Possible tornado surprises north Alabama city
May 18, 2013, 2:08 AM
ATHENS, Ala. (AP) – A possible tornado has knocked down trees, flipped Dumpsters and damaged the roof of a nearby WalMart in a north Alabama city.
A forecaster at the National Weather Service in Huntsville said the suspected tornado started about a mile south-southeast of Athens and moved in a line toward southwest Ardmore. It struck at about 2 p.m. Friday.
Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said that he saw the backside of a wall cloud that had a tail. Police followed as it moved up Route 31 to Interstate 65.
He said a minor injury was reported as a woman rushed to find shelter. Signs at a strip mall and a Zaxby’s restaurant were also blown down.
A second tornado was reported in southeast Morgan County about 3:40 p.m., but no reports of damage have been made.
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