As you can see from the above Facebook post, NWS Huntsville’s damage survey team verified that damage that occurred just outside of Athens in Limestone County was caused by an EF-0 tornado. That now brings the final tornado count across the state up to 82 confirmed. Here is the summary of the survey:
EF0 tornado damage was discovered SW of Athens in Limestone County.
Ham Road Tornado
Rating … EF0
Estimated Peak Wind … 85 mph
Path Length /statute/ … 5.07 miles
Path Width /maximum/ … 50.0 yards
Fatalities … 0
Injuries … 0
Start Date … 12/29/2019
Start Time … 06:50 PM CST
Start Location … 7 WSW Athens / Limestone County / AL
Start Lat/Lon … 34.7541 / -87.0777
End Date … 12/29/2019
End Time … 06:57 PM CST
End Location … 2 W Athens / Limestone County / AL
End Lat/Lon … 34.7946 / -87.0041
Summary: An EF0 tornado touched down approximately 0.3 miles west of the intersection of Zelner Road and Ripley Road in southern Limestone County. Upon touchdown the tornado produced tree damage. Tracking to the NE, the tornado produced damage to a metal barn roof along Bell Road, snapped a tree at the base, and uplifted an attached roof of a porch on a small home. Farther to the northeast, the tornado produced mainly roof and window damage in a mobile home park along the west side of Blackburn Road. On Ham Road, more extensive damage was found to a mobile home, which was pushed back about six feet, detaching it from an awning and cement parking pad. This mobile home was anchored to concrete pads that were sitting on gravel, but the mobile home was left largely intact. The tornado continued to snap trees across Evans Road and Reid Road. As the tornado approached U.S. Highway 72, it produced significant damage to a metal-sided outbuilding, while producing mainly roof and siding damage to a couple of metal building systems on the south side of U.S. Highway 72. The tornado produced damage to a couple of metal signs at a gas station located along the north side of U.S. Highway 72 at the intersection of W. Washington Street. Along W. Washington Street, tree damage continued, with some trees uprooted, including a tree that fell on a vehicle. At the intersection of W. Glenn Valley Drive and W. Washington Road, a large tree branch fell, partly on a house. The tornado appeared to lift near this point, with some minor tree damage farther to the NE in western portions of Athens.
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories…
EF0…Weak……65 TO 85 mph
EF1…Weak……86 TO 110 mph
EF2…Strong….111 TO 135 mph
EF3…Strong….136 TO 165 mph
EF4…Violent…166 TO 200mph
EF5…Violent…>200mph
