Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2020
EF2 tornado, Andalusia Opp Arpt, Alabama, April 19, 2020
This EF2 tornado ran 1.2 miles across Covington County on April 19, 2020, touching down at 10:49 PM CDT and reaching 300 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 mph
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 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.
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
- EF2
- Date
- April 19, 2020
- Touchdown
- 10:49 PM CDT (03:49 UTC)
- Lifted
- 10:52 PM CDT (03:52 UTC)
- On the ground
- 3 minutes
- Path length
- 1.2 miles (1.9 km)
- Path width
- 300 yards (274 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Covington County
- Touchdown point
- 31.348, -86.395
- Lift-off point
- 31.336, -86.380
- Record number
- 2004192149-01
The damage survey
17 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS MOB, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 120 mph.
- Significant straight line wind damage estimated between 80-90 mph over a swath approximately 1 mile wide, with the strongest winds at the location of the rolled over mobile home. Numerous large trees snapped and uprooted along with snapped power poles and downed power lines. Almost all damage aligned from northwest towards the southeast. Two persons injured and taken to hospital from rolled over in single wide manufactured home.
- Partial removal of roof on home along with partial wall collapse. Broken out windows and doors blown in.
- Duplex swept off foundation but not bolted into the foundation. Portion of the structure deposited approximately 50 yards across a road. One person injured and hospitalized with minor injuries. Tornado of EF-2 intensity noted with winds estimated at 120 mph.
- All pine trees snapped near the base in tornado path.
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
A powerful storm system swept across the southeast states through the day and into the evening on the 19th. Ahead of this system a warm front brought a very warm, moist and unstable air mass northward across the area. Numerous thunderstorms develop along and south of the warm front and became severe, producing wind damage tornadoes and large hail.
A tornado touched down just to the northwest of County Road 70|and traveled approximately one and a quarter of a mile towards|the southeast. The tornado rapidly intensified after touchdown|and produced EF-2 damage. A stand of pine trees were snapped|near the bases with no tree left undamaged. The tornado then|widened and severely damaged a duplex, sweeping it from its|foundation with portions of the debris lofted across C.R. 70|approximately 75 yards away. The duplex did not have proper|anchoring to the slab. A nearby concrete block workshop was|also destroyed with the roof removed and 26 foot high concrete|block walls toppled. A storage unit to the south was also|completely destroyed. This damage was assessed as EF-2 tornado|intensity.||Across C.R. 70, another single family home was significantly|damaged. Large portions of the roof were removed along with|partial wall failure. Doors and windows were blown in at the|home. This damage was assessed as EF-1 intensity.||The tornado continued southeastward and heavily damaged|another stand of mixed softwood and hardwood trees, with many|of them snapped either near the base or one quarter of the|way up. This damage was assessed as EF-2 tornado intensity.|Immediately beyond the tree damage was a metal garage building|where the roof was partially removed and a complete wall was|ripped off.||The tornado traveled farther southeast through a wooded area|and came out into a pasture where it severely damaged and|destroyed 4 large chicken houses. The chicken house walls were|bolted into the foundation and were completely removed in|several locations. This tornado damage was assessed at EF-2|intensity.||The tornado began to weaken as it crossed Harmony Church Road|and dissipated just to the southeast where trees were snapped|and uprooted just prior to the end of the tornado track. EF-1|damage was assessed prior to tornado dissipation.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
2 minutes of warning. NWS MOB issued a tornado warning for this county at 03:47 UTC, 2 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 04:15 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 02:39 UTC and running to 05:48 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 UTC | 03:25 UTC | Wind Advisory | MOB |
| 20:57 UTC | 02:39 UTC | Tornado Watch | MOB |
| 02:39 UTC | 05:48 UTC | Tornado Watch | MOB |
| 03:35 UTC | 04:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB |
| 03:40 UTC | 04:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB |
| 03:47 UTC | 04:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | MOB |
| 03:54 UTC | 04:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB |
| 05:05 UTC | 05:45 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | MOB |
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 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 01:01 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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Apr 19, 9:58 PM CDT, 51 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 19, 9:58 PM CDT, 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Mobile AL
958 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020
.UPDATE...Tornado watch # 124 replaces # 123 and is now in effect
until 4 AM Monday AM. The only change is that the severe weather
threat has ended for Choctaw Co. AL and Wayne Co. MS and the
watch has been cancelled for these. New headlines are posted to
late evening zone update. /10
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 805 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020/
UPDATE...Tornado watch 123 is now in effect for Stone and George
counties through 11 PM this evening. Clusters of deep convection
have been tracking east northeast along a warm front draped near
the Hwy 84 corridor. The environment to the south of the warm
front is moist and unstable with MUCAPES above 2000 J/KG. Latest
mesoscale analysis shows 0-1 km storm relative helicities from 150
to 300 m2/s2 oriented along the warm front, so cell updrafts
have shown a tendency to stretch and rotate that ride along it.
