2012 Center Point–Clay tornado

2012 Center Point–Clay tornado

EF3 damage to a house in Center Point, Alabama, where a fatality occurred
Meteorological history
Formed	January 23, 2012, 3:58 a.m. EST (UTC−05:00)
Dissipated	January 23, 2012, 4:20 a.m. EST (UTC−05:00)
Duration	22 minutes
EF3 tornado
on the Enhanced Fujita scale
Highest winds	152 mph (245 km/h)[1][a]
Overall effects
Fatalities	1[1][2]
Injuries	75[1][2]
Damage	$30 million (2012 USD)[3]
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2012

During the early morning hours on January 23, 2012, a large and intense tornado, commonly known as the Center Point Tornado, struck the northeastern part of the Birmingham, Alabama metropolitan area, particularly the cities of Center Point and Clay.^[1][2][4] The National Weather Service rated the most intense damage caused by the tornado EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. During the tornado's 22-minute lifespan, it reached EF3 intensity three times, damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures, killed one person, and injured at least 75 others. In Center Point, the tornado damaged and destroyed buildings of the Center Point Elementary School, causing millions in damage. Residential insurance losses from Center Point and Clay were estimated at being up to $30 million.

Meteorological synopsis

An upper-level low pressure system developed across the Central United States and tracked eastward.^[4] This low pressure created a cold front in Arkansas, which turned into a squall line west of Alabama. As the cold front entered Alabama, several individual supercells developed ahead of it.^[4] These supercells produced several tornadoes across Alabama, including the Center Point–Clay EF3 tornado.^[4] At 2:45 AM CST, minutes before the tornado touched down, the Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch across Central Alabama, which included a high risk/80% change for tornadoes and a moderate risk/50% chance for significant, EF2-EF5 intensity tornadoes.^[5]

Tornado summary

The tornado touched down 3.25 miles (5.23 km) northeast of Tarrant, first causing damage to roofs and walls in several homes and businesses.^[1] Shortly after touching down, the tornado quickly intensified EF2 intensity, as a warehouse sustained severe roof damage and some exterior wall collapse.^[1] As the tornado traveled northeast toward Center Point, several businesses sustained heavy damage or were destroyed. The tornado entered Center Point at EF2 intensity as it grew to its peak width of 880 yards (800 m).^[1] The most extreme damage in Center Point was to the Center Point Elementary School, which had portions of its roof completely ripped off.^[1] One building of the school was destroyed by the tornado.^[4] The National Centers for Environmental Information reported that the school buildings sustained $13 million (2012 USD) in structural damage and an additional $5 million (2012 USD) in damage for losses inside the buildings.^[4][2] The school buildings were later demolished due to the tornado's damage.^[6] Continuing northeast, the tornado damaged or destroyed numerous businesses along 24th Street and Center Point Parkway. The tornado weakened to EF1 intensity as it crossed Sweeney Valley Road, located to the east of Chalkville. Here, several homes sustained minor roof damage, with winds estimated to have been at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).^[1][4]

A home along Plymouth Rock Drive destroyed at mid-EF3 intensity

To the northeast of Chalkville, the tornado rapidly intensified to mid-EF3 intensity as it struck the George Brook Neighborhood. Here, dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed, with the worst damage being rated EF3 with winds estimated at 152 miles per hour (245 km/h).^[1] Entering the city of Clay, the tornado to a width of 600 yards (550 m), continuing at mid-EF3 intensity, as it crossed Old Springville Road and struck Harness Circle in the Northwoods neighborhood.^[1] Along Harness Circle, two homes were demolished at EF3 intensity and numerous other homes were damaged.^[1] In one of the destroyed homes, Christina Nicole Heichelbech, a 16-year-old girl was killed while in the process of trying to take cover.^[1][7] The National Weather Service rated both of the completely destroyed homes EF3 with winds estimated at 150 miles per hour (240 km/h).^[1][8][9] Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed a ridge, striking the Legacy neighborhood. Numerous homes in the neighborhood sustained moderate to minor damage. As the tornado crossed Plymouth Rock Drive, several homes were completely destroyed at EF3 intensity, with winds estimated to have been at 152 miles per hour (245 km/h).^[1] The tornado began to weaken as it crossed Interstate 59, where several homes sustained high-end EF1 damage and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted.^[1][2] The tornado lifted between Hidden Valley Drive and Country Living Circle, after having been on the ground for 22 minutes.^[1][10]

Officially, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado killed one person, injured 75 others, and damaged or destroyed 231 structures, along a path of 15.69 miles (25.25 km).^[1][2][3] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration did not list a damage total for this tornado's entire track, but the Alabama Forestry Commission estimated that the merchantable timber losses were at least $132,000 and damage to the Center Point Elementary School was at least $18 million (in 2012 USD).^[4][3] The Voss law firm estimated that residential insurance claims would be up to $30 million (2012 USD).^[11] A year after the tornado, the Clay City Council named January 23 as Christina Heichelbech Day to commemorate Heichelbech's life.^[12]

See also

• Weather of 2012

Notes

1. The National Weather Service, on the same webpage publication, states the highest wind speed from the tornado was 150 mph (240 km/h), but also notes that a structure was destroyed at winds estimated at 152 mph (245 km/h).^[1]

References

1. National Weather Service office in Birmingham, Alabama. "Center Point (Jefferson/St. Clair) EF-3 Tornado January 23rd, 2012". National Weather Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
2. Herndon, Rhonda, ed. (January 2012). Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena with Late Reports and Corrections (Report). Vol. 54. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Climatic Data Center, National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. p. 5. ISSN 0039-1972 – via United States Department of Commerce.
3. Grazulis, Thomas P. (2023). Significant Tornadoes 1974–2022. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: The Tornado Project. p. 487. ISBN 978-1-879362-01-7.
4. National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Event Database
   • National Centers for Environmental Information (April 2012). "Alabama Event Report: EF3 Tornado (Jefferson County)". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
   • National Centers for Environmental Information (April 2012). "Alabama Event Report: EF1 Tornado (St. Clair County)". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
5. Corfidi, Steven F. (23 January 2012). "Tornado Watch 11". SPC Severe Weather Event Review. Storm Prediction Center. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
6. Coman, Victoria L. (23 January 2012). "Updated: Storm damage too great; Center Point Elementary School will be bulldozed". AL.com. The Birmingham News. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
7. McCarty, Sarah A. (23 January 2013). "Clay remembers Christina Nicole Heichelbech today". Al.com. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
8. "Severe weather rakes Southeast; 2 dead in Alabama". CNN. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
9. Dyches, Chris (23 January 2012). "2 dead, 100 hurt as reported tornadoes hit the South". WBTV. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
10. Simpson, Jason (26 January 2021). "Tornado 'hot spots' are real". WHNT-TV. CBS. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023. An EF-3 began between Fultondale and Center Point in 2012.
11. "Clay, Alabama Tornado Could Reach $30 Million In Insurance Claims". Voss Law. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
12. Gallagher, John William (23 January 2013). "Clay declares Jan. 23 Christina Heichelbech Day". Trussville Tribune. Retrieved 29 October 2023. The Clay City Council on Tuesday voted to name Jan. 23 Christina Heichelbech Day in the city.