GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — National Weather Service officials confirmed Saturday that heavy damage reported through the Lake Guntersville area on Friday was due to a microburst.
The storm was responsible for downing a number of trees and causing visible structural damage to many homes in the area as it passed eastward. One home that was under construction near Snug Harbor Rd. suffered severe damage, as witnessed by a FOX54 News crew Friday afternoon.
An open boat house was seen partially submerged in the water after the storm; the NWS says this happened when winds destroyed the structure's 4x4 supports.
According to the NWS definition, a microburst is "a localized column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter."
Winds in microbursts can reach up to 100 mph or higher; Friday's microburst had peak winds of 95 mph, according to NWS data.
Marshall County EMA assisted the weather service with their damage assessment. The NWS says these findings are preliminary and could change as more evidence is examined.
