EF1 tornado in Jackson County, Alabama

DEC 2 2016 Update...

NWS and UAH survey team determined that the Monte Sano EF-2 tornado

tracked into Western Jackson County and crossed over Putnam

Mountain. The team observed mainly EF-1 and EF-0 damage. Numerous

hardwood trees were either snapped or uprooted as the tornado

crossed the western slope of Putnam Mountain along with a homestead

sustaining minor roof damage and damage to a small shed. Near the ridge

top, significant tree damage was reported near a small camp ground. Several

camper trailer sustained damage from the downed trees. Additional

ridge top tree damage was observed slightly further to the WSW along CR-303

but was rated lower to slight beetle rot. The tornado continued downslope

where more hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted along with a camper trailer

that destroyed in the valley.

A tornado outbreak occurred during the evening hours of the 29th into the early morning hours of the 30th. A very mild and unstable air mass was in place along with a strong southwesterly upper level jet. These ingredients combined with a cold front and pre-frontal trough sweeping from west to east across the area sparked scattered supercell thunderstorms during the evening, a few of which were tornadic. This was followed by a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) that occurred with the trough, which also was responsible for severe weather. Beneficial rainfall occurred with this system with 2-5 inches reported. Some of the rainfall fell fast enough to produce brief flash flooding in the Florence area during the evening.