Four Injured In Wetumpka, AL Tornado
A tornado caused four injuries and major damage to downtown Wetumpka, Alabama on Friday afternoon. Wetumpka is a small town that sits just north of Montgomery.
#BREAKING: Confirmed tornado down in Alabama. @WeatherNation is LIVE on location right now. pic.twitter.com/u813ylTGqv
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) January 19, 2019
The tornado struck around 4:30 pm where the first report of an injury came out. Extensive damaged was reported on the west side of the city where the First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church were totally destroyed.
BUILDING COLLAPSES as tornado tore through Wetumpka, AL. Fire crews conducting search and rescue operations after the storm. We are LIVE on location. #ALwx pic.twitter.com/tMOxL8Jeix
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) January 19, 2019
According to WeatherNation’s Field Meteorologist Brett Adair who was on the scene moments after the twister struck, emergency crews were going door to door conducting search and rescue operations.
There were a total report of four injuries. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
The National Weather Service in Birmingham, AL sent two crews to conduct storm surveys Saturday morning. The results indicated the Wetumpka tornado was a strong EF-2 tornado with winds around 130 mph. It remained on the ground for nearly 18 miles.
Below is reaction from a witness moments after the tornado struck.
SURVIVING A TORNADO – Listen as one local describes what it was like to survive the tornado in Wetumpka, AL as he surveys the damage. #alwx pic.twitter.com/HqMw4GMEd6
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) January 19, 2019
Several tornadoes struck southeast Alabama on Friday afternoon. A tornado watch was in effect for much of the afternoon and a tornado warning was issued for Wetumpka at the time of the storm.
Here's a quick interactive map of areas that our two survey teams are investigating today. Counties included are Coosa, Dallas, Autauga, and Elmore. https://t.co/g5XXuq3JUU #alwx pic.twitter.com/Za4vkeTNqp
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 20, 2019
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Nick Merianos