View source for Tornado outbreak of December 16, 2000

{{Short description|Tornado outbreak in the Southeastern United States}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox storm
 | name                 = Tornado outbreak of December 16, 2000
 | image                = Tuscaloosa tornado damage.jpg
 | alt                  = 
 | caption              = Damage to trees, homes, and trailers south of [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]. 
 | type                 = Tornado outbreak
 | active               = December 16, 2000 
 | lowest pressure      = 
 | lowest temperature   = 
 | tornadoes            = 24
 | fujitascale          = F4
 | tornado duration     = 13 hours
 | highest winds        = 
 | hail                 = 
 | gusts                = 
 | maximum snow         = 
 | power outages        = 
 | casualties           = 12 fatalities, 186 injuries
 | damages              = US$ 35 million<ref>[http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms NCDC Storm Events Database] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060417224134/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms |date=April 17, 2006 }} Accessed May 7, 2008.</ref>
 | affected             = [[Deep South]], [[Southeastern United States]]
 | current advisories   = 
 | enhanced             = no
 | notes                = 
}}
On December 16, 2000, a destructive tornado outbreak hit the [[Southeastern United States]], from [[Mississippi]] to [[North Carolina]]. The most significant tornado of the outbreak occurred in communities south and east of [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]. The F4 tornado killed 11 people and injured more than 125 others; it was the strongest tornado to hit the state of Alabama in the month of December since 1950.

==Confirmed tornadoes==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;float:right;"
|+'''Outbreak death toll'''
|- 
!'''State'''
!'''Total'''
!'''County''' 
!'''County<br />total'''
|-
|rowspan=2 |[[Alabama]]
|rowspan=2 |'''12'''
|[[Geneva County, Alabama|Geneva]]
|1
|-
|[[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]
|11
|-
|}

