Storm Events Database

Event Details:

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF1
-- Length 2.8 Miles
-- Width 500 Yards
State ALABAMA
County/Area JEFFERSON
WFO BMX
Report Source NWS Storm Survey
NCEI Data Source CSV
Begin Date 2008-02-26 03:42 CST-6
Begin Location 1W LEEDS
Begin Lat/Lon 33.5492/-86.5654
End Date 2008-02-26 03:45 CST-6
End Location 2ESE LEEDS
End Lat/Lon 33.5419/-86.5175
Deaths Direct/Indirect 1/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 0/0
Property Damage 1.00M
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative An advancing cold front moving through the state caused widespread wind damage and a few tornadoes across Central Alabama, especially in the eastern half of the state.
Event Narrative After investigating a very complex pattern of widespread damage with both a ground survey team and an aerial survey, surveys teams concluded that a portion of the damage in the city of Leeds was caused by a tornado. The tornado touched down east of Interstate 20 near Henry Ellen Rd, where trees falling on a mobile home caused one fatality to an elderly woman. The tornado tracked east-southeastward, roughly between the railroad tracks and US-78 towards the city center. There was significant roof damage to several buildings along Highway 78 from Leeds City Park in the downtown area, windows were blown out of several businesses, buildings were partially de-roofed, and the brick facade of one building was collapsed. The old rock wool warehouse facility received major irreparable damage. The most concentrated and significant material damage occured near Leeds High School. Fencing around the girls softball field was mangled and twisted, and a large batting catch was overturned and rolled. Tall wooden utility poles with field lighting were snapped half way up. Several homes just to the east of the athletic fields received significant damage. Over the path of this tornado, an estimated 30 to 40 homes and 20 to 30 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Several hundred trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path. Aside from the one fatality, no other injuries were reported.


Event Fatality Details:

Type Age Gender Fatality Location
Death (Direct) 71 Female Mobile/Trailer Home


    

Event Map:

Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
Measure
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All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 1 0 2.657M 0.00K
CORDOVA WALKER CO. AL 02/26/2008 03:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 2.00K 0.00K
PARKWOOD JEFFERSON CO. AL 02/26/2008 03:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 20.00K 0.00K
LEEDS JEFFERSON CO. AL 02/26/2008 03:42 CST-6 Tornado EF1 1 0 1.000M 0.00K
PRESCOTT ST. CLAIR CO. AL 02/26/2008 03:45 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 91 kts. EG 0 0 500.00K 0.00K
SIMMSVILLE SHELBY CO. AL 02/26/2008 03:50 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
COLUMBIANA SHELBY CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:00 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 20.00K 0.00K
EASONVILLE ST. CLAIR CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:00 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 250.00K 0.00K
LEEDS JEFFERSON CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:00 CST-6 Hail 0.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
(ANB)ANNISTON CALHOU CALHOUN CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 83 kts. EG 0 0 260.00K 0.00K
GALLANT ETOWAH CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
SAKS CALHOUN CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 70 kts. EG 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
LINCOLN TALLADEGA CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:20 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 70 kts. EG 0 0 100.00K 0.00K
LINEVILLE CLAY CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:30 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 61 kts. EG 0 0 50.00K 0.00K
OXFORD CALHOUN CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:30 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HEFLIN CLEBURNE CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:35 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 70 kts. EG 0 0 200.00K 0.00K
PINE TUCKEY RANDOLPH CO. AL 02/26/2008 04:40 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 70 kts. EG 0 0 75.00K 0.00K
FT DEPOSIT LOWNDES CO. AL 02/26/2008 06:35 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
PRATTVILLE ARPT AUTAUGA CO. AL 02/26/2008 06:50 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 10.00K 0.00K
SPRAGUE MONTGOMERY CO. AL 02/26/2008 06:50 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
WARE ELMORE CO. AL 02/26/2008 06:50 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ORION PIKE CO. AL 02/26/2008 07:10 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 5.00K 0.00K
Totals: 1 0 2.657M 0.00K