NOUS44 KBMX 180252
PNSBHM
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
850 PM CST SUN DEC 17 2000

                    PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY
              OF THE DECEMBER 16 TUSCALOOSA TORNADO

THE TORNADO BEGAN IN SOUTHWESTERN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY ON THE WEST
SIDE OF THE WARRIOR RIVER.  TRAVELLING IN A NORTHEASTERLY
DIRECTION THE TORNADO MOVED FROM A RURAL, UNPOPULATED AREA INTO
AN AREA OF HOMES SOUTH OF SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  THE
TORNADO CROSSED SR 69 DESTROYING A NEARLY COMPLETE SHOPPING
CENTER WHICH INCLUDED A WINN DIXIE STORE.  EAST OF SR 69 THE
TORNADO DESTROYED A NUMBER OF HOUSES AND RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.

AS THE TORNADO REACHED US 82 IT DESTROYED A NUMBER OF MOBILE
HOMES WHERE SEVERAL DEATHS WERE REPORTED.  FROM US 82 THE TORNADO
CONTINUED NORTHEASTERLY DOWNING NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES
AND DAMAGING RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.  THE TORNADO CROSSED I-20/59
BETWEEN EXITS 76 AND 77 WHERE MANY TREES WERE UPROOTED OR SNAPPED
OFF.  MINOR DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE JVC MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

AT EXIT 77 A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES RANGING FROM HOTELS
TO TRUCK STOPS SUSTAINED DAMAGE INCLUDING A NUMBER OF VEHICLES
THAT WERE OVERTURNED.  THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHEASTERLY FOR A
COUPLE OF MILES BEFORE DISSIPATING RAPIDLY.

THE TORNADO WAS SPAWNED BY A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM THAT
ORIGINATED IN MISSISSIPPI.  THIS THUNDERSTORM MAY HAVE BEEN
RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL TORNADO DAMAGE IN ST. CLAIR AND ETOWAH
COUNTIES FOR WHICH ADDITIONAL STORM SURVEYS WILL BE CONDUCTED
MONDAY.

TUSCALOOSA EMA REPORTED 11 FATALITIES WITH THIS TORNADO ALONG
WITH 75 INJURIES.  THE TORNADO WAS ON THE GROUND FOR A TOTAL OF
18 MILES, ALL WITHIN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY.  THE TORNADO PATH WAS
ESTIMATED TO BE 750 YARDS WIDE AT IT'S MAXIMUM INTENSITY.

THIS TORNADO WAS RATED AN F4 ON THE FUJITA SCALE FOR TORNADO
INTENSITY.  TORNADO INTENSITY VARIED ALONG THE PATH WITH
CONSIDERABLE F2 AND F3 DAMAGE IN THE AREA FROM JUST WEST OF SR 69
TO US 82 IN THE HINTON PLACE AND HILLCREST MEADOWS AREAS AS WELL
AS THE BEAR CREEK AREA.  IT WAS ALSO IN THESE AREAS WHERE POCKETS
OF F4 DESTRUCTION OCCURRED.  TORNADOES ARE RATED WITH THE HIGHEST
F-SCALE RATING ALONG THE TRACK.

THE TORNADO FIRST TOUCHED DOWN AT 12:54 PM AND DISSIPATED AT 1:12
PM WITH A FORWARD SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH.  A TORNADO WATCH
WAS ISSUED AT 10:00 AM THAT INCLUDED TUSCALOOSA COUNTY.  A
TORNADO WARNING WAS ISSUED FOR TUSCALOOSA COUNTY AT 12:40 PM.

THIS TORNADO AND THE ASSOCIATED FATALITIES HAVE SET SOME DUBIOUS
RECORDS FOR ALABAMA.  THIS IS THE DEADLIEST TORNADO SO FAR THIS
YEAR IN THE STATE.  IT ALSO TIES A GEORGIA TORNADO EARLIER THIS
YEAR AS THE DEADLIEST TORNADO IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2000.  THE
11 FATALITIES ALSO MOVE ALABAMA INTO THIRD PLACE IN TOTAL TORNADO
DEATHS SINCE 1950.  THE STATE IS THIRD BEHIND TEXAS AND
MISSISSIPPI.  THIS TORNADO ALSO BECOMES THE STRONGEST TORNADO
RECORDED IN DECEMBER IN ALABAMA SINCE 1950, AND IT IS THE
STRONGEST TORNADO RECORDED IN TUSCALOOSA COUNT SINCE 1950.

BRIAN E. PETERS, WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, BIRMINGHAM, AL