{{Tornado chart|Total=24|F0=10|F1=3|F2=9|F3=1|F4=1|F5=0}}

===December 16 event===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Saturday, December 16, 2000{{efn|All dates are based on the local [[time zone]] where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in [[Coordinated Universal Time]] for consistency.|group=note|name=Date/Time}}
! scope="col"  style="width:2%; text-align:center;"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col"  style="width:7%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col"  style="width:5%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"|County
! scope="col"  style="width:3%; text-align:center;"|State
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Path length
! scope="col"  style="width:6%; text-align:center;"|Max width
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:48%; text-align:center;"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|[[Geneva, Alabama|Geneva]]
|[[Geneva County, Alabama|Geneva]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|16:34–16:40
|{{convert|4.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|'''1 death''' – 100 homes were damaged and five mobile homes were destroyed in and around Geneva. Many trees were downed, and 15 vehicles were damaged or destroyed as well. The fatality occurred when a woman was thrown {{convert|75|yd|m}} from her destroyed mobile home. Nine people were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|W of [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]] to SW of [[Abbeville, Alabama|Abbeville]]
|[[Houston County, Alabama|Houston]], [[Dale County, Alabama|Dale]], [[Henry County, Alabama|Henry]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|17:00–17:45
|{{convert|29|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|300|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|In Houston County, five homes sustained minor roof damage, along with blown out windows and overturned lawn furniture. In Dale County, several homes in Doe Run subdivision in [[Pinckard, Alabama|Pinckard]] were destroyed. Several other homes and businesses were damaged to varying degrees. A church annex in [[Midland City, Alabama|Midland City]] lost part of its roof and walls. After crossing into Henry County, the Murphy Feed & Seed warehouse, numerous peanut trailers, and two sheds were destroyed. A textile plant and numerous vehicles were heavily damaged as well. Numerous trees were downed along the path.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|NE of [[Meridian, Mississippi|Meridian]]
|[[Lauderdale County, Mississippi|Lauderdale]]
|[[Mississippi|MS]]
|17:30–17:45
|{{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|440|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Two homes, three businesses, and thirteen mobile homes were destroyed while 44 homes, 34 mobile homes, and one business were damaged. Thousands of trees were downed, and numerous power poles were downed. There were 17 injuries reported, including one critical.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat1}} | '''F1'''
|NE of [[Courtland, Alabama|Courtland]]
|[[Lawrence County, Alabama|Lawrence]], [[Limestone County, Alabama|Limestone]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|18:25–18:31
|{{convert|5.1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|40|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Several outbuildings and boat houses were destroyed, while three homes were damaged. The tornado crossed [[Wheeler Lake]] and dissipated just after entering Limestone County.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|NNW of [[Athens, Alabama|Athens]]
|[[Limestone County, Alabama|Limestone]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|18:38–18:44
|{{convert|4.8|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|60|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Three mobile homes were destroyed, and several frame homes were heavily damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat4}} | '''F4'''
|SW of [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]] to SE of [[Cottondale, Alabama|Cottondale]]
|[[Tuscaloosa County, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|18:54–19:12
|{{convert|18|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|750|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|'''11 deaths''' – ''[[#Tuscaloosa, Alabama|See section on this tornado]]'' – Seen live on [[WBMA-LP|WCFT-TV]], tower camera. 144 people were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|NE of [[Freeport, Florida|Freeport]]
|[[Walton County, Florida|Walton]]
|[[Florida|FL]]
|18:55
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Several trees were downed.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat1}} | '''F1'''
|NE of [[Ardmore, Tennessee|Ardmore]]
|[[Lincoln County, Tennessee|Lincoln]]
|[[Tennessee|TN]]
|19:08–19:10
|{{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|An outbuilding was destroyed, a mobile home was heavily damaged (including loss of its roof), homes sustained minor roof damage, and the roof of a cinder block garage was turned about 90 degrees.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|SE of [[Bonifay, Florida|Bonifay]]
|[[Holmes County, Florida|Holmes]]
|[[Florida|FL]]
|19:24–19:30
|{{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Four mobile homes were destroyed, while eight businesses and 39 homes were damaged. Trees and power lines were downed as well.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|SE of [[Marion, Alabama|Marion]]
|[[Perry County, Alabama|Perry]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|19:29–19:31
|{{convert|0.7|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|30|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Several trees were downed just north of [[Suttle, Alabama|Suttle]].
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat1}} | '''F1'''
|S of [[Graceville, Florida|Graceville]] to SW of [[Campbellton, Florida|Campbellton]]
|[[Jackson County, Florida|Jackson]]
|[[Florida|FL]]
|19:50–20:00
|{{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|75|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Several mobile homes and carports were damaged, and numerous trees and power lines were downed.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|S of [[Ashville, Alabama|Ashville]]
|[[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|20:20–20:31
|{{convert|8.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Two mobile homes were destroyed, and four frame homes were damaged. A baseball park at [[St. Clair County School District|Ashville High School]] was damaged as well. Two people were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat3}} | '''F3'''
|NE of [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]]
|[[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah]], [[Cherokee County, Alabama|Cherokee]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|20:46–21:05
|{{convert|12.8|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|500|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Major damage occurred in the [[Coats Bend, Alabama|Coats Bend]] area in Etowah County, where 250 homes were either damaged or destroyed and fourteen people were injured. In Cherokee County, a few structures were damaged. Numerous trees were downed along the path.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|Southeast [[Bynum, Alabama|Bynum]]
|[[Calhoun County, Alabama|Calhoun]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|21:17–21:18
|{{convert|0.3|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|20|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Brief, weak tornado with no damage.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}}| '''F2'''
|W of [[Albany, Georgia|Albany]]
|[[Dougherty County, Georgia|Dougherty]]
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
|21:50–22:05
|{{convert|6|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|75|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Abigail Plantation was heavily affected, with the main house and several surrounding structures being damaged and hundreds of trees being downed. Several homes were damaged, as well as storage buildings at a trailer park, and power poles were downed, causing over 300 outages in northwest Albany.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|SW of [[Deatsville, Alabama|Deatsville]]
|[[Autauga County, Alabama|Autauga]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|22:55–22:56
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|20|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Brief tornado with no damage.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|S of [[Tallassee, Alabama|Tallassee]]
|[[Macon County, Alabama|Macon]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|23:46
|{{convert|0.7|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Three homes sustained minor roof and window damage, and two outbuildings and two satellite dishes were destroyed. Several trees were downed as well.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|N of [[Roanoke, Alabama|Roanoke]]
|[[Randolph County, Alabama|Randolph]]
|[[Alabama|AL]]
|00:19
|{{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|40|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Numerous trees were downed.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|ESE of [[Americus, Georgia|Americus]]
|[[Sumter County, Georgia|Sumter]]
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
|02:30–02:42
|{{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|A wood-frame house was destroyed, with a second being damaged. Three barns and five outbuildings were destroyed, a large camper trailer was overturned, a high-tension power line tower was heavily damaged, and two cattle were killed. Several chicken houses were destroyed, with nearly 400 chickens being killed. Numerous trees and power lines were downed as well.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|NW of [[Calhoun Falls, South Carolina|Calhoun Falls]]
|[[Abbeville County, South Carolina|Abbeville]]
|[[South Carolina|SC]]
|03:10
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|10|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|A satellite dish was torn off a house by this brief tornado.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|[[Spring Lake, North Carolina|Spring Lake]]
|[[Cumberland County, North Carolina|Cumberland]]
|[[North Carolina|NC]]
|05:00
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|25|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|A tornado was observed from [[Pope Field|Pope Air Force Base]]; no damage was reported.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|cat2}} | '''F2'''
|S of [[Augusta, Georgia|Augusta]]
|[[Richmond County, Georgia|Richmond]]
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
|05:10–05:20
|{{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|60|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|This tornado caused extensive damage to a subdivision, along with homes and mobile homes elsewhere along the track. Eight people were injured, one seriously.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|SW of [[Lillington, North Carolina|Lillington]]
|[[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]]
|[[North Carolina|NC]]
|05:10
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|25|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Windows were blown out of buildings by a brief tornado.
|-
|bgcolor=#{{Storm colour|storm}} | '''F0'''
|N of [[Coats, North Carolina|Coats]]
|[[Harnett County, North Carolina|Harnett]]
|[[North Carolina|NC]]
|05:15
|{{convert|0.1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|25|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|Trees and large tree limbs were downed, a few of which smashed car windows.
|-
|colspan="8"|<small>Source: [https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=%28C%29+Tornado&beginDate_mm=12&beginDate_dd=15&beginDate_yyyy=2000&endDate_mm=12&endDate_dd=17&endDate_yyyy=2000&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=-999%2CALL NCDC Storm Data]</small>
|}

