Weather services confirms Verbena tornado

Published 11:29 am Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Birmingham National Weather Service has confirmed a weak tornado touchdown April 27 near Verbena.

Preliminary data show the tornado had winds approximately 80 miles per hour, giving it an EF-0 ranking on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The scale ranks tornado strength based on the damage they cause.

An EF-0 tornado usually has winds between 65-85 miles per hour and causes little to no damage.

Verbena’s tornado touched down at the intersection of U.S. 31 and County Road 24 near Chestnut Creek Cemetery and continued on the ground 1.9 miles toward County Road 59.

As the tornado crossed the intersection of County Roads 59 and 24, it damaged a home’s metal carport, tore part of the roof off a singlewide trailer and uprooted several trees.

The storm quickly dissipated east of County Road 59. No one was injured by the twister, which at its widest point was 50 yards across.

The tornado was part of a historic statewide outbreak that has killed at least 230 across the state.