Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2016

EF1 tornado, Wicksburg to Kinsey, Alabama, February 23, 2016

Name: EF1 tornado, Wicksburg to Kinsey, Alabama, February 23, 2016
Start: 2016-02-24T04:34:00.000Z
End: 2016-02-24T04:39:00.000Z
Location: Wicksburg to Kinsey, Alabama

From Wicksburg to Kinsey, this EF1 tornado ran 3.7 miles across Houston County on February 23, 2016, touching down at 10:34 PM CST and reaching 900 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $75,000 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 23, 2016
Touchdown: 10:34 PM CST (04:34 UTC)
Lifted: 10:39 PM CST (04:39 UTC)
On the ground: 5 minutes
Path length: 3.7 miles (5.9 km)
Path width: 900 yards (823 m)
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $75,000
County: Houston County
Touchdown point: 31.265, -85.411
Lift-off point: 31.308, -85.375
Record number: 1602232234-01

The damage survey

79 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS TAE, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 107 mph.

concrete block dugout destroyed
Single large tree snapped.
5 snapped power line poles
Significant shingle damage. Metal outbuilding roof in tree.

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

An unusually strong upper level trough and area of low pressure moved across the southeast states during the Feb 23-24 period, bringing with it numerous reports of wind damage and tornadoes. The low level jet was particularly strong with very strong 0-1 km shear values in excess of 60 knots. The 0-1 km helicity values were in excess of 1000 m2/s2 in some areas with CAPE values around 500 j/kg. There were a total of 11 tornadoes across southeast Alabama and southwest Georgia, including 9 EF1 tornadoes and 2 EF0 tornadoes.

This was a weak tornado just north of the Houston and Geneva county border. It removed metal roofing from several barns and porches. Multiple trees were blown down. This tornado was rated EF0 with max winds estimated near 70 mph. Damage cost was estimated.

This was the second tornado to develop in northwest Houston county, spawned by the same parent thunderstorm. After initially developing in Houston county, the tornado crossed into extreme southeast Dale county before moving back into Houston county in the Murphy Mill Road area. There was a small area of EF1 damage along Murphy Mill Road where many large diameter pine trees were snapped and uprooted. This tornado likely lifted before reaching U.S. Highway 231. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated near 100 mph.

This is the second Houston county segment of the second tornado to develop in northwest Houston county, spawned by the same parent thunderstorm. After initially developing in Houston county, the tornado crossed into extreme southeast Dale county before moving back into Houston county in the Murphy Mill Road area. There was a small area of EF1 damage along Murphy Mill Road where many large diameter pine trees were snapped and uprooted. This tornado likely lifted before reaching U.S. Highway 231. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated near 100 mph.

This was the third tornado to develop in northwest Houston county, spawned by the same thunderstorm. Damage was focused at the athletic center of a private school and a nearby neighborhood. A concrete block baseball dugout was destroyed and several wood power poles were snapped. Multiple homes had minor roof damage. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds near 100 mph. Damage cost was estimated.

This was the fourth tornado to develop in northwest Houston county, spawned by the same thunderstorm. The tornado began just south of Westgate Parkway, and then quickly intensified, snapping 5 power poles near Westgate Parkway and Technology Drive. Several houses in nearby neighborhoods had some roof damage and a barn also had roof damage. The remainder of the track was mostly tree damage with the tornado ending just south of the Henry-Houston county border, still in Houston county. This tornado was rated EF1 with max winds estimated near 100 mph. Damage cost was estimated.

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 01:00 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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Feb 23, 6:04 PM CST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 23, 6:04 PM CST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
704 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

...Significant severe weather event expected tonight through
Wednesday morning...

.Aviation...
[Through 00Z Wednesday]...Conditions at the terminals will
deteriorate rapidly this evening and overnight at all the
terminals. Widespread strong to severe thunderstorms are expected
starting around 06Z to the west and clearing around 12Z to the
east. This is covered well in convective tempo groups with showing
gusts as high as 50kts at all but VLD. It will be windy behind
the front on Wednesday with gusts as high as 35 kts.

&&

.Prev Discussion [510 PM EST]...

.Near Term [Through Tonight]...

