On Saturday, December 28th, at approximately 11:15 AM, the city of Athens, Alabama experienced the impact of an EF-1 tornado, which reached peak wind speeds of 100 miles per hour. The tornado carved a path measuring 3.87 miles in length and spanned a width of 160 yards. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities as a result of this weather event.
In the aftermath of the tornado, several areas, including Pryor Street near the Veterans Museum, The Square, and the Pecan Park parking lot, have been closed until further notice to facilitate cleanup efforts. Local first responders, alongside community members, have come together to assist in restoring the downtown area, which sustained damage from the storm.
Utility crews have been working tirelessly to restore power to affected areas. As of around 3:00 AM on Sunday, December 29th, approximately 2,500 residents were without electricity. During this challenging time, it is important to keep the businesses, homes, and the broader Athens community in your thoughts and prayers. For those who have been affected by the outages or who require assistance, officials recommend reaching out to Athens Utilities or the Limestone County Emergency Management Agency for support and updates.