Tornado outbreak of December 16, 2000

Last updated
Tornado outbreak of December 2000
Tuscaloosa tornado damage.jpg
Damage to trees, homes, and trailers south of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
TypeTornado outbreak
DurationDecember 16, 2000
Tornadoes
confirmed
24
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Duration of
tornado outbreak2
13 hours
Fatalities12 fatalities, 186 injuries
DamageUS$ 35 million [1]
Areas affected Deep South, Southeastern United States
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale
2Time from first tornado to last tornado

On December 16, 2000, a destructive tornado outbreak hit the Southeastern United States, from Mississippi to North Carolina. The most significant tornado of the outbreak occurred in communities south and east of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The F4 tornado killed 11 people and injured more than 125 others; it was the strongest tornado to hit the state of Alabama in the month of December since 1950.

Contents


Confirmed tornadoes

Outbreak death toll
StateTotalCountyCounty
total
Alabama 12 Geneva 1
Tuscaloosa 11
Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5Total
0103911024

December 16 event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, December 16, 2000 [note 1]
F# LocationCountyStateTime (UTC)Path lengthMax widthSummary
F2 Geneva Geneva AL 16:34–16:404.5 mi (7.2 km)100 yd (91 m)1 death – 100 homes were damaged and five mobile homes were destroyed in and around Geneva. Many trees were downed, and 15 vehicles were damaged or destroyed as well. The fatality occurred when a woman was thrown 75 yards (69 m) from her destroyed mobile home. Nine people were injured.
F2W of Dothan to SW of Abbeville Houston, Dale, Henry AL 17:00–17:4529 mi (47 km)300 yd (270 m)In Houston County, five homes sustained minor roof damage, along with blown out windows and overturned lawn furniture. In Dale County, several homes in Doe Run subdivision in Pinckard were destroyed. Several other homes and businesses were damaged to varying degrees. A church annex in Midland City lost part of its roof and walls. After crossing into Henry County, the Murphy Feed & Seed warehouse, numerous peanut trailers, and two sheds were destroyed. A textile plant and numerous vehicles were heavily damaged as well. Numerous trees were downed along the path.
F2NE of Meridian Lauderdale MS 17:30–17:4512 mi (19 km)440 yd (400 m)Two homes, three businesses, and thirteen mobile homes were destroyed while 44 homes, 34 mobile homes, and one business were damaged. Thousands of trees were downed, and numerous power poles were downed. There were 17 injuries reported, including one critical.
F1NE of Courtland Lawrence, Limestone AL 18:25–18:315.1 mi (8.2 km)40 yd (37 m)Several outbuildings and boat houses were destroyed, while three homes were damaged. The tornado crossed Wheeler Lake and dissipated just after entering Limestone County.
F2NNW of Athens Limestone AL 18:38–18:444.8 mi (7.7 km)60 yd (55 m)Three mobile homes were destroyed, and several frame homes were heavily damaged.
F4SW of Tuscaloosa to SE of Cottondale Tuscaloosa AL 18:54–19:1218 mi (29 km)750 yd (690 m)11 deaths See section on this tornado – Seen live on WCFT-TV, tower camera. 144 people were injured.
F0NE of Freeport Walton FL 18:550.2 mi (0.32 km)50 yd (46 m)Several trees were downed.
F1NE of Ardmore Lincoln TN 19:08–19:101.5 mi (2.4 km)50 yd (46 m)An outbuilding was destroyed, a mobile home was heavily damaged (including loss of its roof), homes sustained minor roof damage, and the roof of a cinder block garage was turned about 90 degrees.
F2SE of Bonifay Holmes FL 19:24–19:303 mi (4.8 km)100 yd (91 m)Four mobile homes were destroyed, while eight businesses and 39 homes were damaged. Trees and power lines were downed as well.
F0SE of Marion Perry AL 19:29–19:310.7 mi (1.1 km)30 yd (27 m)Several trees were downed just north of Suttle.
F1S of Graceville to SW of Campbellton Jackson FL 19:50–20:005 mi (8.0 km)75 yd (69 m)Several mobile homes and carports were damaged, and numerous trees and power lines were downed.
F2S of Ashville St. Clair AL 20:20–20:318.5 mi (13.7 km)200 yd (180 m)Two mobile homes were destroyed, and four frame homes were damaged. A baseball park at Ashville High School was damaged as well. Two people were injured.
F3NE of Gadsden Etowah, Cherokee AL 20:46–21:0512.8 mi (20.6 km)500 yd (460 m)Major damage occurred in the Coats Bend area in Etowah County, where 250 homes were either damaged or destroyed and fourteen people were injured. In Cherokee County, a few structures were damaged. Numerous trees were downed along the path.
F0Southeast Bynum Calhoun AL 21:17–21:180.3 mi (0.48 km)20 yd (18 m)Brief, weak tornado with no damage.
F2W of Albany Dougherty GA 21:50–22:056 mi (9.7 km)75 yd (69 m)Abigail Plantation was heavily affected, with the main house and several surrounding structures being damaged and hundreds of trees being downed. Several homes were damaged, as well as storage buildings at a trailer park, and power poles were downed, causing over 300 outages in northwest Albany.
F0SW of Deatsville Autauga AL 22:55–22:560.2 mi (0.32 km)20 yd (18 m)Brief tornado with no damage.
F0S of Tallassee Macon AL 23:460.7 mi (1.1 km)50 yd (46 m)Three homes sustained minor roof and window damage, and two outbuildings and two satellite dishes were destroyed. Several trees were downed as well.
F0N of Roanoke Randolph AL 00:191 mi (1.6 km)40 yd (37 m)Numerous trees were downed.
F2ESE of Americus Sumter GA 02:30–02:4210 mi (16 km)100 yd (91 m)A wood-frame house was destroyed, with a second being damaged. Three barns and five outbuildings were destroyed, a large camper trailer was overturned, a high-tension power line tower was heavily damaged, and two cattle were killed. Several chicken houses were destroyed, with nearly 400 chickens being killed. Numerous trees and power lines were downed as well.
F0NW of Calhoun Falls Abbeville SC 03:100.1 mi (0.16 km)10 yd (9.1 m)A satellite dish was torn off a house by this brief tornado.
F0 Spring Lake Cumberland NC 05:000.1 mi (0.16 km)25 yd (23 m)A tornado was observed from Pope Air Force Base; no damage was reported.
F2S of Augusta Richmond GA 05:10–05:202 mi (3.2 km)60 yd (55 m)This tornado caused extensive damage to a subdivision, along with homes and mobile homes elsewhere along the track. Eight people were injured, one seriously.
F0SW of Lillington Harnett NC 05:100.1 mi (0.16 km)25 yd (23 m)Windows were blown out of buildings by a brief tornado.
F0N of Coats Harnett NC 05:150.1 mi (0.16 km)25 yd (23 m)Trees and large tree limbs were downed, a few of which smashed car windows.
Source: NCDC Storm Data
  1. All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama
F4 tornado
Tuscaloosa map.gif
The tornado's track
Max. rating1 F4 tornado
Fatalities11 fatalities; 144 injuries
Damage>$12 million (2000 USD)
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

