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F1 tornado in Marshall County, Alabama

Tornado March 29, 2002 · Marshall County, Alabama

F1
Rating
8.7 mi
Path length
500 yd
Path width
$1.4M
Damage as recorded
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 500 yards (0.28 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F1 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F1 meant moderate damage: roofs badly stripped, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, windows broken; the scale paired it with winds of 73–112 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

What the National Weather Service wrote

A tornado first touched down at a cemetary just west of Red Hill. The F1 tornado travelled on a near due east path crossing CR 14 (Warrenton Road), a small ridge and SR 79. The tornado then climbed another ridge downing trees. Once on top of the ridge, the tornado paralleled Section Line Road (CR 166) downing trees and power lines and causing damage especially to out buildings, farm buildings, chicken houses, and other weak structures. Most substantial structures affected by the tornado had minimal damage as identified from visual inspection. The tornado ended at CR 152 (Oneonta Cut Off Road). Red Cross officials identified 3 structures with major damage and 18 with minor damage. There were no deaths or injuries reported with this tornado.Beg. 34 15.404/86 26.232 End: 34 15.291/86 16.998

Began near Red Hill (34.2500, -86.4500).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5284407. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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