Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2013
EF0 tornado, Prospect, Alabama, January 30, 2013
This EF0 tornado ran 4.9 miles across Walker County on January 30, 2013, touching down at 5:42 AM CST and reaching 200 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
- January 30, 2013
- Touchdown
- 5:42 AM CST (11:42 UTC)
- Lifted
- 5:46 AM CST (11:46 UTC)
- On the ground
- 4 minutes
- Path length
- 4.9 miles (7.9 km)
- Path width
- 200 yards (183 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Walker County
- Touchdown point
- 33.934, -87.497
- Lift-off point
- 33.957, -87.416
- Record number
- 1301300542-01
The damage survey
38 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS BMX, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 105 mph.
- Numerous pine trees uprooted.
- Appoximately 5 trees uprooted. 200 yards wide.
- Trees snapped and uprooted. A mobile home sustained damage from a fallen tree. 200 yards wide.
- Limbs down. End of damage. 50 yards wide.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
Ahead of a strong cold front, a quasi linear convective system (QLCS) with embedded supercells moved eastward across Mississippi. Ahead of the line of thunderstorms, southerly flow increased, bringing moisture northward and increasing shear. This resulted in increased surface instabilities across much of the area, allowing storms to become surface based. Several tornadoes and widespread thunderstorm wind damage occurred across much of the area. In addition, strong gradient winds ahead of the strengthening system brought down power lines and caused minor structural damage. Heavy rainfall rates caused isolated flash flooding.
An EF0 tornado developed just downstream of the microburst wind damage south southwest of Nauvoo. This tornado moved east northeast, crossing Slick Lizard Rd. A mobile home sustained moderate damage due to a downed tree. The tornado continued east northeast, causing shingle damage to a home and destroying an outbuilding. The tornado lifted after crossing Alabama Highway 5. Along the path, dozens of hardwood and softwood trees were uprooted or snapped.
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. One was issued for the county at another hour that day.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 07:46 UTC and running to 13:34 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 UTC | 15:42 UTC | Wind Advisory | BMX |
| 07:46 UTC | 13:34 UTC | Tornado Watch | BMX |
| 11:23 UTC | 12:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX |
| 11:49 UTC | 12:17 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. The outlook in force was issued at 06:09 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), 00:00Z
11.7 hours before the tornado, 106 km from the path. January 30, 2013.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 216 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -4 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 103 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 770 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 30 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 254 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 172 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.2
- Supercell composite
- 1.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 6.2 K/km
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 12:00Z
0.3 hours after it, 106 km from the path. January 30, 2013.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 916 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -1 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 742 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 468 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 62 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 43 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 296 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 364 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 1.9
- Supercell composite
- 9.6
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.8 K/km
The surface observations
Manchester (JFX), 14 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:55 UTC | 73.4 | 66.2 | 190° 10 kt | 22 | 1004.7 | |
| 10:15 UTC | 73.4 | 66.2 | 180° 11 kt | 19 | 1004.4 | |
| 10:35 UTC | 73.4 | 66.2 | 190° 9 kt | 18 | 1004.1 | |
| 10:55 UTC | 71.6 | 66.2 | 190° 7 kt | 17 | 1003.7 | -RA |
| 11:15 UTC | 69.8 | 68 | 180° 7 kt | 15 | 1003 | VCTS -RA |