Very challenging warning environment though as cells that track
along the boundary can feel two types of airmass, both on the
cool side (becoming elevated and a lesser severe weather threat)
and surface based as they track on the warm side (a higher severe
weather threat). Forecasters are watching a second wave of deep
convection advancing eastward over southern MS. These cells are
much more rooted in the warm sector and thus pose a much greater
severe weather threat tonight as they track eastward, that being
damaging straight line winds in excess of 70 mph, quarter size or
larger hail and tornadoes. Will continue to monitor conditions and
the potential expansion of weather watch in time and space later
this evening. /10
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 630 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020/
AVIATION...
00Z issuance...Deep convection is impacting areas along and north
of Hwy 84. TSRA will be accompanied by strong to perhaps damaging
winds, hail to a quarter size or larger and frequent lightning.
South and closer to the coast, isolated to scattered shra
streaming northeast. Initially, cig bases mostly at mid levels at
the coastal terminals with showers in the vcty. There are
indications before convection moves in that there will be
potential for low level non-convective wind shear up to 2kft ~45
kts this evening. Late in the evening appears to be the best time
for strong to perhaps severe convection moving east over the coast.
/10
PREV DISCUSSION... /issued 434 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020/
NEAR TERM UPDATE /Now Through Monday/...Tornado Watch #123 now
in effect until 11 PM CDT for the northern 2/3rds of the forecast
area. The Wind Advisory has been extended in time for south to
southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 35 mph until 3 AM
CDT Monday west of I-65, and until 6 AM CDT Monday east of I-65.
The Small Craft Advisory continues for northern Mobile Bay,
Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay System, and Choctawhatchee Bay and the
Gulf Waters out 20 nm through late tonight, and from 20 to 60 nm
through 10 AM Monday. Overall expect south to southwest winds 18
to 25 kt with gusts to 30 to 35 knots, along with seas building
to 5 to 9 feet and waves 2 to 3 feet.
Showers and thunderstorms will expand in coverage late this
afternoon and evening as a shortwave trough moves over the Lower
Missouri Valley/ArkLaTex region by early this evening, then
eastward across the Tennessee Valley and adjacent central Gulf
Coast states late tonight into early Monday morning. The models
have the associated surface low pressure system advancing eastward
across the Lower Mississippi Valley by early this evening, then
eastward into the central portions of MS/AL by late this evening.
Surface dewpoints are already in the upper 60s to lower 70s along
and south of U.S. Highway 84, with surface temperatures in the
warm sector already in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Temperatures
north of the warm front are still mainly in the 60s. We still
expect a significant severe weather event to impact our area
late this afternoon through much of the night as large scale
ascent overspreads our region ahead of the approaching shortwave
trough and surface low, and as deep-layer flow strengthens in the
moist and unstable airmass. MLCAPE values along and south of U.S.
Highway are already in the 2500-3000 J/kg range. A southwesterly
925 mb jet will increase to 40-55 knots later this afternoon into
this evening, favorable for supercells and bowing segments and an
associated threat of damaging winds over 70 mph. In addition, 0-3
km SRH values will continue to increase to between 300-500 m2/s2
in the highly unstable airmass, creating an environment favorable
for tornadoes.
A couple of strong (EF2+) tornadoes will be possible this
afternoon into mid evening, especially over interior southeast MS
and southwest/south central AL within the SPC Moderate Risk area.
Large hail will also be possible with strong updrafts courtesy of
the steep mid-level lapse rates. Eventually, thunderstorms are
expected to grow upscale into a squall line or QLCS structure and
push through the area tonight. Damaging straight line winds over
70 mph will be the biggest threat, though tornadoes associated
with mesovortices embedded within the line will remain possible.
The severe threat diminishes west of I-65 by 1 AM, and east of
I-65 around 4 to 5 AM CDT as the squall line departs to the east.
