An advancing cold front moving through the state caused widespread wind damage and a few tornadoes across Central Alabama, especially in the eastern half of the state.

Thunderstorm Wind in ST. CLAIR, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 03:45:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRESCOTT
Magnitude: 91.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Wind gusts estimated up to 105 mph blew down and snapped numerous trees and power lines across the southern portion of Saint Clair County, from Camp Winnataska eastward to the county line near Pell City.  Five homes sustained roof and structural damage from downed trees in Margaret, 2 homes were damaged in Chula Vista, and at least a dozen homes were damaged in the Hunting Ridge area of Pell City.  Fifty to 100 trees were blown down or snapped off near the Wolf Creek Fire Department.

Thunderstorm Wind in SHELBY, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:00:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLUMBIANA
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Winds estimated at 70 mph blew the roof off a business in downtown Columbiana.

Thunderstorm Wind in TALLADEGA, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:20:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: LINCOLN
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Widespread wind damage was reported across the northern portion of Talladega County, from near Lincoln eastward to Munford, and as far south as the city of Talladega.  Damage consisted mostly of trees and power lines that were blown down, some of which fell onto structures. One mobile home had its roof peeled off in the Bemiston Community.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLAY, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:30:00 to 26-FEB-08 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LINEVILLE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees were blown down across the northern portion of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in CLEBURNE, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:35:00 to 26-FEB-08 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEFLIN
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 200.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the northern portion of the county.  At least 10 buildings had roof damage due to downed trees, and at least 3 buildings had roofs completely blown off.  Several mobile homes in a mobile home park suffered varying degrees of damage to underpinning, roofs, and structure.

Hail in JEFFERSON, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:00:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEEDS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in RANDOLPH, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:40:00 to 26-FEB-08 05:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: PINE TUCKEY
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the northern portion of the county.  Two permanent houses, 2 mobile homes, and 5 barns sustained varying degrees of damage from fallen trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:10:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ANB)ANNISTON CALHOU
Magnitude: 83.00 EG
Property damage: 260.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Wind damage was widespread from near the Anniston/Oxford Airport, eastward to Douglas Drive and Glover Drive, southeast of Oxford.  Most of the damage near the airport was in the form of snapped and uprooted trees and broken tree limbs. There were some blown down signs and some damage to billboards. Farther to the east, numerous oak trees were uprooted and numerous pine trees were snapped, with an estimated 50 to 100 trees damaged total. There was some roof damage to a few homes, a roof was blown off a barn, and a few fences were also blown down.

Tornado in SHELBY, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 03:50:00 to 26-FEB-08 03:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: SIMMSVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A narrow tornado path began just to the lee of Double Oak Mountain, and continued east-northeastward for about a half mile across the Highland Lakes subdivision.  Twenty to 30 trees were either uprooted or snapped. Several homes received damage from direct or indirect hits from falling trees. On one street directly in the path of the tornado, the mailboxes on both sides of the street were sucked open. At Pinecliff Circle and Highland Park Drive, at least 3 homes had roofing or siding stripped off.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALKER, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 03:10:00 to 26-FEB-08 03:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: CORDOVA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down in Cordova.

Thunderstorm Wind in JEFFERSON, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 03:30:00 to 26-FEB-08 03:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PARKWOOD
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across much of the southern portion of Jefferson County, especially around from the Hoover and Riverchase areas eastward to Leeds.  At least one tree fell on and badly damaged a house.

Tornado in JEFFERSON, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 03:42:00 to 26-FEB-08 03:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEEDS
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

After investigating a very complex pattern of widespread damage with both a ground survey team and an aerial survey, surveys teams concluded that a portion of the damage in the city of Leeds was caused by a tornado. The tornado touched down east of Interstate 20 near Henry Ellen Rd, where trees falling on a mobile home caused one fatality to an elderly woman. The tornado tracked east-southeastward, roughly between the railroad tracks and US-78 towards the city center. There was significant roof damage to several buildings along Highway 78 from Leeds City Park in the downtown area, windows were blown out of several businesses, buildings were partially de-roofed, and the brick facade of one building was collapsed. The old rock wool warehouse facility received major irreparable damage. The most concentrated and significant material damage occured near Leeds High School. Fencing around the girls softball field was mangled and twisted, and a large batting catch was overturned and rolled. Tall wooden utility poles with field lighting were snapped half way up. Several homes just to the east of the athletic fields received significant damage. Over the path of this tornado, an estimated 30 to 40 homes and 20 to 30 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Several hundred trees were either snapped off or were uprooted along the path. Aside from the one fatality, no other injuries were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in LOWNDES, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 06:35:00 to 26-FEB-08 06:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: FT DEPOSIT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees were blown down across the southern part of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in ELMORE, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 06:50:00 to 26-FEB-08 06:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several trees were blown down along CR-4 southeast of Wetumpka.

Thunderstorm Wind in MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 06:50:00 to 26-FEB-08 06:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SPRAGUE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down across southern portion of the county.

Thunderstorm Wind in PIKE, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 07:10:00 to 26-FEB-08 07:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ORION
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down across the northern portion of the county.

Hail in CALHOUN, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:30:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: OXFORD
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:10:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAKS
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Saks High School sustained significant roof damage due to thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 mph, with one of the school's offices destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind in ETOWAH, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:10:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: GALLANT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down across the county, especially from the Ball Play Community eastward to Gallant.

Thunderstorm Wind in AUTAUGA, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 06:50:00 to 26-FEB-08 06:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: PRATTVILLE ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several trees were blown down across the county, especially south of the city of Montgomery, from Sprague to the Pike Road Community.  At least one tree fell onto a house just east of Sprague.

Tornado in ST. CLAIR, ALABAMA
From 26-FEB-08 04:00:00 to 26-FEB-08 04:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: EASONVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Within a broad swath of wind damage, a tornado path was also found in Saint Clair County.  The tornado touched down near Easonville Road, about a mile west of US-231.  The tornado then traveled east, crossing US-231, before lifting at AL-34 near the Cropwell Community.  In the Hunting Ridge subdivision, a dozen homes sustained roof or structural damage, five outbuildings sustained structural damage, and several power lines were downed. On Holiday Estates Drive, six homes sustained roof or structural damage, and additional power lines were downed. At the Pell City sports complex, several signs, fences, and dugouts were damaged. Across this entire path several hundred trees were uprooted or snapped.