Power Outage in Butler, AL

High winds downed powerlines on Riderwood Drive at Scott Mountain Road.

High winds downed multiple tree across the county with several power outages.

High winds downed trees and powerlines.

This is the second segment of an EF1 tornado that began just southwest of Southern Choctaw High School snapping multiple hardwood and softwood trees.|The beginning point is estimated just southwest of the high school|due to limited road access. Strong damaging winds accompanied the|rear flank downdraft associated with the tornado resulting in|damage to outdoor bleachers and small outbuildings by the sports|field. A bus was also overturned in the parking lot with minor|structural damage to the backside of the school. The tornado|continued tracking northeast, both widening and strengthening|impacting several homes and snapping/uprooting multiple trees and|snapping powerlines as it crossed Highway 17. This was the|strongest point along the tornado path with near 110mph winds. The|tornado continued tracking northeast causing more sporadic EF0 to|EF1 damage along the rest of its path to the Marengo County|border with damage generally limited to a few snapped/uprooted|softwood and hardwood trees, along with minor roof damage to a few|homes. The tornado began to strengthen and widen again as it|approached the Tombigbee River with the last accessible damage|point on Ararat Road where there was notable snapped|softwood/hardwood trees. The tornado crossed into Marengo County before briefly crossing back into Choctaw County before again moving back into Marengo County.

An EF1 tornado began approximately 3 miles southwest of Southern Choctaw High|School snapping multiple hardwood and softwood trees.|The beginning point was determined through analysis of Sentinel Satellite data. Strong damaging winds accompanied the rear flank downdraft associated with the tornado resulting in damage to outdoor bleachers and small outbuildings by the sports|field. A bus was also overturned in the parking lot with minor structural damage to the backside of the school. The tornado continued tracking northeast, both widening and strengthening impacting several homes and snapping/uprooting multiple trees and|snapping powerlines as it crossed Highway 17. This was the strongest point along the tornado path with near 110mph winds. The tornado continued tracking northeast causing more sporadic EF0 to EF1 damage along the rest of its path to the Marengo County border with damage generally limited to a few snapped/uprooted|softwood and hardwood trees, along with minor roof damage to a few homes. The tornado began to strengthen and widen again as it approached the Tombigbee River with the last accessible damage point on Ararat Road where there was notable snapped|softwood/hardwood trees. The tornado crossed into Marengo County before briefly crossing back into Choctaw County before again moving back into Marengo County.

An EF1 tornado began approximately 3 miles southwest of Southern Choctaw High|School snapping multiple hardwood and softwood trees.|The beginning point was determined through analysis of Sentinel Satellite data. Strong damaging winds accompanied the rear flank downdraft associated with the tornado resulting in damage to outdoor bleachers and small outbuildings by the sports|field. A bus was also overturned in the parking lot with minor structural damage to the backside of the school. The tornado continued tracking northeast, both widening and strengthening impacting several homes and snapping/uprooting multiple trees and|snapping powerlines as it crossed Highway 17. This was the strongest point along the tornado path with near 110mph winds. The tornado continued tracking northeast causing more sporadic EF0 to EF1 damage along the rest of its path to the Marengo County border with damage generally limited to a few snapped/uprooted|softwood and hardwood trees, along with minor roof damage to a few homes. The tornado began to strengthen and widen again as it approached the Tombigbee River with the last accessible damage point on Ararat Road where there was notable snapped|softwood/hardwood trees. The tornado crossed into Marengo County before briefly crossing back into Choctaw County before again moving back into Marengo County.

An EF-2 tornado began southwest of the community of Cyril, Alabama|in a forested area. The tornadoes strongest point was in this area|where a swath of extensive tree damage was noted based on Sentinel|satellite imagery. Based on this data in corroboration with other|upgrades done this season, we have raised the peak intensity of|the tornado to EF-2 with wind speeds of 120mph. The tornado began|to weaken some as it approached the community of Cyril, Alabama,|where a manufactured home was lifted and rolled into Cyril Rd just|west of Alabama SR-10. Debris from the home was scattered in the|treeline across the street. The manufactured home located next|door to the damaged home was intact with a couple of nearby large|trees snapped half way up the trunk. A nearby power pole was|uprooted as well. Numerous trees in the Cyril Rd area were|uprooted and snapped. There was minor roof damage to another|nearby home. The Cyril Rd area was the only area along the initial|tornado path that was able to be surveyed due to lack of road|access further southwest and the rest of the damage survey was|determined based on Sentinel satellite imagery. Sentinel satellite|data confirmed that the path of this tornado extended another 2+|miles to the southwest of the damage along Cyril Rd. A continuous|track with a swath of tree damage was noted in the satellite data.|Approximately 3 miles to the north-northeast of the damage along|Cyril Rd was an area of straight-line wind damage along CR 32 and|Gamma Rd. The survey team could not discern any notable |convergent pattern in the tree damage along Gamma Rd, nor did the |satellite imagery confirm a continuous track into this area. There|was also minor damage to two manufactured homes along Gamma Rd.

