October
18, 2004 Tornadoes |
![map of NW Alabama](track_map.png) |
Map showing
the track of the tornadoes that touched down on October 18,
2004. |
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Survey
Summary
The damage that occurred across northwest Colbert and through
Lauderdale County was determined to be primarily F-1 tornado
damage. The initial damage path of the tornado was determined
to have begun about two miles east of the Riverton community
in northwest Colbert County. The initial damage was determined
to be F-1 damage with maximum winds estimated to be at 100
miles an hour. The initial damage width of the tornado was
determined to be at 200 yards. The F-1 damage path was indicated
to be at around a half of a mile.
The tornado quickly weakened to an F-0...with winds estimated
to be at around 60 miles an hour...with a 20 yard path width.
The tornado lifted and then resumed its path, touching down
along the Natchez Trace parkway in far southwest Lauderdale
County. The damage path width was at 100 yards and intensity
of F-1 with a wind speed of 90 miles an hour. The tornado
continued its path for around five miles, increasing to a
150 yard path width and wind speeds at a maximum of 110 miles
an hour near Central Heights.
The tornado lifted again and then touched down about two miles southwest
of Lexington, reaching F-1 intensity with wind speeds noted at 90 miles
an hour and a 150 to 200 yard path width. The tornado continued with F-1
intensity as it traveled east and northeast to the Alabama/Tennessee state
line, then into Lawrence County, Tennessee.
The lead times for the tornado warnings issued are:
Colbert County - 21 minutes
Lauderdale County - 26 minutes
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Storm Pictures and
Images
Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image. |
![Tornado SW of Lexington](PICT0229.jpg) |
![Cumulonimbus and Lightning near Central Heights](cb_lightning.jpg) |
Greg Gaston of Florence
caught this image of the funnel cloud nearing the ground,
5 miles east of Highway 43 looking towards Lexington. The
tornado would again touch down just southwest of Lexington
just a few minutes later. |
Crandall McKee caught the larger cumulonimbus cloud--as well as some lightning--as the storm approached his location near Central Heights. |
![88D Reflectivity w/ Hook Echo signature](2148Z_GWX_REF.png) |
![88d Velocity Image showing inbound/outbound](2148Z_GWX_SRM.png) |
The reflectivity image from
the KGWX radar at 4:38pm CDT on 10/18 shows a classic supercell
moving eastward across Lauderdale County. The tornado is on
the ground at this point, near where the "hook echo"
is located in the western portion of the county. |
The doppler velocity image from the KGWX radar at the same time, showing a distinct inbound-outbound velocity couplet over the same location. These couplets indicate strong rotation, and often a tornado. |
![Storm damage near Riverton](DSC00002.JPG) |
![Storm damage near Riverton](DSC00005.JPG) |
Huge trees were snapped
over in a campground next to the Tennessee River near Riverton.
Note that, despite all the tree damage, a camper was left
untouched. |
More tree damage along the
Tennessee River, near Riverton, in Colbert County. |
![Tornado damage along County Road 6](DSC00018.JPG) |
![Tornado damage of mobile home and water from flooding](DSC00020.JPG) |
The tornado damaged a barn
along County Road 6 in western Lauderdale County, between
Gravelly Springs and Central Heights. |
This mobile home near Central
Heights was completely destroyed by the tornado. Heavy rainfall
the morning of the storm survey (October 19th) caused flash
flooding in Lauderdale County as well. |