Heavy rainfall will also be a concern over our far northern zones
where the potential for 2-3" of rain with locally higher amounts
as multiple rounds of storms move across this part of the region.
A Flash Flood Watch continues for Choctaw, Clarke, Wilcox, Monroe,
Conecuh, Butler, and Crenshaw counties where confidence in heavy
rainfall and a potential flash flood threat remains highest. A
high risk of rip currents along the beaches has been extended
through Monday night. Dry conditions will follow in the wake of
the cold front on Monday. /22/49/21
SHORT TERM /Monday night Through Wednesday night/...In the wake
of the system, a mostly zonal flow pattern sets up aloft before
weak ridging builds in Tuesday night. At the surface, high
pressure shifts east across the eastern CONUS and a reinforcing
surge of cooler and drier air pushes through the area. This keeps
the forecast rain-free and skies mostly clear through Wednesday
morning. The next upper trof will move out of the southern
Plains midweek, approaching the Mid-South Thursday morning. At
the same time, a cold front will approach from the west. An area
of mid-level height falls overspreads the deep south region
aiding in the deepening of a wave of surface low pressure along
the front over Arkansas. Extending out from this low will be a
warm front that bisects the forecast area northwest to southeast.
A strong southerly flow re-develops Wednesday ahead of another
storm system approaching from the west, with likely to numerous
showers and thunderstorms moving into the forecast area Wednesday
night, and spreading eastward into Thursday morning. A quick look
at the severe weather parameters suggest this event could
potentially be as strong as our last two events as the
environment becomes more unstable coincident with a strengthening
low level wind profile (H85 winds to 45 to 55 kts). Just to our
north, the low level jet structure may intensify to 60-70kt closer
to an east of the low center. With the approach of enhanced
ascent within a deeply moist air-mass characterized by PWATs ~ 1.6
to 1.8", another round of potentially deep convection may bring
impacts over the deep south. Will continue to monitor this system
for possible strong to severe storms. In fact, the Storm
Prediction Center suggests that severe probabilities may
eventually be needed in the extended range convective outlooks
(Thursday) for parts of the Gulf Coast states as predictability
increases.
Low temperatures Monday and Tuesday nights dip into the low 50s
inland to upper 50s along the coast. Highs on Tuesday and
Wednesday reach the upper 70s inland to mid 80s. /49/22/10
EXTENDED TERM /Thursday Through Sunday/...Cold front makes
passage Thursday night with rainfall probabilities tapering off
from west to east. Rain-free conditions expected Friday and for
now Saturday as there is too much spread to add it in at this
juncture given considerable spread in the global spectral
guidance. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms return
for the weekend. Daytime highs mostly in the lower to mid 80s.
Overnight lows look to be above seasonal normals. /10
MARINE...A strong southerly flow will persist through much of the
night ahead of a cold front approaching from northwest. The front
moves east of the area late tonight into Monday morning, followed
by a light mainly offshore flow through Tuesday. A strong
southerly flow re-develops Wednesday and Thursday, along with
building seas, ahead of another approaching storm system. /22
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Wind Advisory until 3 AM CDT Monday for ALZ051>055-261>263-265.
Flash Flood Watch until 3 AM CDT Monday for ALZ051-053>058.
Wind Advisory until 6 AM CDT Monday for ALZ056>060-264-266.
High Rip Current Risk through late Monday night for ALZ265-266.
FL...Wind Advisory until 6 AM CDT Monday for FLZ201>206.
High Rip Current Risk through late Monday night for FLZ202-204-
206.