| 11:35 UTC | 69.8 | 69.8 | 210° 8 kt | 16 | 1003 | -RA |
| 11:55 UTC | 68 | 68 | 210° 13 kt | 26 | 1003 | VCTS -RA |
| 12:15 UTC | 66.2 | 66.2 | 320° 18 kt | 22 | 1004.4 | VCTS +RA |
| 12:35 UTC | 59 | 57.2 | 310° 10 kt | 16 | 1004.7 | +RA |
| 12:55 UTC | 57.2 | 57.2 | 330° 5 kt | 1004.4 | RA | |
| 13:15 UTC | 57.2 | 57.2 | 300° 3 kt | 1004.7 | +RA | |
| 13:35 UTC | 57.2 | 57.2 | 310° 4 kt | 1004.4 | +RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 11:43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:06 UTC | NON-TSTM WND DMG | Moulton | Lawrence, AL | DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO AN AWNING ATTACHED TO A BUILDING ON THE SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN MOULTON. PORTION OF AWNING BLOWN INTO THE STREET. |
| 10:56 UTC | HAIL 0.75 | Hamilton | Marion, AL | DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED IN HAMILTON. |
| 11:18 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 5 Wnw Fayette | Fayette, AL | AN EF1 TORNADO WITH WINDS OF 90 MPH TOUCHED DOWN NORTHWEST OF FAYETTE AND TRACKED EAST NORTHEAST DOWNING HUNDREDS OF TREES AND CAUSING MINOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO SEVERAL BUILDINGS. PATH LENGTH 6.5 MILES. MAX PATH WIDTH 5 |
| 11:21 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Mt Hope | Lawrence, AL | SHED ROLLED OVER WITH POLES PULLED FROM GROUND. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 11:30 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Moulton | Lawrence, AL | DAMAGE TO METAL ROOF. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 11:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nw Fayette | Fayette, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ON HWY 18 NORTHWEST OF FAYETTE |
| 11:41 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Nne Carbon Hill | Walker, AL | WINDS OF 75 MPH DOWNED 50 PINE TREES IN A SWATH OF WIND DAMAGE 0.6 MI LONG AND 200 YDS WIDE SOUTH OF NAUVOO. |
| 11:42 UTC | TORNADO 0 | 3 Nne Carbon Hill | Walker, AL | AN EF0 TORNADO SPUN UP AFTER THE NAUVOO MICROBURST. TRAVELING ENE, THE TORNADO CROSSED SLICK LIZARD ROAD. HERE A MOBILE HOME SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE FROM A FALLEN TREE. TORNADO TRAVELED FURTHER ENE AND DESTROYED AN OUT |
| 11:42 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Nne Carbon Hill | Walker, AL | AN EF1 TORNADO SPUN UP AFTER THE NAUVOO MICROBURST. TRAVELING ENE, THE TORNADO CROSSED SLICK LIZARD ROAD. HERE A MOBILE HOME SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE FROM A FALLEN TREE. TORNADO TRAVELED FURTHER ENE AND DESTROYED AN OUT |
| 11:50 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 3 Nne Poplar Springs | Winston, AL | THE EF1 TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 8 AND COUNTY ROAD 3074. THE TORNADO MOVED OVER SMITH LAKE AND DAMAGED THE ROOFS OF SIX HOMES NEAR COVE ROAD SOUTH. ONE HOME HAD SEVERE ROOF DAMAGE |
| 11:56 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 W Arley | Winston, AL | WINDS OF 100 MPH KNOCKED DOWN HUNDREDS OF TREES SOUTH OF HOUSTON IN A SWATH OF DAMAGE 1.2 MILES LONG AND 1000 YDS WIDE AT ITS WIDEST POINT. A DOZEN HOMES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO FALLING TREES. |
| 12:01 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 1 N Addison | Winston, AL | A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NORTH OF ADDISON ALONG CR 41 NORTH OF HUNTER ROAD AND TRACKED ENE TO THE CULLMAN COUNTY LINE. THE TORNADO DAMAGED SEVERAL PLANES AND DESTROYED A HANGAR AT THE ADDISON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. MAXIMUM WIN |
| 12:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Nesmith | Winston, AL | TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 40 JUST WEST OF COUNTY ROAD 77. |
| 12:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Ene Addison | Cullman, AL | MOBILE HOME AND BARN IN ROAD ON CR 1043 CULLMAN/WINSTON COUNTY LINE. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. |
| 12:05 UTC | TORNADO 1 | 5 Ene Addison | Cullman, AL | THE TORNADO CROSSED THE WINSTON AND CULLMAN COUNTY LINE JUST SOUTH OF CR 1043 CAUSING MINOR TREE DAMAGE AND DESTROYING A BARN ON CR 1038. THE TORNADO STRENGTHENED TO AN EF-1 WITH WINDS AROUND 90 MPH AND DESTROYED A MOBIL |
| 12:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Jones Chapel | Cullman, AL | TREE DOWN ON CR 940. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. |
