Pell City Tornado - November 24, 2001

Pell City Tornado

St. Clair County Emergency Management radio tower downed.

Another image of the fallen EMA tower.

A tornado rated an F2 began weakly on the west-southwest side of Pell City just behind the school at 3:10 PM CST. The tornado traveled on an east-northeast path downing a communication tower at the EMA/911 office and doing minor roof damage. The storm then crossed over downtown Pell City where a number of buildings sustained light to moderate roof damage along with awnings damaged and some

Click on image to view approximate track of tornado.

windows broken. The tornado crossed US 231 and became very weak, possibly lifting for a little more than a mile, before slamming into a number of buildings in an industrial park. Some of the greatest destruction was done here. The tornado crossed Interstate 20 and ended after damaging a couple of houses on Sprayberry Road at approximately 3:17 PM CST.

The tornado path was 4.5 miles long and approximately 100 yards wide at the widest. No deaths occurred in this tornado but there were two injuries, both classified as minor.

A tornado watch was issued at 9:12 AM CST valid from 9:30 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST that included St. Clair County, and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued at 2:43 PM CST valid until 3:30 PM CST.

Click on the images to see a larger view.

Damage to a building in the industrial park.

Another building damage in the industrial park.

House damaged with tree on car.