EF1 Tornado — Pike, Alabama

2015-08-06 · near Troy, Pike, Alabama

Event narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage in Troy and have confirmed that the damage was the result of an EF-1 Tornado. The tornado touched down just south of the Pike Liberal Arts School behind the Troy Walmart. Damage to the Walmart extended from the rear of the building to the front, with a portion of the roof collapsed. The damage was confined to a very narrow path, with other HVAC systems a few yards either side of the main damage area largely intact. Significant damage was caused to the entrances of the store as well. As the tornado crossed the parking lot, it pushed an empty tractor-trailer approximately 100 yards into a second tractor trailer, damaging both. A third tractor trailer was overturned, causing major damage. The tornado then clipped the south end of a strip mall, collapsing the front glass walls and a portion of a masonry wall on the side of Hibbett Sporting Goods. Minor damage was caused to the canopy of the Murphy USA gas station across the parking lot. The tornado crossed U.S. Highway 231 and weakened rapidly, with only minor damage caused to a convenience store across the highway before dissipating. Peak wind estimated at 100 mph.

Wider weather episode

A short wave trough moved across north Alabama triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms along the I-20 corridor. As the thunderstorm activity pushed southward during the late afternoon and evening hours, it encountered a more unstable air mass and some of the storms become severe with a few tornadoes.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.7817, -85.9403)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 598365. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.