| 12:14 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ne Addison | Winston, AL | SEVERAL PLANES DAMAGED AND MAJOR HANGAR DAMAGE AT ADDISON AIRPORT. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE SARDIS BAPTIST CHURCH. |
| 12:14 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Sardis | Winston, AL | HANGER DAMAGE AT SARDIS AIPORT AND DAMAGE TO A CHURCH IN SARDIS |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2013 tornado in AlabamaEvery tornado in Alabama since 1950Warnings in force in Alabama nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of January 30, 2013
44 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 30 | 1:47 AM EST | EF0 | Orange, IN | 0.4 | 75 | $25,000 | ||
| January 30 | 1:36 AM CST | EF2 | Christian, KY | 2.1 | 200 | $150,000 | ||
| January 30 | 1:39 AM CST | EF1 | Christian, KY | 7.9 | 225 | $250,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:00 AM CST | EF2 | Muhlenberg, KY | 5.1 | 325 | $250,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:09 AM CST | EF1 | Humphreys, TN | 5.2 | 150 | $200,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:26 AM CST | EF2 | Hickman, TN | 4.3 | 300 | $500,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:32 AM CST | EF1 | Wayne, TN | 9.1 | 100 | $35,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:45 AM CST | EF0 | Dickson, TN | 7.3 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:46 AM CST | EF1 | Lewis, TN | 3.7 | 200 | $250,000 | ||
| January 30 | 2:51 AM CST | EF1 | Cheatham, TN | 3.2 | 125 | 1 | $200,000 | |
| January 30 | 2:59 AM CST | EF2 | Robertson, TN | 5.0 | 200 | $750,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:00 AM CST | EF0 | Davidson, TN | 5.5 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:01 AM CST | EF0 | Williamson, TN | 0.9 | 75 | $60,000 | ||
| January 30 | 4:05 AM EST | EF0 | Meade, KY | 1.0 | 200 | $50,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:05 AM CST | EF1 | Robertson, TN | 5.8 | 150 | $250,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:10 AM CST | EF0 | Davidson, TN | 11.7 | 75 | $190,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:12 AM CST | EF0 | Davidson, TN | 3.2 | 75 | 1 | $150,000 | |
| January 30 | 3:12 AM CST | EF1 | Robertson, TN | 6.0 | 100 | 1 | $769,000 | |
| January 30 | 3:17 AM CST | EF0 | Harrison, IN to KY | 2.7 | 215 | $115,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:18 AM CST | EF0 | Williamson, TN | 2.0 | 75 | $100,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:23 AM CST | EF0 | Sumner, TN | 10.6 | 125 | $225,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:25 AM CST | EF2 | Wilson, TN | 4.5 | 150 | $1.0 million | ||
| January 30 | 3:34 AM CST | EF0 | Sumner, TN | 3.6 | 100 | $65,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:37 AM CST | EF0 | Sumner, TN | 5.8 | 50 | $45,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:38 AM CST | EF2 | Warren, KY | 3.0 | 250 | $400,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:40 AM CST | EF1 | Wilson, TN | 10.0 | 150 | $1.0 million | ||
| January 30 | 3:41 AM CST | EF1 | Williamson, TN | 4.6 | 150 | $530,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:42 AM CST | EF1 | Edmonson, KY | 2.8 | 100 | $80,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:47 AM CST | EF0 | Macon, TN | 1.0 | 50 | $85,000 | ||
| January 30 | 3:49 AM CST | EF1 | Barren, KY | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| January 30 | 4:01 AM CST | EF0 | Macon, TN | 1.5 | 75 | $175,000 | ||
| January 30 | 4:25 AM CST | EF1 | Monroe, MS to AL | 10.8 | 300 | $50,000 | ||
| January 30 | 4:29 AM CST | EF0 | Cannon, TN | 6.7 | 200 | $75,000 | ||
| January 30 | 5:44 AM EST | EF0 | Marion, KY | 0.1 | 50 | 2 | $25,000 | |
| January 30 | 4:46 AM CST | EF1 | Lincoln, TN | 5.3 | 250 | |||
| January 30 | 5:18 AM CST | EF1 | Fayette, AL | 6.5 | 500 | |||
| January 30 | 5:25 AM CST | EF0 | Coffee, TN | 5.2 | 75 | $50,000 | ||
| January 30 | 6:30 AM EST | EF0 | Pulaski, KY | 0.5 | 150 | $5,000 | ||
| January 30 | 5:50 AM CST | EF1 | Winston, AL | 10.4 | 1,000 | |||
| January 30 | 6:01 AM CST | EF1 | Winston, AL | 6.4 | 300 | $50,000 | ||
| January 30 | 11:12 AM EST | EF3 | Bartow, GA | 21.8 | 900 | 1 | 17 | $75 million |
| January 30 | 12:05 PM EST | EF1 | Fannin, GA | 11.8 | 900 | 1 | $185,000 | |
| January 30 | 6:09 PM EST | EF0 | Baker, GA | 1.2 | 25 | $15,000 | ||
| January 30 | 6:12 PM EST | EF0 | Lee, GA | 1.5 | 25 | $1,000 |
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.