Remembering April 8, 1998

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the night of the F5 tornado that ripped through Western Jefferson County. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was with my family that night. Dad was sick & I was helping Mom out.

I remember the storm in Tuscaloosa County & the damage reports coming in.

I remember as it crossed the Warrior River & Mom asking me “It’s heading for us isn’t it?” & me saying “Yes”.

I remember hearing reports of damage in Oak Grove & Sylvan Springs & as it scraped Pleasant Grove, hearing on the scanner the Fairfield Police saying, “it’s on the border of Wylam & Fairfield” & me thinking “that’s us”.

I remember going outside as it neared & hearing – nothing. Silence quieter than death. Almost like my ears were plugged, that silent. And, the unceasing lightning – like a florescent bulb going bad. Lightning all around me, but not a sound to be heard.

And, then the roar. A faint roar. Then louder, ever louder, like a thousand distant jets engines or a thousand rumbles of thunder off the mountainsides.

I had covered my Mom with a quilt. My Dad, a stroke victim, was in a hospital bed. I had already planned to cover him with my body as I waited for house to begin to crumble.

And, I remember thinking “this is it.” “Will I wake up under rubble?” “Will I wake up in a field?” “Will I wake up at all?” And, I waited. And, the roar grew.

And, then the roar began to dim.

The storm had missed me by exactly one mile.

The disaster scene looked as if a giant weedeater had gone through it. Pavement was peeled off the roads. Plumbing was pulled out of the ground. Siding, insulation, boards everywhere. A street sign, still on the pole, but, pressed flat by the wind. A brick church crushed like a wrecked car. Cars thrown into a ravine like tin cans. One survey described it as “a river” of smashed houses & cars.

Over 1000 homes were destroyed that night, and another 400+ had damage. 32 people were killed, most by flying debris & 221 were injured. The 30.6-mile path of the tornado ended in Pratt City. If it had stayed on the ground just two minutes more it would have reached North Birmingham, the most populated part of the city. So, as bad as it was, it could easily have been unimaginably worse.

ALERT was on duty & our local amateurs, as countless times before, did their job.

Someday, though we don’t wish it, another EF5 tornado will come to our area. And, ALERT will be there.

And because of your reports, time will be gained for warnings. And, lives and families will be saved.

And, that’s why we are here.

For more information about the Birmingham Ham Communities response that night see:

http://www.alert-alabama.org/april8.html

http://www.alert-alabama.org/heroes1.html

http://www.alert-alabama.org/heroes2.html

http://www.alert-alabama.org/heroes3.html

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Mark’s Almanac

The Romans called April “Aprilis”, probably from the word “aperire”, which means “to open”. This time of year being when buds open.

April is less wet than March & rain becomes more localized and less widespread in nature.

The sun heats the lower atmosphere near the ground and since the upper atmosphere is still cold, the warm air rises, reaches the dew point line, forms clouds & then it may rain. April is the first time in the Spring season that favors local convective activity, which is why you have “April Showers”.

April is peak tornado month, with widescale outbreaks possible. There are 2 ½ times the number of tornadoes as in March. 25% of the year’s tornadoes will have occurred by April 28.

Killing frosts are over, with the latest frost on record being April 21.

Snowfall is still possible, with the latest snowfall being April 3, 1987 & the latest flurries being on April 25, 1910.

Rapid vegetation growth continues. Pecan trees put forth their tassels & roses begin to bloom.

April’s Full Moon is “Pink Moon” in Native American folklore.

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This month’s meeting will be on April 8 at 7PM at the National Weather Service
Forecast office at the Shelby County Airport.

Hope to see you there!

Mark / WD4NYL
President
ALERT

www.freewebs.com/weatherlynx/