A powerful, deep-layer cyclone will move from LA to western TN
overnight dragging a cold front eastward and into the western
portions of our FA by daybreak. The front will be preceded by a
squall line or multiple bands of convection and supercells. A
significant severe weather threat accompanies this system and SPC
has now expanded the moderate risk area from near Albany to
Tallahassee westward with an enhanced and slight risk for severe
covering the remainder of the Tri-state region. The timing of the
severe weather threat remains unchanged beginning in our westernmost
zones between 11 pm and Midnight EST impacting SW GA and the western
Big Bend zones between 4 am and 8 am EST.

The global models continue to show strong forcing for ascent,
impressive shear and helicity values, especially from Albany to
Tallahassee westward. This includes 120 kt mid-upper level jet, low
level jet (85H) 50-60 kt, surface dewpoints in the lower to mid 60s,
deep layer shear (0-6km) around 60 kt, low level shear (0-1km)
exceeding 30 KT, and SBCAPE 500-1000 J/kg; highest near the
panhandle coast. This environment would support the development of
supercells with the possibility of significant and long lived
tornadoes. The 09z and 12z CAM shows long track updraft helicity
streaks in the moderate risk area. However, the main threat will
be damaging straight line winds up to 70 mph. Severe hail is also
possible, especially near the coast, due to stronger buoyancy and
relatively steep 700-500 mb lapse rates of 6 to 6.5 C/km.

.Short Term [Wednesday Through Thursday Night]...

The severe weather threat will be ongoing Wednesday morning as the
focus shifts to our eastern zones. The activity will end by
afternoon as the cold front clears to our east. We are expecting
windy conditions behind the front Wednesday with sustained winds
around 25 to 30 mph with frequent gusts over 40 mph. A wind
advisory will likely be issued after the severe weather threat
ends. High temperatures Wednesday may occur in the morning most
areas with temps remaining steady or slowly falling in the
afternoon. Expect cooler and dryer conditions for Thursday. Min temps
Thursday night may drop to the freezing mark for our northernmost
zones Thursday night.

.Long Term [Friday Through Tuesday]...

Throughout the long term, high pressure will dominate the CWA
suppressing rain chances. Until Sunday, the combination of the upper
level trough funneling cooler air to the region and low level high
pressure will keep temperatures fair and cool. Going from Sunday
into Monday, deep level ridging will build and temperatures will
begin to increase into the beginning of the work week.

On Monday, the GFS has a slight chance of a weak frontal boundary
dissipating to the northwest of the area that could potentially
bring rain to SE AL. However, being this far out in the forecast and
the rain only present in one model, will wait for later model runs
to confirm it.

.Marine...

A Gale Warning is in effect from this evening through Wednesday
evening for frequent gusts of 34-40 kt as a strong cold front
pushes through the local waters. The strong onshore winds ahead
of the cold front will drive the tides higher than normal. The
highest tides (coupled with relatively high astronomical tides)
will be in the 3 to 4 feet range at the time of high tide late
tonight and Wednesday, along the coast east of Apalachicola. This
is not quite high enough to warrant a Coastal Flood advisory.
Winds and seas will be slow to subside and may see advisory level
conditions from Wednesday night through Thursday night.

.Fire Weather...

A wetting rain is likely tonight as severe thunderstorms are move
through tonight. Winds will be very gusty behind the front with gust
of 30 to 40 mph possible. Dispersion indices will be high due
Wednesday to high transport winds.

.Hydrology...

Since we expect smaller, rather ragged bands of rain instead of a
large QLCS, our deterministic storm total QPF is a bit lower than
24 hours ago. This lower QPF is also aided by the expected rapid
movement of these rain bands. We expect rain totals from one half
to one inch, with the highest totals north and west of
Tallahassee. The Apalachicola River at Blountstown remains at
minor flood stage, and given the expected rain upstream, it's
likely to stay in minor flood through next week. Otherwise we're
not expected river flooding.

&&

.Preliminary Point Temps/PoPs...

Tallahassee   64  69  39  62  35 /  80  50   0   0   0
Panama City   60  64  42  60  38 /  90  30   0   0   0
Dothan        57  62  38  60  34 /  90  20   0   0   0
Albany        62  67  38  59  32 /  90  60   0   0   0
Valdosta      65  72  40  62  35 /  60  80   0   0   0
Cross City    65  72  41  63  34 /  40  80   0   0   0
Apalachicola  64  67  43  60  38 /  90  30   0   0   0

&&

.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through late tonight FOR South Walton.

