Thunderstorm Wind — Lee, Alabama

1996-03-06 · near Opelika, Lee, Alabama

Direct deaths

$50K

Property damage

Magnitude

Wider weather episode

What was believed to be a downburst produced a damage path about two miles long through the Smiths community (also known as Smith Station) in southeast Lee County. The damage path extended from about 2 miles west of Smiths into the central section of Smiths. On the western end of the path very close to where it began a mobile home was destroyed and a 52-year-old woman was killed. Another mobile home was destroyed in Smiths along with plate glas window at a retail shop. Shingles were taken off a church roof and several trees were downed, at least one falling on a building.Another short path of damaged was also noted in a treed area about 8 miles northwest of Smiths on the west side of US Highway 280.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.4500, -85.1300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5546533. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.