This is the second tornado to strike the Oakman area this year. The first was back in February:
https://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/significant_events/2008/02_06/Fayette_Tcl_Walker/index.php
Here’s today’s statement from NWS Birmingham:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1030 AM CST WED DEC 10 2008
…TWO NWS SURVEY CREWS CONTINUE TO SURVEY DAMAGE IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
TODAY…
WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE REPORTED IN FAYETTE…WALKER AND ST. CLAIR
COUNTIES…TWO NWS CREWS WILL CONTINUE TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE. THE
INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE SURVEYS WILL BE CONVEYED IN PUBLIC
INFORMATION STATEMENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY INFORMATION HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SURVEY CREW IN WALKER COUNTY.
OAKMAN ELEMENTARY TORNADO (WALKER COUNTY)
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT AT OAKMAN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL THE TORNADO WAS RATED AN EF1 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE
WITH ESTIMATED WINDS OF 80 TO 90 MPH. PATH WIDTH AT THAT LOCATION
WAS 400 YARDS WIDE. THE TORNADO BEGINNING AND ENDING POINTS HAVE NOT
YET BEEN DETERMINED. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
PROGRAM IS THE RECEIPT OF STORM REPORTS FROM ALL OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PARTNERS ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. IF YOU WITNESSED OR ARE AWARE OF
ANY DAMAGING WINDS OR TORNADOES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS…PLEASE
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE…OR CALL OUR STORM
REPORTING HOTLINE AT 1-800-856-0758.
