | -RA | |
| 21:11 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 120° 10 kt | 994.9 | ||
| 21:19 UTC | 64.4 | 60.8 | 130° 11 kt | 994.6 | -RA | |
| 21:45 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 130° 13 kt | 993.9 | -RA | |
| 21:47 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 130° 12 kt | 993.9 | -RA | |
| 21:48 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 130° 12 kt | 993.6 | -RA | |
| 21:49 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 120° 13 kt | 993.6 | -RA | |
| 21:51 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 130° 13 kt | 993.9 | RA | |
| 21:53 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 140° 12 kt | 994.2 | RA | |
| 21:55 UTC | 63 | 61 | 140° 12 kt | 993.9 | -RA | |
| 22:01 UTC | 62.6 | 60.8 | 130° 15 kt | 993.2 | -RA | |
| 22:11 UTC | 62.6 | 62.6 | 130° 13 kt | 993.2 | TS |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 32 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 20:15 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Detroit | Lamar, AL | MULTIPLE TREES DOWN |
| 19:49 UTC | HAIL 0.25 | Hamilton | Marion, AL | |
| 20:04 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Hamilton | Marion, AL | SEVERAL TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN IN AND AROUND HAMILTON. THIS INCLUDES COUNTY ROADS 156, 32, 158, 25 AND STATE HIGHWAY 19. |
| 20:15 UTC | TORNADO 0 | Hightogy | Lamar, AL | ...UPDATED INFORMATION...A PUBLIC OFFICIAL OBSERVED A BRIEF EF0 TORNADO CROSSING HIGHWAY 17...IN THE HIGHTOGY AREA. NO KNOWN DAMAGE TO REPORT. |
| 20:19 UTC | TORNADO | Hightogy | Lamar, AL | UNCONFIRMED TORNADO OBSERVED ON HWY17 |
| 20:33 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Se Echola | Tuscaloosa, AL | A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ON PAUL MILLS ROAD. |
| 20:40 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Ne Lake Lurleen State | Tuscaloosa, AL | A FEW TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN ALONG SAWMILL ROAD. |
| 20:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Sw Samantha | Tuscaloosa, AL | SEVERAL DOZEN TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN NEAR THE INTRSECTION OF HIGHWAY 43 AND MONTGOMERY ROAD SOUTHWEST OF SAMANTHA. POSSIBLE TORNADO. |
| 20:42 UTC | TORNADO | 6 Sw Samantha | Tuscaloosa, AL | SEVERAL DOZEN TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN 2 MILES WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 43 AND BRADY MONTGOMERY ROAD. THE TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION. PROBABLE TORNADO. |
| 20:43 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 2 Nw Samantha | Tuscaloosa, AL | SEVERAL DOZEN TREES...HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD...WERE SNAPPED AND UPROOTED. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TREE DAMAGE WAS WHERE THE TORNADO TRACK CROSSED BRADY MONTOMGERY ROAD. THE TORNADO TRACK WAS 0.579 MILE LONG...AND 150 YARDS W |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2009 tornado in AlabamaEvery tornado in Alabama since 1950Warnings in force in Alabama nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 2, 2009
14 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | 12:13 PM CDT | EF0 | Livingston Parish, LA | 0.2 | 25 | $2,000 | ||
| April 2 | 12:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Pike, MS | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| April 2 | 1:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Hancock, MS | 1.5 | 25 | $2,000 | ||
| April 2 | 2:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Hancock, MS | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| April 2 | 2:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 0.2 | 25 | $50,000 | ||
| April 2 | 3:43 PM CDT | EF1 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 0.6 | 150 | $5,000 | ||
| April 2 | 3:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Colbert, AL | 0.3 | 75 | $33,000 | ||
| April 2 | 4:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Davidson, TN | 2.0 | 100 | 1 | $500,000 | |
| April 2 | 5:25 PM EDT | EF0 | Gadsden, FL | 0.3 | 25 | |||
| April 2 | 4:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone, AL | 1.7 | 50 | $11,000 | ||
| April 2 | 5:26 PM CDT | EF1 | Morgan, AL | 1.2 | 200 | $66,000 | ||
| April 2 | 6:42 PM CDT | EF0 | Chickasaw, MS | 0.6 | 100 | |||
| April 2 | 7:23 PM CDT | EF1 | Monroe, MS | 2.8 | 75 | |||
| April 2 | 8:09 PM CDT | EF0 | Madison, AL | 0.6 | 50 | $8,000 |
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.