The number of tornadoes from Sunday’s round of severe weather is now up to eight, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service office in Tallahassee, Fla., which covers several southeast Alabama counties, did storm surveys in Henry County today and confirmed two tornadoes.
One was an EF2 that is being blamed in the death of Jerry Williams, a 61-year-old father of six, in the Tumbleton area.
That tornado had top winds estimated at 125 mph, according to a preliminary report from the weather service. It’s the strongest of the eight tornadoes confirmed so far.
The other tornado confirmed today was also in Henry County. It was an EF1 with top winds of 110 mph.
The weather service in Tallahassee has previously confirmed another EF1 tornado in Houston County, and the weather service in Mobile has confirmed five tornadoes in southwest Alabama: An EF2 in Covington County, three EF1s in Mobile County and another EF1 in Baldwin County.
The Tumbleton tornado touched down at 11:40 p.m. Sunday just west of County Road 15, according to the weather service.
It was on the ground for 5.26 miles and was 300 yards wide.
It tracked through the town of Tumbleton and damaged several single-family homes.
It then hit a double-wide mobile home northeast of Tumbleton where Williams was killed.
The tornado continued northeast and damaged another single-family home before lifting near County Road 53.
The second Henry County tornado touched down just five minutes after the first one, according to the weather service.
It had top winds of 110 mph, a path length of 1.54 miles and a path width of 500 yards.
It touched down along Camp Springs Road near County Road 131. It damaged a single-family home and an automotive shop, according to the weather service. It lifted near County Road 53 after damaging trees and another building.
Here’s a look at the tornadoes confirmed so far:
1. Henry County: EF2, top winds 125 mph.
2. Covington County: EF2, top winds 120 mph.
3. Henry County: EF1, top winds 110 mph.
4. Baldwin County: EF1, top winds 105 mph.
5. West-central Mobile County: EF1, top winds 100 mph.
6. Southwest Mobile County: EF1, top winds 90 mph.
7. West Mobile County: EF1, top winds 90 mph.
8. Houston County: EF1, top winds 90 mph.
The weather service said storm surveys were still ongoing.
by Leigh Morgan (2020, Apr 22) AL.com