{{reflist|group=note}}

===Tuscaloosa, Alabama===
{{distinguish|2011 Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado}}
{{Infobox storm
 | name                 = Tuscaloosa, Alabama
 | image                = Tuscaloosa map.gif
 | caption              = The tornado's track
 | fujitascale          = F4
 | casualties           = 11 fatalities; 144 injuries
 | damages              = >$12 million (2000 USD)
 | enhanced             = no
}}
This violent F4 tornado touched down just before 12:54&nbsp;p.m. CST (18:54 UTC) near the [[Black Warrior River]] in southern [[Tuscaloosa County]] and proceeded northeastward for {{convert|18|mi|km}} across the communities of Englewood, Hinton Place, Hillcrest Meadows, Bear Creek, and Woodland Forest. A [[tornado emergency]] was issued for the area before it lifted near Cottondale east of Tuscaloosa near the concurrent [[Interstate 20 in Alabama|Interstate 20]]/[[Interstate 59 in Alabama|59]]. At its peak intensity, the tornado was about {{convert|750|yd|m}} wide. The worst damage was located near the Bear Creek and Hillcrest Meadows areas where F4 damage occurred, and homes were completely leveled. Near I-59/20, several commercial buildings including hotels and restaurants were heavily damaged and a shopping center near Highway 69 was also hit and partially destroyed. Damage was estimated at over $12 million. More than 40 houses and 70 mobile homes were completely destroyed, with hundreds more seriously damaged.<ref>[http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~380013 NCDC: Event Details<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

It was the deadliest tornado to hit the state since the [[Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998#Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham F5 tornado]] that killed 32 people across portions of northwestern [[Jefferson County, Alabama|Jefferson County]] on April 8, 1998. That tornado started just northeast of Tuscaloosa during the evening hours, demolishing numerous structures south and west of the Birmingham metro area. Since records have been kept in 1950, the Tuscaloosa tornado is the third deadliest tornado in December, tied with an F4 tornado near [[Murphysboro, Illinois]] on [[Tornado outbreak sequence of December 18–20, 1957#Gorham–Sand Ridge–Murphysboro–Plumfield, Illinois|December 18, 1957]], and behind the [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]] F5 tornado on [[1953 Vicksburg tornado|December 5, 1953]], which killed 38 people, and the [[Western Kentucky]] EF4 tornado on [[2021 Western Kentucky tornado|December 10, 2021]], which killed 57 people.

The tornado was part of a [[supercell]] thunderstorm that developed across [[Mississippi]] before traveling across [[Alabama]], dropping more tornadoes in [[St. Clair County, Alabama|St. Clair]] and [[Etowah County, Alabama|Etowah]] counties. Additional tornadoes were confirmed northwest of [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] and [[Jasper, Alabama|Jasper]].

====Tower Cam footage====
The tornado was also captured live on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WBMA-LP|WBMA/WCFT/WJSU]] (channels 58, 33, and 40, generally called "ABC 33/40") in [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] during a special severe weather bulletin with [[meteorologist]]s [[James Spann]], [[Mark Prater]], and [[John Oldshue]]. The tornado was caught by the station's tower cam located just outside downtown Tuscaloosa along [[Interstate 59#Alabama|Interstate 59]]/[[Interstate 20 in Alabama|20]] at Woodland Road on [[U.S. Route 82 in Alabama|US 82]]. The [[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]] gave Spann an [[Emmy Award]] for the event. The tornado was followed from Englewood to just near its passage south of downtown Tuscaloosa when the reception was lost due to a torrential downpour.
{{clear}}

==See also==
* [[Weather of 2000]]
* [[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]
* [[List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes]]
** [[List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2000–2009)]]
* [[2011 Super Outbreak]]
** [[2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado]] – An EF4 tornado that struck Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, resulting in 64 fatalities.
* [[Tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011]] – An EF3 tornado took a very similar track to the 2000 tornado.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.weather.gov/bmx/event_12162000 Summary of December 16, 2000 tornado event including Tuscaloosa Tornado]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110120013144/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/2000/12/16 Map of tornadoes on December 16, 2000]}}
*[http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~385700 Storm Summary from NOAA]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Jyqy7qhsQ Live footage of tornado from ABC 33/40]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013134/http://www.maj.com/gallery/Sparkie92/Other/f4.png Still from the footage to use for picture here please]

{{Alabama tornado events}}
{{2000 tornado outbreaks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2000-12-16 Tuscaloosa tornado}}
[[Category:F4, EF4 and IF4 tornadoes]]
[[Category:Tornadoes of 2000]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Alabama]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Florida]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Mississippi]]
[[Category:2000 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:2000 in Alabama]]
[[Category:December 2000 in the United States|Tuscaloosa tornado]]