User:ChessEric/2021 Fultondale tornado

On the evening of January 25, 2021, a powerful EF3 tornado struck the town Fultondale, Alabama. The tornado killed one person and injured at least 30 others, as well as causing significant damage to homes and businesses. It was the first fatal tornado of the year as well as the second of two tornadoes to touch down on this day.

Meteorological Synopsis
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) originally did not expect anything more than a few showers and thunderstorms two days before the tornado, with just a "General Thunderstorm" risk being outlined for the area. By the day 2 outlook, a marginal risk was issued for areas north and west of Alabama, with only a TSTM risk in that area. Upon the 13z issuance of the day 1 convective outlook, the Marginal risk was expanded southward to include most of Alabama north of Highway 84 for the possibility of an isolated damaging wind gust or a tornado. By the 20z issuance of the day 1 convective outlook, however, a slight risk was issued for the northwestern areas of Alabama for the possibility of a few damaging wind gusts and/or tornadoes rather than one. This was expanded slightly south and east with the 01z issuance.

The environment within the area was favorable for the development of a few severe thunderstorms, with around 65 knots of shear at the first 6 kilometres of the atmosphere, and Convective available potential energy values of 1000-1500 J/kg, along with storm relative helicity values around 325 m2/s2, as shown by the sounding. Around 4:50 pm CST, the SPC highlighted the potential for a few severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds and a tornado or two for portions of Alabama into Mississippi and Tennessee, and giving a 60% chance of issuing a tornado watch. Around an hour later, the SPC issued a tornado watch for a large area of northern Alabama into Mississippi and Tennessee. The SPC mentioned the possibility for "a few tornadoes", and giving a 20% chance of a significant (EF2 or higher) tornado.

The severe storm that eventually produced the tornado was first noted in central Mississippi near I-55. The storm moved across Mississippi and Alabama. It occasionally exhibited signs of rotation, with tornado warnings occasionally being issued, but never enough to actually produce a tornado. The storm continued moving northeastward, and eventually made its way to Jefferson County, Alabama. There, the supercell started to again exhibit signs of rotation. The National Weather Service office in Birmingham stated that "A few small-scale factors, perhaps not present elsewhere, appear to have come together to allow this storm to produce such a tornado". These small-scale factors allowed the storm to undergo significant maturation. A rotational signature quickly organized, and a bounded weak echo region evident on radar. The storm continued on its path, at this time with a tornado. A debris signature was also present on radar as the storm did its damage. The storm then continued moving northeastward into Georgia, with the tornado already having lifted. There were additional occurrences of rotation, but there were no additional tornadoes.

Tornado event
The tornado first touched down south of Walker Chapel and began producing low-end EF0 damage to shingles to numerous homes along Chapel Hills Parkway. It then crossed I-65 at the Walker Chapel Road exit west of Fultondale and rapidly intensified to EF2 strength, snapping numerous power poles, heavily damaging a Hampton Inn and numerous restaurants. Mainly just trees were downed as it crossed US 31. It then entered a heavy residential area where it intensified to its maximum EF3 strength. Widespread significant damage to homes and vehicles occurred, including several homes that were destroyed with one being swept off its foundation. Numerous trees were torn down, with some debarking noted, and debris from homes was thrown considerable distances, including a hot tub that was thrown from one residence and remains missing. Further along, as the tornado began to weaken slightly to EF2 intensity, Hurst Towing's company building and truck yard were heavily damaged, and Fultondale High School sustained major high-end EF1 damage to the school building and its athletic facilities. The tornado then weakened substantially to EF0 strength as it continued northeast toward Center Point. It then damaged numerous homes by falling trees in the Rusk Mobile Home Park as it crossed over AL 79. The tornado briefly regained low-end EF1 strength before dissipating along SR 75 in Center Point, south of Pinson, after having downed trees and power lines near the Jefferson County Multi-Services Facility. At least 30 people were injured and one person was killed.