Thunderstorm Wind — Colbert, Alabama

2023-03-24 · near Red Rock, Colbert, Alabama

Event narrative

A bow echo from an embedded supercell within a line of thunderstorms intensified and produced a long-lived and at times wide swath of wind damage as it entered the Shoals, including Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, to the northeast part of the county before crossing the Tennessee River. Wind speeds were measured over 60 mph at multiple locations, and gusts may have reached up to 80-90 mph when a brick wall of a two story building collapsed and a large part of roofing was taken off another portion of the building. Trees, power poles and power lines were taken down in numerous locations. According to utilities in Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals, over 60 power poles were knocked down or snapped and over 25 transformers were knocked out resulting in widespread power outages. Numerous trees were knocked down. Extensive debris had to be cleaned up off area roads and streets. At least two vehicles were damaged or destroyed by falling trees or other debris. Numerous residences experienced minor to significant damage due to falling trees, or roof damage due to the high winds, and resultant flooding inside homes. At least one home was struct by lightning sparking a damaging fire. Damage and repair costs for public, business and residential exceeded $10 Million.

Wider weather episode

A severe line of thunderstorms rolled through north Alabama during the late evening hours of the 24th into the early morning hours of the 25th, producing 7 tornadoes. An embedded supercell thunderstorm with a history of tornadoes in Mississippi moved east-northeast across northwest Alabama, yielding another two tornadoes in Lauderdale County in Florence and near Anderson. Associated with this line, multiple narrow swaths of intense damaging winds of 60 to 90 mph occurred across the Shoals metro area, including Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals and Florence. The winds caused widespread power outages, damaged numerous structures, and toppled or snapped numerous trees, power poles and power lines. A few trees and power poles were dropped onto residences and vehicles, either destroying or heavily damaging them. Roof damages were reported at many locations as well. All told, an estimated #### million in damages occurred, the majority in northwest Alabama in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties. As the line continued east, additional tornadoes were spawned in Lawrence, Morgan, Jackson and DeKalb Counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.6732, -87.8542)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1088280. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.