The tornado touched down just before 12:54 p.m. CST (18:54 UTC) near the Black Warrior River in southern Tuscaloosa County and proceeded northeastward for 18 miles (29 km) across the communities of Englewood, Hinton Place, Hillcrest Meadows, Bear Creek, and Woodland Forest. A tornado emergency was issued for the area before it lifted near Cottondale east of Tuscaloosa near the concurrent Interstate 20/59. At its peak intensity, the tornado was about 750 yards (690 m) wide. The worst damage was located near the Bear Creek and Hillcrest Meadows areas where F4 damage occurred, and homes were completely leveled. Near I-59/20, several commercial buildings including hotels and restaurants were heavily damaged and a shopping center near Highway 69 was also hit and partially destroyed. Damage was estimated at over $12 million. More than 40 houses and 70 mobile homes were completely destroyed, with hundreds more seriously damaged. [2]

It was the deadliest tornado to hit the state since the Birmingham F5 tornado that killed 32 people across portions of northwestern Jefferson County on April 8, 1998. That tornado started just northeast of Tuscaloosa during the evening hours, demolishing numerous structures south and west of the Birmingham metro area. Since records have been kept in 1950, the Tuscaloosa tornado is the third deadliest tornado in December, tied with an F4 tornado near Murphysboro, Illinois on December 18, 1957, and behind the Vicksburg, Mississippi F5 tornado on December 5, 1953, which killed 38 people, and the 2021 Western Kentucky tornado, which killed 58 people.