MS...Wind Advisory until 3 AM CDT Monday for MSZ067-075-076-078-079.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until 10 AM CDT Monday for GMZ670-675.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 AM CDT Monday for GMZ630>636-650-
655.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
http://weather.gov/mobHazardous weather outlook, Apr 19, 6:07 AM CDT, 16 hours 42 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...Corrected National Weather Service Mobile AL 607 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020 ALZ265-266-FLZ202-204-206-201115- Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal-Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Coastal- Okaloosa Coastal- 607 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 1 AM CDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southwest Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. High Rip Current Risk. Wind Advisory. Numerous showers and thunderstorms will spread over the region today and tonight. Some storms are expected to become severe. All modes of severe weather including damaging winds, tornadoes, and quarter size or larger hail will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. High Rip Current Risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed today and tonight. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. ALZ052-059-060-261>264-FLZ201-203-205-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-201115- Washington-Escambia-Covington-Mobile Inland-Baldwin Inland- Mobile Central-Baldwin Central-Escambia Inland-Santa Rosa Inland- Okaloosa Inland-Wayne-Perry-Greene-Stone-George- 607 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 1 AM CDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Alabama, southwest Alabama, northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Wind Advisory. Numerous showers and thunderstorms will spread over the region today and tonight. Some storms are expected to become severe. All modes of severe weather including damaging winds, tornadoes, and quarter size or larger hail will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed today into tonight. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. ALZ051-053>058-201115- Choctaw-Clarke-Wilcox-Monroe-Conecuh-Butler-Crenshaw- 607 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 1 AM CDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south central Alabama and southwest Alabama. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Flash Flood Watch. Wind Advisory. Numerous showers and thunderstorms will spread over the region today and tonight. Some storms are expected to become severe. All modes of severe weather including damaging winds, tornadoes, and quarter size or larger hail will be possible. Locally heavy rainfall may result in instances of flooding over lower lying areas subject to poor drainage. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed today into tonight. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. GMZ630-633>636-201115- Northern Mobile Bay-Perdido Bay-Pensacola Bay System- Western Choctawhatchee Bay-Eastern Choctawhatchee Bay- 607 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Small craft should exercise caution due to moderate to strong southerly winds through tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. GMZ631-632-650-655-670-675-201115- Southern Mobile Bay-Mississippi Sound- Coastal waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS out 20 NM- Coastal waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL out 20 NM-Waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS from 20 to 60 NM- Waters from Okaloosa Walton County Line FL to Pensacola FL from 20 to 60 NM- 607 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the coastal waters of Alabama and northwest Florida. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov/mob (see Fast Access Product Section) for more information about the following hazards. Small Craft Advisory.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Apr 19, 8:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
857 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 SW RICHTON 31.32N 88.98W
04/19/2020 PERRY MS EMERGENCY MNGR
MULTIPLE TREES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY.
&&
MBLocal storm report, Apr 19, 9:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
920 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0838 PM TSTM WND DMG AVERA 31.30N 88.74W
04/19/2020 GREENE MS BROADCAST MEDIA
TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ON MS 63.
&&
MBLocal storm report, Apr 19, 9:30 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
930 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0838 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW BOTHWELL 31.34N 88.75W
04/19/2020 GREENE MS BROADCAST MEDIA
MORE REPORTS OF TREES DOWN ACROSS MS 63
SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 42.
&&
MBLocal storm report, Apr 19, 9:52 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
952 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0917 PM TSTM WND DMG 2 SSW TIBBIE 31.34N 88.26W
04/19/2020 WASHINGTON AL LAW ENFORCEMENT
TREES DOWN ON HWY 17 JUST SOUTH OF TIBBIE.
&&
MBSpecial weather statement, Apr 19, 10:06 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1006 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020
ALZ056>060-200345-
Conecuh AL-Butler AL-Escambia AL-Covington AL-Crenshaw AL-
1006 PM CDT Sun Apr 19 2020
...A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES...BUTLER...CRENSHAW...NORTHERN ESCAMBIA...CONECUH AND
NORTHWESTERN COVINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 1045 PM CDT...
At 1006 PM CDT, the strong thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 7 miles west of Georgiana to 6 miles west of I65 And
US 84 to 3 miles northwest of I65 And AL 113, and moving east at 60
mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Andalusia, Greenville, Brewton, Evergreen, Luverne, Georgiana,
Brantley, McKenzie, River Falls, Castleberry, Red Level, Rutledge,
Dozier, Repton, Heath, Gantt, Glenwood, Petrey, I65 And US 84 and
Highland Home.
A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 400 AM CDT for south central
Alabama.
LAT...LON 3153 8620 3144 8619 3101 8670 3121 8748
3146 8720 3160 8714 3171 8703 3175 8691
3196 8686 3196 8641 3204 8640 3205 8640
3205 8630 3197 8630 3196 8619 3179 8620
3179 8615 3162 8618 3162 8615 3154 8614
TIME...MOT...LOC 0306Z 277DEG 53KT 3166 8687 3142 8712 3123 8737Local storm report, Apr 19, 10:18 PM CDT, 31 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1018 PM CDT SUN APR 19 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0801 PM TSTM WND DMG 3 N HIGHLAND HOME 32.00N 86.32W
04/19/2020 CRENSHAW AL EMERGENCY MNGR
REPORTS OF TREES DOWN NEAR HIGHLAND HOME AND
LAPINE.
