Meteorologists with the National Weather Service have concluded
that the storm damage in Montgomery was caused by both a weak
tornado and a strong downburst (straight-line wind).
The tornado first touched down just west of Greenwood Cemetery
on Three Mile Branch. The tornado was moving northeastward at
approximately 50 mph and moved through the Forest Hills area downing
trees and causing minor structural damage to some homes. The
tornado crossed the Atlanta Highway and continued to down trees in
the Johnstown area of eastern Montgomery. Much of the damage here
occurred when trees fell onto structures. The tornado appeared to
end on the south edge of Gunter Industrial Park.
The damage caused by the tornado places it in the weak category
as an F0. The tornado path was 2.3 miles long and about 100 yards
wide. The initial touchdown occurred at 9:22 AM and ended at 9:25
AM.
The second path of damage occurred slightly north of the
tornado path. Damage occurred from the north side of Gunter Air
Force Station along Congressman Dickinson Drive through the Eastern
Boulevard/Congressman Dickinson Interchange and into a residential
area of Madison Park. One mobile home was de-roofed and one other
house suffered signficant roof damage in this area. Other damage
was primarily in the form of downed trees and power lines and minor
roof damage (shingles removed). This damage path was 2.9 miles long
and about 200 yards wide.
These events were produced by a strong thunderstorm that
exhibited a bowing characteristic which is frequently accompanied
by weak tornadoes and strong straight-line wind. Wind gusts with
the thunderstorms were measured at 48 mph at 9:15 AM at dannelly
field and 61 mph at Maxwell Air Force base at 9:19 AM.
Reports indicated that several minor injuries occurred but no
details were available on these yet.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 2 included Montgomery county
and was valid from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM. A Severe Thunderstorm
Warning was issued at 9:03 AM valid to 10:00 AM and was upgraded to
a Tornado Warning at 9:16 AM valid until 10:00 AM.
Weather Data
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