The tornado was part of a supercell thunderstorm that developed across Mississippi before traveling across Alabama, dropping more tornadoes in St. Clair and Etowah counties. Additional tornadoes were confirmed northwest of Birmingham and Jasper.

Tower Cam footage

The tornado was also captured live on the ABC affiliate WBMA/WCFT/WJSU (channels 58, 33, and 40, generally called "ABC 33/40") in Birmingham during a special severe weather bulletin with meteorologists James Spann, Mark Prater, and John Oldshue. The tornado was caught by the station's tower cam located just outside downtown Tuscaloosa along Interstate 59/20 at Woodland Road on US 82. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gave Spann an Emmy Award for the event. The tornado was followed from Englewood to just near its passage south of downtown Tuscaloosa when the reception was lost due to a torrential downpour.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998</span>

The tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998 was a large tornado outbreak that started on April 6 across the Great Plains and ended on April 9 across the Carolinas and Georgia. A total of 62 tornadoes touched down from the Middle Atlantic States to the Midwestern United States and Texas. The outbreak is infamous for producing a deadly F5 that tore through the suburbs of Birmingham, killing 32 people. The Birmingham tornado was one of only two F5 tornadoes that year. The other hit in Lawrence County, Tennessee, on April 16, as part of the same outbreak as the Nashville F3 tornado. This tornado outbreak was responsible for 41 deaths: 7 in Georgia and 34 in Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2005</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2005. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, Argentina, Brazil and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2004</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2004. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2001</span>

This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2001. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather, including strong thunderstorms, strong winds, and hail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak of April 1977</span>

A violent severe weather outbreak struck the Southeast on April 4–5, 1977. A total of 21 tornadoes touched down with the strongest ones occurring in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. The strongest was a catastrophic F5 tornado that struck the Northern Birmingham, Alabama suburbs during the afternoon of Monday, April 4, 1977. In the end, the entire outbreak directly caused 24 deaths and over 200 injuries. The storm system also caused the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242, which killed 72 and injured 22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 Candlestick Park tornado outbreak</span> U.S. natural disaster

A destructive series of four tornadoes hit the Southeastern United States during March 3-4, 1966. The worst event was a violent and long-lived F5 tornado, dubbed the Candlestick Park tornado after the name of a recently-opened Jackson, Mississippi shopping center which was leveled by the storm. The storm would bring catastrophic damage in Mississippi and Alabama along a 202.5 mi (325.9 km) track. The outbreak killed 58, injured 521, and caused $75.552 million in damage.

The 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado was a deadly weather event that took place during the afternoon of April 15, 1956, across the Greater Birmingham area in Jefferson County, Alabama, with damage most severe in McDonald Chapel. Retroactively rated an F4 on the Fujita scale, which was not invented until 1971, the tornado killed 25 people and injured 200 others. While only two known tornadoes touched down across the Southeastern United States on that day, the Birmingham tornado produced major devastation across areas west and north of downtown Birmingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak sequence of May 7–15, 2008</span>

A long-lived tornado outbreak sequence affected the Southern Plains, the southeastern and Middle Atlantic region of the United States from May 7–15, 2008. The storm produced 147 confirmed tornadoes starting on May 7 and lasting until late on May 15. The outbreak sequence killed 28 people across several states; 25 were killed by tornadoes. The event occurred less than a week after a deadly tornado outbreak that principally affected the state of Arkansas and killed 7 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2000</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2000, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally, particularly in parts of neighboring southern Canada during the summer season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1989</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1989, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1997</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1997, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes, however by the 1990s tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers we see today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 2011</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2011. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, Brazil and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also appear regularly in neighboring southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer season, and somewhat regularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011</span>

From April 14–16, 2011, a tornado outbreak, among the largest recorded tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, produced 178 confirmed tornadoes across 16 states, resulting in severe destruction on all three days of the outbreak. A total of 38 people were killed from tornadoes and an additional five people were killed as a result of straight-line winds associated with the storm system. The outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes led to 43 deaths in the Southern United States. This was the largest number of fatalities in an outbreak in the United States since the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. However, this outbreak was soon surpassed no more than two weeks later by the 2011 Super Outbreak, which killed 324 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Super Outbreak</span> Largest, costliest tornado outbreak in United States history

