Weather Event #3-January 12-13 Severe Storms & Tornadoes

Reports on today's severe thunderstorm outbreak with tornadoes across Alabama, Georgia, North/South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida:

NWS Birmingham-Barbour County Alabama tornado
WKRG Ch. 5
WSFA Ch. 12
WJHG Ch. 7
USA Today

SPC Storm Reports

Tragically we have our first tornado death of 2006...only took until January 13th to happen. In 2005 there were tornado fatalities on consecutive days-January 12th and 13th. The first deadly tornado in 2004 wasn't until April 20th.

The deadliest tornado in 2005 hit Evansville, Indiana on November 6th, killing 22 people because it struck the worst possible place at the worst possible time-a trailer park, in the middle of the night, when people are asleep and don't get the warnings.

By comparison, the tornado that hit Stoughton on August 18, 2005 was of similar size (1/4-1/2 mile wide) and intensity (high F3) hit during daylight, was slow-moving, hit frame houses, and caused one death.

More info

Friday's storms evolved from a squall line that formed in eastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas and western Arkansas on the evening of Thursday, January 12. A supercell embedded in that line produced an F2 tornado in Pope and Yell Counties, Arkansas.

NWS Little Rock
SPC Storm Reports