EF2 tornado in Covington County, Alabama

A tornado touched down just to the northwest of County Road 70

and traveled approximately one and a quarter of a mile towards

the southeast. The tornado rapidly intensified after touchdown

and produced EF-2 damage. A stand of pine trees were snapped

near the bases with no tree left undamaged. The tornado then

widened and severely damaged a duplex, sweeping it from its

foundation with portions of the debris lofted across C.R. 70

approximately 75 yards away. The duplex did not have proper

anchoring to the slab. A nearby concrete block workshop was

also destroyed with the roof removed and 26 foot high concrete

block walls toppled. A storage unit to the south was also

completely destroyed. This damage was assessed as EF-2 tornado

intensity.

Across C.R. 70, another single family home was significantly

damaged. Large portions of the roof were removed along with

partial wall failure. Doors and windows were blown in at the

home. This damage was assessed as EF-1 intensity.

The tornado continued southeastward and heavily damaged

another stand of mixed softwood and hardwood trees, with many

of them snapped either near the base or one quarter of the

way up. This damage was assessed as EF-2 tornado intensity.

Immediately beyond the tree damage was a metal garage building

where the roof was partially removed and a complete wall was

ripped off.

The tornado traveled farther southeast through a wooded area

and came out into a pasture where it severely damaged and

destroyed 4 large chicken houses. The chicken house walls were

bolted into the foundation and were completely removed in

several locations. This tornado damage was assessed at EF-2

intensity.

The tornado began to weaken as it crossed Harmony Church Road

and dissipated just to the southeast where trees were snapped

and uprooted just prior to the end of the tornado track. EF-1

damage was assessed prior to tornado dissipation.

A powerful storm system swept across the southeast states through the day and into the evening on the 19th. Ahead of this system a warm front brought a very warm, moist and unstable air mass northward across the area. Numerous thunderstorms develop along and south of the warm front and became severe, producing wind damage tornadoes and large hail.