&&
MBThe surface observations
Andalusia (79J), 4 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:56 UTC | 77 | 68 | 0° 0 kt | 1005.1 | ||
| 02:32 UTC | 76 | 69 | 0° 0 kt | 1005.8 | -TSRA | |
| 02:56 UTC | 75 | 70 | 350° 4 kt | 1005.8 | -RA | |
| 03:09 UTC | 75 | 70 | 4 kt | 1005.1 | TSRA | |
| 03:36 UTC | 74 | 69 | 4 kt | 1003.4 | -TSRA | |
| 03:43 UTC | 74 | 69 | 6 kt | 1002.7 | -RA | |
| 03:56 UTC | 66 | 60 | 320° 31 kt | 52 | +TSRA | |
| 04:10 UTC | 62 | 58 | 340° 14 kt | 32 | +TSRA BR | |
| 04:17 UTC | 62 | 58 | 330° 14 kt | 24 | +TSRA BR | |
| 05:17 UTC | 61 | 58 | 120° 4 kt | +TSRA BR | ||
| 05:31 UTC | 61 | 58 | 4 kt | TSRA BR |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 89 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 03:45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Owassa | Conecuh, AL | LOCAL RADIO STATION REPORTED TREES DOWN I-65 NEAR THE OWASSA COMMUNITY. |
| 03:14 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Elba | Coffee, AL | NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES REPORTED DOWN COUNTY-WIDE. |
| 03:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Elba | Coffee, AL | NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN COUNTY-WIDE. |
| 03:41 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 W Rutledge | Crenshaw, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN WEST AND SOUTHWEST OF RUTLEDGE. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Gantt | Covington, AL | TREE THROUGH A HOUSE AND NUMEROUS TRESS DOWN IN THE GANTT COMMUNITY. |
| 03:42 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Luverne | Crenshaw, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN ACROSS LUVERNE AND RUTLEDGE (AND COUNTY-WIDE). |
| 03:43 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Andalusia | Covington, AL | MULTIPLE TREES DOWN NEAR ANDALUSIA. |
| 03:43 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Patsburg | Crenshaw, AL | SEVERAL TREES DOWN IN THE PETREY AND PATSBURG COMMUNITIES. |
| 03:44 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ne Dozier | Crenshaw, AL | MULTIPLE TREES DOWN JUST NORTH OF DOZIER. |
| 03:44 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 5 Nw Brantley | Crenshaw, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN BETWEEN BRANTLEY AND LUVERNE. |
| 03:49 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 N Goshen | Pike, AL | NUMEROUS AREAS OF TIMBER DAMAGE AND SOME STRUCTURES WITH ROOFING DAMAGE ALONG CR 2201. |
| 03:49 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Glenwood | Crenshaw, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN NEAR GLENWOOD (AND BETWEEN LUVERNE AND GLENWOOD). |
| 03:49 UTC | TORNADO | 3 N Sanford | Covington, AL | *** 1 INJ *** A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF COUNTY ROAD 70 AND TRAVELED SOUTHEAST FOR ROUGHLY 1.25 MILES, PRODUCING EF-2 DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS STRUCTURES AND TREES ALONG THE WAY. |
| 03:49 UTC | TORNADO | 3 N Sanford | Covington, AL | *** 1 INJ *** A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST TO THE NORTHWEST OF COUNTY ROAD 70 AND TRAVELED SOUTHEAST FOR ROUGHLY 1.25 MILES, PRODUCING EF-2 DAMAGE TO NUMEROUS STRUCTURES AND TREES ALONG THE WAY. |
| 03:51 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Goshen | Pike, AL | CORRECTS FOR TIME PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM GOSHEN. NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE AREA WITH SOME ROADS BLOCKED. |
| 03:54 UTC | TSTM WND GST 60 | 1 Nnw Sanford | Covington, AL | AWOS STATION K79J AT THE ANDALUSIA OPP AIRPORT MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 60 MPH. |
| 03:55 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Goshen | Pike, AL | NUMEROUS TREES DOWN IN THE AREA WITH SOME ROADS BLOCKED. |
| 03:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Pike County Lake | Pike, AL | NUMEROUS AREAS OF TREES SNAPPED AND UPROOTED ALONG CR 21. |
| 03:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Opp | Covington, AL | TREES DOWN IN OPP. METAL ROOF PEELED OFF RESIDENCE. |
| 04:02 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Springhill | Pike, AL | NUMEROUS TREES & POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS THE AREA. |
| 04:02 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nne Wise Mill | Coffee, AL | TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON CR-219 SOUTH OF CR-217. |
| 04:02 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 W Lowry Mill | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN AT 27057 HIGHWAY 87. |
| 04:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Jack | Coffee, AL | TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON CR-206 APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE WEST OF THE CR-205 INTERSECTION. |
