www.srh.weather.gov

Home

News

Organization

Remnants of Tropical Storm Allison Bring

Heavy Rain and Tornadoes to Local Area

The 2001 Hurricane Season has begun in force in the Gulf of Mexico. The season barely had barely been proclaimed on June 1, when Tropical Storm Allison formed in the western Gulf. While Allison was never strong enough reach hurricane force and weakened to below tropical storm strength early in its life, the low pressure center that remained after Allison menaced residents from Houston to New Orleans with catastrophic flooding. The storm remained parked over eastern Texas for several days, then moved eastward along the Gulf Coast, bringing welcome relief to residents of eastern Texas and southern Louisiana. However, this movement brought flooding and severe weather to Mobile and Pensacola and adjacent inland counties on Monday, June 11. The rainbands brought rains averaging around five to seven inches in some areas. Although the coastal counties of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle have been suffering from a moderate drought for the past few weeks, the heavy rains caused some localized flooding. In addition, the storm brought damaging winds to much of the area, including at least two small tornadoes. Most of the damage occurred in George County in Mississippi, and Mobile and Covington Counties in Alabama.

Satellite imagery from Monday, June 11, 2001, around 1215 C.D.T. The low pressure system that was Tropical Storm Allison is shown over southeastern Mississippi.

George County, Mississippi There were trees reported down in several locations throughout the county. Some of the worst damage was in the southeast part of the county where an F1 tornado first touched down near Red Edwards Lane and Howell Road and moved north. When the tornado first touched down, mostly tree damage was noted, with some roof damage to a couple of homes. As the tornado moved north, it crossed Griffin Lane and destroyed a newer model manufactured home. The mobile home tie downs were pulled out of ground and the home turned over and fell apart as it rolled. A female at home when the tornado struck was injured and suffered a broken collarbone. The home was totally destroyed. The tornado then crossed Appaloosa Road and caused major damage to a two story home. The family was upstairs, saw the tornado coming and took shelter downstairs. They were not injured, but part of their roof and part of the room they were previously in was torn off. The occupants said the tornado made very little noise as it approached. The tornado continued through the woods, crossing state Highway 612 just west of Walt Tanner Road. Here trees were blown down and a home suffered roof damage. The tornado then lifted back into the clouds near Sandy Hill Drive, where four manufactured homes were damaged and trees were blown down. The tornado path was about 75 yards wide and about 4 miles in length.

Reflectivity radar image showing rainbands moving across George County, Mississippi. The center of the low is clearly visible to the west.

Other damage occurred west and south of Lucedale with the most significant being along Inland Beach Road. Several homes suffered damage along this road with the roof blown off a two story home. Numerous other homes suffered roof damage from the high winds and from trees falling on the homes. Numerous trees and power lines were also blown down. Again trees were blown down at different locations throughout the county. Some of the downed trees damaged roofs and the high winds also caused roof and outbuilding damage. All of this damage appeared to be from high downburst winds. The time frame on most of the damage was from 6:50 to 7:15 am.

Mobile County, Alabama In Semmes, high winds blew down several trees with some landing on roofs of homes and automobiles. The high winds also caused some roof and outbuilding damage. Most of the damage was just off U.S. Highway 98 just west of Semmes. This damage appeared to be caused by high downburst winds. An F0 tornado first touched down in southwest Mobile County near Jeff Hamilton Road just east of Newman Road. The weak tornado moved across open fields and forest, moving across Newman Road near the Branson subdivision. The tornado then moved through the subdivision blowing down several trees. Some homes were damaged from the fallen trees while others suffered roof damage from the high winds. The tornado then moved north and crossed Airport Boulevard just west of Newman Road. More trees were blown down, with homes suffering damage from the fallen trees and roof damage from the high winds. The tornado then lifted back into the cloud. The tornado was 50 to 75 yards wide and was on the ground for about 2.5 miles. Other areas in the county also had some trees blown down and some roof damage to homes. Most of this damage occurred between 7:00 and 8:00 am.

Radar image showing rainband moving through Mobile County, Alabama. The stongest damage was reported in Semmes in northwest Mobile County.

Covington County, Alabama An F0 tornado first touched down on State Road 55 just south of Stanley. Six homes suffered some roof damage with two outbuildings damaged. A church also suffered minor damage. The tornado tracked northeast crossing County Road 32 and County Road 34 just east of New Shady Grove Church. Trees were blown down in both of these areas. The tornado then went back into the cloud just north of cr 34. The tornado was about 50 yards wide and on the ground for about 3.5 miles. A couple of other places in the county had some minor tree damage. Most of this damage occurred between 5:50 and 6:30 pm.

Radar image of Covington County, Alabama showing much more diffuse storm structure.