EF3 Tornado — Autauga, Alabama

2008-02-17 · near Prattville Arpt, Autauga, Alabama

Event narrative

The tornado touched down near the waste water treatment facility south southwest of the city of Prattville. It then tracked northeastward and crossed US Highway 82, US Highway 31, and Cobbs Ford Road. The southern and eastern parts of Prattville sustained significant damage. The highest winds likely occurred along Cobbs Ford Road/East Main Street near McQueen Smith Road and in the Silver Hills Subdivision. An estimated 200 residential homes and 40 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Hundreds of trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path. In addition, 50 injuries were reported, but there were no fatalities.

Wider weather episode

A broken squall line, sparked by an advancing cold front and strong upper level storm, caused severe thunderstorms and tornadoes across Central Alabama.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.3997, -86.4767)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 85070. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.