Thunderstorm Wind — Coosa, Alabama

2020-04-19 · near Lake Mitchell, Coosa, Alabama

Event narrative

A bow echo producing widespread wind damage crossed into western Coosa County from Chilton County. Significant straight-line winds tracked across the entire county and into Tallapoosa County. Damage consisted of numerous uprooted and snapped trees along with large hail.

Wider weather episode

A low-amplitude trough affected the Gulf Coast region April 19th with Central Alabama impacts consisting of two significant straight-line wind events (resulting in injuries), with other storms producing large hail and flash flooding. This activity was mainly focused south of Interstate 20.

During the morning of the 19th, a warm front was located along the immediate Gulf Coast, placing all of Central Alabama in an environment consisting of a stable low-level air mass; however, there was plenty of wind shear & instability aloft to support the development of elevated thunderstorms (some severe) associated with a lead impulse. After a midday break, a second round occurred late afternoon through the evening hours as the warm front struggled to move northward.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.9262, -86.5136)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 889730. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.