NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR MARCH 3RD TORNADO EVENT
OVERVIEW
A warm and moist airmass covered Central Alabama early on March 3rd. An upper-level disturbance moved quickly overhead around sunrise. This disturbance combined with plenty of wind shear and limited instability to produce rotating storms. Although the environment was marginal for severe weather, the storms were able to produce a couple tornadoes. No other severe weather was reported on the morning of March 3rd.
Tornado #1 Highway 69 Ballpark Tornado (Hale County)
Rating: EF-0
Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph
Path Length /statute/: 4.34 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 220 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: Mar 03 2020
Start Time: 6:04 AM CST
Start Location: 2 WSW Greensboro
Start Lat/Lon: 32.6846 / -87.6226
End Date: Mar 03 2020
End Time: 6:12 AM CST
End Location: 3 ESE Greensboro
End Lat/Lon: 32.6863 / -87.5492
Survey Summary:
The tornado touched down near Royal Estates Dr, just southwest of Greensboro. The tornado moved east-northeast where it snapped and uprooted numerous trees near the ballpark on Hwy 69. Nearby homes suffered structural damage due to fallen trees, as well as varying degrees of minor roof and siding damage. Farther downstream, tree damage was observed on Cherokee Terrace where numerous pines were uprooted. The tornado continued east-northeast where minor structural damage was observed near Centerville St and Avery Dr. The tornado then turned to the east and east-southeast where it uprooted several trees on County Rd 7 before completely dissipating near Whitsitt Creek. The National Weather Service in Birmingham would like to thank Hale County Emergency Management for their assistance with this damage assessment.
Tornado #2 Lawley Tornado (Bibb County)
Rating: EF-1
Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph
Path Length /statute/: 6.21 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 525 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: Mar 03 2020
Start Time: 6:28 AM CST
Start Location: 3 WSW Talladega National Forest
Start Lat/Lon: 32.8648 / -87.0496
End Date: Mar 03 2020
End Time: 6:38 AM CST
End Location: 1 NE Lawley
End Lat/Lon: 32.8647 / -86.9432
Survey Summary:
The tornado touched down in a heavily wooded area just west of Liberty Rd in southeast Bibb County. The tornado intensified to EF-1 strength where it knocked a manufactured home off it’s foundation, and displaced a nearby vehicle. Nearby, extensive tree damage was observed with at least several dozen trees snapped or uprooted. The tornado generally continued on an eastward path where it continued to cause extensive tree damage, as well as damage to at least three homes along Maude Tower Rd and County Rd 29. The tornado then moved over a heavily wooded area near Trail Branch before crossing US Hwy 82. It then caused numerous trees to be snapped or uprooted near the Lawley Fire Department and Community Center. The tornado then dissipated just east of County Road 36 near Oakmulgee Creek. The National Weather Service in Birmingham would like to thank Bibb County Emergency Management for their assistance with this damage assessment.
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 200 mph
EF5…Violent…>200 mph*
Note:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
