A large bow echo or derecho, a long-lived and widespread convective wind storm, swept across much of the northern two thirds of Alabama.  The wind storm moved into western Alabama around 141 PM and exited the eastern counties around 438 PM.  Wind gusts were estimated between 60 and 105 miles an hour during the event and these gusts produced extensive wind damage throughout the entire area, similar to F0 and F1 tornado damage.  The American Red Cross estimated that at least 2500 homes were damaged and some destroyed.  Major electrical transmission lines were down in Tuscaloosa and Fayette Counties.  Alabama Power estimated that at least 400,000 homes and businesses were initially without power, which is one third of their total customers.  According to Alabama Power, this event ranked as the third highest ever for power outages in the state of Alabama.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHILTON, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 16:00:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:20:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Chilton County reported numerous trees blown down in the Pleasant Grove area.  The remainder of the county only had a few trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in FAYETTE, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:08:00 to 16-FEB-01 14:30:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 75 E
Property damage: 250K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Fayette County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down throughout the county.  A number of the trees fell onto automobiles and homes causing major damage.  A doctors office had its roof torn off in Fayette, and one mobile home was overturned.  No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in TALLAPOOSA, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 17:10:00 to 16-FEB-01 17:30:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 3K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tallapoosa County reported several trees down.  The most damage occurred across the southern half of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in TALLADEGA, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:43:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:10:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 6K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Talladega County reported numerous trees and power lines knocked down.  A few homes received minor roof damage.  The most concentrated damage occurred in the northern part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:40:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:25:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 75 E
Property damage: 400K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Jefferson County reported numerous trees and power lines down.  One woman was killed in Ensley when a large tree smashed her car.  One person was injured when a tree fell onto an automobile traveling down  Mountain Brook Parkway.  One person was injured when an 18-wheel truck was blown over on Interstate 65.  Two people sustained minor injuries when a tree fell on a doctor's office building.  Wind gust of 68 mph were reported at the Birmingham International Airport.  Wind gusts of 99 mph were measured at the grandstand level of Legion Field.  Wind gusts of 80 mph or more occurred on Red Mountain.  Area officials estimated that a very large percentage of county roads were temporarily closed due to downed trees.  Many more trees fell on automobiles, homes,  and businesses causing major damage.  Legion Field sustained damage to the large video screen used for replays at the professional football games.  Two private aircraft at the Birmingham International Airport were damaged.  The roof was torn off a portion of Riley Elementary School in southwest Birmingham.  The storms also sheared roofs off buildings and broke several windows.  Hail up to the size of golf balls was also reported with these storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHEROKEE, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:58:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:25:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Cherokee County reported numerous trees blown down.  Several roads were closed after being blocked by downed trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORGAN, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:10:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:40:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 6K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Morgan County reported several trees down throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in BLOUNT, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:10:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:36:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 70 E
Property damage: 60K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Blount County reported numerous trees and power lines knocked down.  Many of the downed trees blocked roadways causing temporary closure.  Several homes and businesses sustained roof damage.  A few barns were totally destroyed.  A few chicken houses were damaged and a few more were completely destroyed.  One mobile home was destroyed and one had its roof torn off.  Lightning strikes across the county caused several structure fires.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 16:15:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:35:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Clay County reported shingle damage on one home and a roof torn off a barn in Lineville.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. CLAIR, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:17:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:40:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 15K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

St. Clair County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down.  A school bus in the Shadydale Community, carrying children home from school, was hit and damaged by a falling tree.  None of the children or the bus driver were injured.  Several homes sustained varying degrees of roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in GREENE, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:05:00 to 16-FEB-01 14:40:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Greene County reported only a few trees blown down.  In Hebron, a daycare center had part of its roof removed.  No injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in DEKALB, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:55:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:25:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Dekalb County reported several trees down.  A few homes and businesses received roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in ETOWAH, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:32:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:00:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 20K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Etowah County reported numerous trees and power lines knocked down.  Many of the downed trees blocked roadways causing temporary road closures.  Wind gusts of 68 mph were measured at the Emergency Management Office in Gadsden.  One person suffered minor injuries when a tree fell on the side of their traveling vehicle.

Thunderstorm Wind in SUMTER, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:00:00 to 16-FEB-01 14:40:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Sumter County reported only a few trees knocked down countywide.

Thunderstorm Wind in WINSTON, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:45:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:05:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Winston County reported numerous trees blown down.  The most concentrated damage occurred from Lynn to Arley.  Dime size hail was also reported with these storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:40:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:10:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Calhoun County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down.  Several roads were blocked a subsequently closed.  A few buildings had significant roof damage in the Anniston area.  Wind gusts of 60 mph were recorded at the Anniston/Oxford Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind in MARSHALL, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:40:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:00:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 5K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Marshall County reported several trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in LAMAR, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 13:41:00 to 16-FEB-01 14:07:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 65 E
Property damage: 300K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Lamar County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down.  Numerous homes were damaged and at least 5 homes were totally destroyed.  The most concentrated damage occurred in the southern part of the county southwest of Vernon.  Small hail also fell with these storms.  There were no reports of any injuries.

Thunderstorm Wind in PICKENS, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 13:41:00 to 16-FEB-01 14:10:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 75 E
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Pickens County reported numerous trees and power lines knocked down.  Numerous homes reported roof damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in BIBB, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:50:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:40:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 65 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Bibb County reported numerous trees blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:10:00 to 16-FEB-01 14:55:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 65 E
Property damage: 250K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tuscaloosa County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down countywide.  Many of the fallen trees caused roads to be closed temporarily.  Numerous homes were damaged.  Wind gusts of 80 mph were measured in Northport and the Tuscaloosa Airport had 60 mph winds.  Numerous funnel cloud reports were received throughout the county.  One man was injured when a tree fell on his automobile on Highway 43.  One 18-wheel truck was overturned on a bridge over the Black Warrior River.  Several businesses reported broken windows.  One firefighter was injured in Northport when a tree fell on him.  This event occurred as the firefighter was cleaning up debris.  Quarter size hail was also reported with these storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALKER, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 14:25:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:10:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 55K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Walker County reported numerous trees and power lines down.  Numerous homes and automobiles were damaged from the falling trees.  A few homes had their roofs torn off and a few barns were totally destroyed.  No injury reports were received.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLEBURNE, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 16:05:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:32:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Cleburne County reported numerous trees and power lines knocked down and snapped off.  Several homes and businesses received varying degrees of roof damage.  Many roads were closed because of downed trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in RANDOLPH, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 16:32:00 to 16-FEB-01 16:50:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 50 E
Property damage: 3K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Randolph County reported several trees and power lines blown down throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in CULLMAN, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:00:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:30:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 60 E
Property damage: 60K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Cullman County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down.  The Cold Springs School was damaged by falling trees and power lines.  Several trees fell on vehicles and homes causing damage.  One mobile home was destroyed on CR 52.  A funnel cloud was sighted on Golf Course Road.  Small hail also accompanied these storms.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ALABAMA
From 16-FEB-01 15:05:00 to 16-FEB-01 15:50:00 (CST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Magnitude: 55 E
Property damage: 3K
Crop damage: 0K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Shelby County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down.  The most concentrated damage was in the northern part of the county.