Tornado touches down in Huntsville, Alabama
- 8 February 2012: European cold spell kills hundreds
- 27 January 2012: Report indicates Texas state parks still suffering following worst drought on record
- 7 September 2011: Drought conditions and high winds lead to wildfires in Texas
- 29 August 2011: Freshwater lakes in Texas show signs of extreme drought
- 28 August 2011: Tropical Storm Irene passes over New York
Friday, January 22, 2010
A tornado struck Huntsville, Alabama on Thursday, causing widespread damage and injuring around six people. Packing winds estimated at 150 miles per hour, the twister ranked as EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The tornado occurred at 5:30 P.M., amidst a flurry of severe weather reports in northern Alabama and Tennessee, bringing down trees and power lines.
As many as 10,000 people were left without power, and debris was strewn throughout the hardest-hit areas. "I'm shocked. I lived in this neighborhood all my life. I have never seen this kind of damage," said Amanda Nelson, a resident of Huntsville.
David McCullough was at his home home when the tornado hit. He said, "I could not hear the train, but could hear my house shake. I also hear[sic] my neighbor's roof pounding against my house."
Although tornadoes in January are rare, they can strike at any time of the year. According to Governor Bob Riley, "The tornado that hit Huntsville last night is a reminder that severe weather can strike anywhere and at anytime."
[edit] Sources
- Associated Press. "Tornado strikes Huntsville, Ala." — USA Today, January 22, 2010
- Victoria Cumbow. "Meteorologists say tornado in January "rare," but "not impossible"" — The Huntsville Times, January 22, 2010
- Venton Blandin. "Tornado Hits Northeast Huntsville" — WHNT-TV, January 21, 2010
- Monica Rix. "Cleanup begins in historic Huntsville neighborhoods after EF-2 tornado" — WAFF-TV, January 22, 2010