The 2011 Super Outbreak was the largest, costliest, and one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks ever recorded, taking place in the Southern, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States from April 25 to 28, 2011, leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake. Over 175 tornadoes struck Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, which were the most severely damaged states. Other destructive tornadoes occurred in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, and Virginia, with storms also affecting other states in the Southern and Eastern United States. In total, 360 tornadoes were confirmed by NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) and Government of Canada's Environment Canada in 21 states from Texas to New York to southern Canada. Widespread and destructive tornadoes occurred on each day of the outbreak. April 27 was the most active day, with a record 216 tornadoes touching down that day from midnight to midnight CDT. Four of the tornadoes were rated EF5, which is the highest ranking on the Enhanced Fujita scale; typically these tornadoes are recorded no more than once a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado</span> 2011 tornado in Alabama, U.S.A.

A violent, high-end EF4 multiple-vortex tornado destroyed portions of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, as well as smaller communities and rural areas between the two cities, during the late afternoon and early evening of April 27, 2011. It is one of the costliest tornadoes on record. It was one of the 360 tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak in United States history. The tornado reached a maximum path width of 1.5 miles (2.4 km) during its track through Tuscaloosa, and once again when it crossed Interstate 65 north of Birmingham, and attained estimated winds of 190 mph (310 km/h) shortly after passing through the city. It then went on to impact parts of Birmingham at high-end EF4 intensity before dissipating. This was the third tornado to strike the city of Tuscaloosa in the past decade, and the second in two weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado</span> 2011 natural disaster in the United States

The 2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado was an extremely deadly, violent, and long-tracked EF5 wedge tornado that devastated several towns in rural northern Alabama, before tearing through the northern suburbs of Huntsville and causing damage in rural portions of southern Tennessee on the afternoon and early evening of April 27, 2011. It was the deadliest tornado of the 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak in United States history. The tornado reached a maximum width of 1.25 miles (2.01 km) and was estimated to have had peak winds of 210 mph (340 km/h). The tornado killed 72 people, making it the deadliest tornado in Alabama history, and injured at least 145 others. At the time, it was the deadliest tornado to strike the United States since the 1955 Udall, Kansas, tornado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1974</span>

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1974, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak sequence of December 1–6, 1953</span> Weather event affecting Southeastern United States

The first six days of December 1953 produced a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak sequence across the Southern United States. There were 19 confirmed tornadoes, including a violent F4 tornado that hit the northwest side of Alexandria, Louisiana and even more violent F5 tornado that hit Vicksburg, Mississippi. In all, the tornadoes killed 49 people, injured 404 others, and caused $45,709 million in damage. This was the last in a series of deadly and catastrophic outbreaks to strike the US in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado outbreak of March 21–23, 2022</span> Spring tornado outbreak in the Southern United States

A large tornado outbreak struck the Southern region of the United States on March 21–22, 2022, before transitioning to the Eastern United States on March 23. The outbreak started with numerous supercell thunderstorms and severe squall lines developing in central Texas and southern Oklahoma, prompting the issuance of numerous tornado warnings, including multiple PDS tornado warnings. An EF3 tornado caused considerable damage in Jacksboro, Texas while an EF2 tornado from the same storm caused a fatality in Sherwood Shores. Other strong tornadoes caused damage near College Station and in the Austin and Houston metropolitan areas. Severe and tornadic activity continued into the next day as the system moved eastward with numerous tornadoes reported in Mississippi and Alabama. On the evening of March 22, a supercell moved through the New Orleans metropolitan area, with an EF3 tornado producing severe damage in Arabi, resulting in one death and at least two injuries. Widespread flooding also accompanied the decaying squall line in Alabama. Tornadoes occurred on March 23 over the Eastern United States, associated with the same system, including EF2 tornadoes near Pickens, South Carolina, and Gladesboro, Virginia. In all, 85 tornadoes were confirmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornadoes of 1947</span> Tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1947

This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1947, primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.

References