| 04:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sse Jack | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 208. |
| 04:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Wise Mill | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN AT COUNTY ROAD 231 AND HIGHWAY 87. |
| 04:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Ssw Wise Mill | Coffee, AL | LINE DOWN AT HIGHWAY 125 WHITEWATER BAPTIST CHURCH. |
| 04:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Elba | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN AT COROLINE STREET AND WILLIAMS STREET. |
| 04:03 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Lowry Mill | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN AT 304 COUNTY ROAD 208. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E Elba | Coffee, AL | CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM 1 E ELBA. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN COUNTY-WIDE. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Lowry Mill | Coffee, AL | PHOTOS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA SHOW ROOF OFF OF A HOUSE OFF CR 220 NEAR VICTORIA. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Brooklyn | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 423. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wnw Basin | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 408. |
| 04:05 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Elba | Coffee, AL | CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND DMG REPORT FROM ELBA. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWERLINES REPORTED DOWN COUNTY-WIDE. |
| 04:06 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 E Jack | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 206. |
| 04:08 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 S Chestnut Grove | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN ON COUNTY ROAD 119. |
| 04:08 UTC | TSTM WND GST 56 | Kinston | Coffee, AL | MESONET STATION IN KINSTON MEASURED A 56 MPH GUST. |
| 04:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Holley Store | Coffee, AL | TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN CR460 OUTSIDE OF KINSTON. BARNS AND HOMES HEAVILY DAMAGED. |
| 04:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Damascus | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN AT 7913 HIGHWAY 87. |
| 04:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Richburg | Coffee, AL | TREE DOWN ON W MCKINNON STREET. |
| 04:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 E New Hope | Coffee, AL | TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN ON CR-105 BETWEEN CR-114 AND CR-107. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2020 tornado in AlabamaEvery tornado in Alabama since 1950Warnings in force in Alabama nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of April 19, 2020
20 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 19 | 2:17 PM CDT | EF1 | Grant Parish, LA | 2.0 | 500 | |||
| April 19 | 4:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Vernon Parish, LA | 5.3 | 500 | $300,000 | ||
| April 19 | 7:09 PM CDT | EF4 | Sandy Hook–Camp Shelby tornado, MS | 53.8 | 2,275 | 1 | 1 | $700,000 |
| April 19 | 9:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Pearl River, MS | 4.4 | 75 | |||
| April 19 | 10:13 PM CDT | EF1 | Saint Tammany Parish, LA | 3.0 | 300 | |||
| April 19 | 10:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 1.8 | 25 | |||
| April 19 | 10:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| April 19 | 10:53 PM CDT | EF0 | Jackson, MS | 2.0 | 150 | |||
| April 19 | 10:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Mobile, AL | 8.9 | 100 | |||
| April 19 | 11:03 PM CDT | EF0 | Coffee, AL | 4.4 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| April 19 | 11:05 PM CDT | EF1 | Mobile, AL | 1.3 | 75 | |||
| April 19 | 11:06 PM CDT | EF1 | Mobile, AL | 3.2 | 75 | |||
| April 19 | 11:20 PM CDT | EF1 | Dale, AL | 24.4 | 150 | $200,000 | ||
| April 19 | 11:32 PM CDT | EF0 | Geneva, AL | 1.8 | 100 | |||
| April 19 | 11:40 PM CDT | EF2 | Henry, AL | 5.2 | 300 | 1 | ||
| April 19 | 11:42 PM CDT | EF1 | Houston, AL | 0.7 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| April 19 | 11:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Henry, AL | 1.5 | 500 | $250,000 | ||
| April 19 | 11:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Baldwin, AL | 0.5 | 300 | |||
| April 19 | 11:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Henry, AL | 6.5 | 100 | $5,000 | ||
| April 19 | 12:07 AM CDT | EF0 | Santa Rosa, FL | 0.2 | 50 |
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.