GA...NONE.
AL...NONE.
GM...Gale Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM EST Wednesday FOR
     Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to
     Ochlockonee River Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal Waters From
     Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal
     waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out 20 NM-
     Coastal waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL out 20 NM-
     Waters from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60
     NM-Waters from Apalachicola to Destin FL from 20 to 60 NM.

&&

NEAR TERM...BARRY
SHORT TERM...BARRY
LONG TERM...BARRY/CHANEY
AVIATION...BARRY
MARINE...BARRY
FIRE WEATHER...WESTON
HYDROLOGY...FOURNIER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 23, 9:44 PM CST, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
1044 PM EST TUE FEB 23 2016

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

1015 PM     TSTM WND DMG     LIBERTY                 30.82N 86.22W
02/23/2016                   WALTON             FL   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POWER LINES DOWN NEAR HIGHWAY 331 AND COUNTY ROAD 1084

&&

DVD

The surface observations

Dothan Municipal (DHN), 7 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.

The radar

The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 20 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 04:36 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.

This ground now

The live radar over the track Every 2016 tornado in Alabama Every tornado in Alabama since 1950 Warnings in force in Alabama now The forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of February 23, 2016

38 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
February 23	5:53 AM CST	EF0	Wharton, TX	2.0	30
February 23	11:11 AM CST	EF0	Jefferson Parish, LA	0.6	50
February 23	11:20 AM CST	EF0	Iberville Parish, LA	3.3	50
February 23	12:08 PM CST	EF0	Ascension Parish, LA	1.6	200
February 23	12:42 PM CST	EF2	Livingston Parish, LA	4.3	625
February 23	1:14 PM CST	EF0	Saint Helena Parish, LA	0.3	50
February 23	2:37 PM CST	EF1	St. Mary Parish, LA	2.6	50			$40,000
February 23	3:10 PM CST	EF0	Iberville Parish, LA	1.0	200
February 23	3:21 PM CST	EF3	Assumption Parish, LA	7.8	350
February 23	3:31 PM CST	EF2	Saint James Parish, LA	12.9	350	2	75
February 23	3:45 PM CST	EF1	Lincoln, MS	0.5	75			$40,000
February 23	3:49 PM CST	EF1	Pearl River, MS	9.5	150
February 23	3:50 PM CST	EF1	Pearl River, MS	5.2	200			$25,000
February 23	4:07 PM CST	EF0	Lamar, MS	0.1	25			$5,000
February 23	4:15 PM CST	EF1	Saint John the Baptist Parish, LA	3.1	250
February 23	4:15 PM CST	EF2	Lamar, MS	5.6	100	1		$105,000
February 23	4:22 PM CST	EF0	Pickens, AL	4.8	150
February 23	4:29 PM CST	EF1	Lamar, MS	1.4	75			$10,000
February 23	4:32 PM CST	EF2	Saint John the Baptist Parish, LA	4.7	250		17
February 23	4:41 PM CST	EF0	Saint Tammany Parish, LA	0.4	25
February 23	4:42 PM CST	EF0	Yazoo, MS	1.1	100			$25,000
February 23	4:46 PM CST	EF0	Simpson, MS	0.6	40			$13,000
February 23	5:13 PM CST	EF0	Saint Tammany Parish, LA	1.5	75
February 23	5:25 PM CST	EF1	Greene, MS	1.5	75			$100,000
February 23	5:32 PM CST	EF1	Greene, MS	0.0	75			$25,000
February 23	5:45 PM CST	EF1	Greene, MS	1.6	150			$200,000
February 23	6:01 PM CST	EF1	Marion, AL	2.2	300
February 23	6:01 PM CST	EF0	Forrest, MS	3.9	75			$15,000
February 23	8:10 PM CST	EF3	Escambia, FL	3.0	300		3	$22 million
February 23	8:17 PM CST	EF1	Santa Rosa, FL	2.7	100			$75,000
February 23	10:15 PM CST	EF0	Houston, AL	2.8	200			$50,000
February 23	10:24 PM CST	EF1	Dale, AL	4.8	200
February 23	10:31 PM CST	EF1	Houston, AL	1.6	350			$50,000
February 23	10:38 PM CST	EF1	Henry, AL	1.1	300			$50,000
February 23	10:54 PM CST	EF0	Henry, AL	0.4	100
February 23	11:02 PM CST	EF1	Henry, AL	0.5	150
February 23	12:07 AM EST	EF1	Early, GA	2.2	350
February 23	12:55 AM EST	EF1	Terrell, GA	5.1	200

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.