High winds downed trees and power lines in Butler.

High winds downed multiple trees and power lines across Choctaw County.

The tornado first touched down just west of the Tombigbee River|and just south of Highway 10 in far eastern Choctaw county, AL. The tornado|intensified rapidly upon touchdown and heavily damaged a single family home.|The home was shifted nearly 6 feet off of the foundation. In addition, a|large section of the roof was removed and a small shed adjacent|to the home was destroyed. A few large trees were also uprooted and a power|pole in front of the home was snapped. This tornado continued east across|the river into Marengo county, AL, which is covered by the National Weather|Service office in Birmingham, AL.

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and powerlines on Highway 10.

Ice accrual of a quarter inch was reported across northern and central Choctaw County. Ice accrual around a tenth of an inch occurred over the southern portion of the county. The greatest accrual occurred on trees, power lines, and metal surfaces. A few trees were downed due to the icing in the northern and central portion of the county. There was also a minor accumulation of sleet with the storm, generally a trace to a tenth of an inch.

Winds estimated near 70 mph downed many trees and power lines in the city of Butler.

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and power lines.

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and power lines along Bailey Road.

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and power lines in the Lake Lavada Subdivision.

Several trees and power lines were blown down one mile west of Gilfield Branch due to wind gusts estimated around 60 mph.

Winds estimated at 60 mph downed trees and power lines down along Riderwood Drive.

Tornado crossed from Clarke County, Mississippi and continued northeast crossing near Lisman. The tornado continued northeast crossing Highway 17 just north of Jachin before lifting. Several trees and power lines were snapped off or blown over by the tornado along the path. Major structural damage to a home was reported by Emergency Management in Lisman.

Tornado crossed from Clarke County, Mississippi and continued northeast crossing near Lisman. The tornado continued northeast crossing Highway 17 just north of Jachin before lifting. Several trees and power lines were snapped off or blown over by the tornado along the path. Major structural damage to a home was reported by Emergency Management in Lisman.

Winds estimated at 70 mph downed numerous trees and power lines around Butler.

High winds from a thunderstorm blew down trees and power lines in Isney and Melvin.

High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees and power lines east of Butler.

Trees and power lines were blown down by high winds from a thunderstorm near Butler.

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines in and around Butler.

Several trees and power lines were blown down by high winds from a thunderstorm just east of Bladon Springs. Some outbuildings were also damaged by the high winds.

A small and weak tornado move through the area just southwest of Butler. Trees and power lines were reported down in the area. In addition, golfball sized hail was also observed in Jachin.

Trees and power lines were reported down just south of the community.

Several trees and power lines were blown down along SR 17 between Toxey and Butler.

Trees and power lines were blown down near Butler.

Trees and power lines were blown down just west of Butler.

Another in a series of powerful storm systems moved across the region during the day and through the evening. A very unstable airmass developed across the area. This system produced a tornado outbreak just north of the area, however one tornado developed in Choctaw and caused damage.

A thunderstorm produced high winds that downed trees and power lines in portions of southwest Alabama.

