The National Weather Service in Birmingham says winds were up to 170 miles per hour as an EF-4 tornado tore through Lee County, Alabama.
Strongest Tornado in Nearly Two Years in Lee County, AL
Yesterday, the strongest tornado in nearly two years struck Lee County, Alabama.It was one of many tornadoes in an outbreak that will never be forgotten.
Posted by WeatherNation on Monday, March 4, 2019
The EF-4 and 170 mph winds are preliminary estimates by the National Weather Service in Birmingham.
For those asking questions about the deadly Lee County tornado, that survey is still ongoing. We will have more details once the survey is complete. #alwx
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) March 4, 2019
Meteorologists may be observing the damage for days.
Again, the deadly Lee County tornado has a preliminary EF-4 rating (170 mph), but there's still damage to assess.
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) March 4, 2019
The tornado was responsible for more than 20 deaths in Lee County. It was the deadliest tornado in central Alabama in about seven years.
Original Story: Deadly Tornadoes Unfold in the Southeast
Fortunately, the weather forecast through Friday, March 8 will feature generally quiet weather. However, the next day to watch for severe weather will be as early as Saturday, March 9 across parts of the South.
We will continue to update you on this developing story.
For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier