News - National
Weather service: Ala. tornado packed 200 mph winds
Posted: May 1, 2011 12:13 PM by AP posted By James H Egbert
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Officials at the National Weather Service say the tornado that killed at least 25 people in the Alabama town of Hackleburg was packing winds stronger than 200 mph.
The weather service report says the tornado was given an EF5 rating, the highest possible. The report says the tornado was on the ground for more than 20 minutes, tearing a 25-mile-long path across Marion County. It was three-quarters of a mile wide.
Weather service surveyors said the twister tossed cars as far as 200 yards and completely demolished a sturdy brick home.
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