Thunderstorm Wind — Etowah, Alabama

2023-08-03 · near Noccalula Falls, Etowah, Alabama

Event narrative

National Weather Service Meteorologists surveyed wind damage from

severe thunderstorms that occurred on the afternoon of August 3,

2023 at approximately 2:30 pm CDT. The damage found was consistent

with straight line winds of 80 mph along a narrow corridor of

Tabor Road, near the cross streets of Dodge Lane and McCauley Avenue.

Around a dozen or more soft and hard wood trees were snapped or

uprooted, damaging several trailer campers and vehicles. The more

intense damage was noted in adjacent areas of the annual event,

The World's Longest Yard Sale, where several pedestrians and

shoppers sustained minor to severe injuries. In all, 20 people were

injured, mostly in conjunction with taking shelter rather than

the actual storm damage. The estimated winds along Tabor Road were

noted as the strongest in the area, although additional tree and

powerline damage was noted across the entire county where winds

were estimated at 50 to 60 mph.

Wider weather episode

An active northwest upper flow pattern produced several waves of convective storms during the first week of August.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.0523, -86.0112)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1132553. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.