For the fourth time this season, the area was threatened by a tropical event. Major Hurricane Katrina impacted portions of the area during the day of August 29th. The storm made landfall over southeast Louisiana around sunrise on August 29. The center of Katrina tracked north northeast near I-59 across southeast Mississippi. Katrina had a large eye and the wind field was also very large. Gusts to hurricane force were felt as far east as the Alabama and Mississippi state line. Wind damage from Katrina decreased as you got farther east of the center of the storm. However, high storm surge values were observed as far east as Destin in Okaloosa county. The storm surge with Katrina was one of the highest ever recorded as far east as Mobile Bay. Coastal counties in Alabama were put under a Hurricane Watch at 300 PM CST on August 27, then a Hurricane Warning at 900 PM CST on August 27. The coastal counties in northwest Florida were put under a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch at 900 PM CST on August 27. The Hurricane Watch was dropped for the coastal counties in northwest Florida at 900 AM CST on August 29. The Tropical Storm Warning for northwest Florida was dropped at 300 PM CST on August 29. The Hurricane Warning for coastal Alabama was changed to a Tropical Storm Warning at 300 PM CST on August 29. All tropical warnings were dropped for the entire area at 900 PM CST on August 29 as Katrina moved rapidly inland. An inland Hurricane Warning was issued for southeast Mississippi and parts of southwest Alabama on August 27 and August 28. All inland tropical warnings were dropped the evening of August 29.Some of the wind reports from across southwest Alabama on August 29 were as follows: Mobile Regional Airport, sustained wind of 57 knots with a peak gust of 72 knots. Brookley Field, sustained wind of 58 knots with a peak gust of 73 knots. Evergreen, sustained wind of 32 knots with a peak gust of 42 knots. Dauphin Island, sustained wind of 64 knots with a peak gust of 89 knots. USS Alabama, peak gust 90 knots. Semmes, peak gust of 57 knots. Fairhope, peak gust 54 knots. Middle Bay Lighthouse, peak gust of 72 knots. Wind reports across northwest Florida: Pensacola Regional Airport, sustained wind of 49 knots with a peak gust of 60 knots. Pensacola Naval Air Station, sustained wind of 49 knots with a peak gust 62 knots. Pensacola (WEAR-TV), peak gust 50 knots. Valpariaso (Eglin Air Force Base), sustained winds of 33 knots with a peak gust of 46 knots. Destin airport, sustained winds of 30 knots with a peak gust 44 knots. Mary Esther, sustained wind of 38 knots with a peak gust of 52 knots. Wind gusts across southeast Mississippi were estimated to be between 70 and 80 knots.Some of the lowest sea level pressures recorded with Katrina on August 29 were as follows: Mobile Regional Airport, 983.4 MB. Brookley, 985.8 MB. Dauphin Island, 986.1 MB. Semmes, 982.7 MB.The highest 48 hour rainfall totals (ending at midnight on August 29). In Alabama: Mobile Regional Airport, 3.80 inches. Semmes, 5.70 inches. Coden, 7.26 inches. Thomasville, 3.17 inches. Daphne, 4.97 inches. In Florida: Pensacola (WEAR), 3.06 inches. Philpot, 7.80 inches. Milton, 4.50 inches. Molino, 5.00 inches. Oak Grove, 6.00 inches. In Mississippi: Flint Creek Water Park, 8.20 inches.The highest storm tides from Katrina occurred at: Mobile State Docks with 11.45 feet. USS Alabama with 12.0 feet. Dauphin Island with 6.63 feet. Perdido Pass with 5.81 feet. Pensacola with 5.37 feet. Santa Rosa Sound with 4.10 feet. Destin with 4.56 feet. Some other estimated values: Bayou La Batre with 11-14 feet. Dog River area 10-13 feet. Baldwin county with 9-11 feet. Escambia county with 7-9 feet. Santa rosa with 5-8 feet. Okaloosa county with 4-6 feet. The surge values in Mobile Bay were among the highest ever recorded for the area. Over 20 million dollars in damage was done to the Alabama State Docks due to the high surge.Major beach erosion occurred from Dauphin Island to east of Destin. The west end of Dauphin Island was completely under water with most of the homes on the west end washed away. Flash flooding occurred throughout the day as Katrina moved inland. High winds from Katrina caused significant tree and power line damage to the counties that border the Mississippi and Alabama state line. Stone and Perry counties in Mississippi received the most damage. The damage in those two counties resembled the inland damage that hurricane Ivan produced in Alabama last year. Highway 98 in Okaloosa county again had some of the lanes damage due to surge. I-10 bridge across Pensacola Bay was closed for several hours due to high winds. The Wallace Tunnel was closed due to high water from the surge. Most of the businesses on the Causeway over Mobile Bay were damaged or destroyed by the high water. An oil rig being worked on broke free and floated up Mobile Bay and became lodged underneath the Cochran-Africatown Bridge. The bridge had to be closed for several hours until it could be inspected for damage. Several weak tornadoes occurred across the area.No direct deaths were reported with Katrina in southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and northwest Florida.