|
|
Station Number: AL-JF-25
|
Station Name:
Fairfield 1.8 NE
|
| Observation Date |
6/23/2017
7:00 AM
|
| Submitted |
6/30/2017 10:03 AM
|
Gauge Catch
|
2.53 in. |
Notes
|
I took a direct hit from a F2 tornado at 12:32 PM. The trees and bushes started whipping around so badly that I thought they would be torn to shreds. This was the worst wind storm I have ever experienced. The power went out. After a minute or so it became very quiet, and I cautiously went outside. I ended up walking 6 - 8 blocks SW around the neighborhood, and the last block it started raining again. I saw 12 - 15 trees down, most of them large old oaks, some pulled out by the roots (soil is soft from rain), many blocking streets, 3 on houses, 1 on power lines. Lots of debris, leaves, branches, shingles, and insulation scattered about. A lot of people were out surveying damage and asking each other, "Are you OK?"
I got off easy. No trees down, no damage to the house that I can find, only dead branches and twigs down and flower pots knocked around.
According to TV announcements (I have a battery-powered TV), the path was Vance (near Tuscaloosa), McCalla, Valley Road in Fairfield (which I had driven an hour before to get groceries), Aronov Parkway/M.L. King intersection (the hardest hit and another place I shop), Belview Heights (my neighborhood), Forestdale, Gardendale, Moody, and Oxford. Typical SW to NE, although this followed a feeder band of a tropical storm, not a front. The TV also said winds were clocked at up to 120 mph. For a storm that didn't even qualify as a hurricane, Cindy certainly has packed a punch! Rain essentially all day with occasional lulls. Temp. at time of observation 70° F. Not raining for the moment.
This morning when I got out, I discovered that 1 block to the east there was absolutely no trace of the tornado, no damage or debris. Shades Creek/Mountain Brook is full, and Valley Creek is up. Crews worked all night clearing streets of trees and restoring power. My power came back on at approx. 6:30 AM.
Added later: The experts studied the damage and down-graded the tornado to F1. |
Snow Information
|
24-hr Snowfall 
|
NA |
24-hr Snowfall SWE
(Snow Water Equivalent)
|
NA |
24-hr Snowfall SLR
(Snow to Liquid Ratio) |
NA |
| Snowpack Depth |
NA |
Snowpack SWE
(Snow Water Equivalent)
|
NA |
|
Snowpack Density |
NA |
Duration Information
|
| Precipitation Began |
-- |
| Precipitation Ended |
-- |
| Heavy Precip Began |
-- |
| Heavy Precip Lasted |
--
|
| Duration Time Accuracy |
--
|
|
Additional Information |
| Flooding |
Minor |
| Additional Data Recorded |
No |
|
|