The Huntsville, Alabama National Weather Service surveyed damage in Rainsville, Al. from Wednesday, December 29, 2021 storms and determined that an EF-1 Tornado touched down causing damage in a 6 mile path. The Tornado had estimated maximum winds of 104 mph.
The Tornado initially touched down near the Powell Community, just east of County Road 120, and moved in an easterly direction causing damage along its 6 mile path and causing damage to BlueScope Steel, before lifting just west of Highway 75.
See full NWS report below.
000
NOUS44 KHUN 302221
PNSHUN
ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-311030-
National Weather Service Huntsville AL
421 PM CST Thu Dec 30 2021
…NWS DAMAGE SURVEY FOR 12/29/21 POWELL TORNADO….Powell Tornado…
Rating: EF1
Estimated Peak Wind: 104 mph
Path Length /statute/: 6.025 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 285.0 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: 12/29/2021
Start Time: 08:21 PM CST
Start Location: 3 WSW Powell / DeKalb County / AL
Start Lat/Lon: 34.5167 / -85.9429
End Date: 12/29/2021
End Time: 08:29 PM CST
End Location: 1 NNE Rainsville / DeKalb County / AL
End Lat/Lon: 34.5115 / -85.8375
Survey Summary:
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in the
Powell community and determined the damage to be from a tornado,
with maximum winds of 104 mph. The tornado touched down just east
of County Road 120, where a small outbuilding was destroyed. The
tornado moved in an easterly direction, uprooting several trees
as it crossed S. Broad Street. As the tornado neared Kirk Road
SW, it intensified to its highest strength, snapping or uprooting
dozens of trees and causing minor roof damage to several homes.
The tornado continued to the east, uprooting more trees along its
path as it crossed Highway 35. It began to weaken as it neared
Rainbow Road, uprooting a few more trees and destroying a couple
of carports. The tornado eventually crossed Church Street where
roof damage occurred at BlueScope Steel, before lifting just west
of Highway 75.
Special thanks to the Dekalb County EMA and Dekalb County
Sheriffs Office for their assistance with this survey.
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
$$
