Tornadoes in Alabama, April 25, 2003

Name: Tornadoes in Alabama, April 25, 2003
Start: 2003-04-25T13:25
End: 2003-04-25T13:30
Location: Alabama

April 25, 2003 · NWS BMX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A tornado touched down near the Greene County Power Plant. The tornado moved across the power plant facility and crossed the Black Warrior into Hale County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $103,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.

A tornado touched down near the Greene County Power Plant. The tornado moved across the power plant facility and crossed the Black Warrior into Hale County. Numerous trees were blown down along the path with the most extensive damage occurring right along the river. One mobile home was destroyed by a falling tree. One church had shingle damage to its roof . No injuries occurred.Beg: 32 36.230/87 49.016 End: 32 36.373/87 44.662

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 25, 12:56 PM CST, 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 25, 12:56 PM CST, 29 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, AL
156 PM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

QUICK UPDATE TO THE ZONES FOR TORNADO WATCH 166...EFFECTIVE
UNTIL 6 PM.

.BHM...NONE.

JONES/90

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 25, 9:04 AM CST, 4 hours 21 minutes before

ALZ011>015-017>050-251800-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1004 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM.

.DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)...

A COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES WILL SPREAD
MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALABAMA THIS AFTERNOON.  BREAKS
IN THE CLOUDS TODAY WILL ALLOW THE SUNSHINE TO DESTABILIZE THE
ATMOSPHERE.  THE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON COULD BECOME SEVERE...
AND THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS PLACED A LARGE PORTION OF NORTH
ALABAMA UNDER A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH THE REST
OF THE STATE UNDER A SLIGHT RISK.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS...PERHAPS IN THE FORM A SQUALL LINE...WITH ISOLATED BRIEF
TORNADOES ALSO A POSSIBILITY.  THE PRIMARY THREAT TIME WILL BE
FROM EARLY AFTERNOON...UNTIL AS LATE AS 8 OR 9 PM FOR EASTERN
PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

THE COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH LATER TONIGHT...TAKING THE RAIN
EASTWARD WITH IT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL
WILL BE REQUIRED DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 10:23 AM CST, 3 hours 2 minutes before

ALZ018-026-251730-

THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1123 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ST. CLAIR AND ETOWAH
COUNTIES UNTIL 1230 PM CDT...

.WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS.

AT 1122 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM WALNUT GROVE TO 9 MILES WEST OF
ASHVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR WALNUT
GROVE...STEELE...RIDGEVILLE...ASHVILLE...ATTALLA...REECE CITY...
RAINBOW CITY AND GADSDEN THROUGH 1230 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG WINDS. WINDS 35 TO 45
MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. OUTDOOR OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN
FURNITURE...TRASH CANS....OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS COULD BE BLOWN
AROUND.

LAT...LON 3420 8585 3410 8629 3394 8633 3381 8647
          3378 8607 3403 8582

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 10:55 AM CST, 2 hours 30 minutes before

ALZ019-251800-

THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1155 AM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR CALHOUN COUNTY UNTIL 100 PM
CDT...

.WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORMS.

AT 1154 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF NEW LIBERTY TO 8
MILES WEST OF OHATCHEE...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR
OHATCHEE...NEW LIBERTY...JACKSONVILLE...WEAVER AND PIEDMONT THROUGH
100 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG WINDS. WINDS 35 TO 45
MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. OUTDOOR OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN
FURNITURE...TRASH CANS....OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS COULD BE BLOWN
AROUND.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS.

LAT...LON 3396 8586 3386 8600 3373 8610 3366 8564
          3387 8565 3394 8554

Special weather statement, Apr 25, 11:36 AM CST, 1 hour 49 minutes before

ALZ021-251815-

THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1236 PM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

.A THUNDERSTORM ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR CLEBURNE COUNTY UNTIL 115
PM CDT...

.WINDS 35 TO 45 MILES AN HOUR ARE POSSIBLE FROM AN APPROACHING
THUNDERSTORM.

AT 1235 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES NORTHWEST OF EDWARDSVILLE...MOVING EAST AT 30
MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS IN AND NEAR EDWARDSVILLE...PINEY
WOODS AND FRUITHURST THROUGH 115 PM CDT.

THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS IS STRONG WINDS. WINDS 35 TO 45
MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THESE STORMS. OUTDOOR OBJECTS SUCH AS LAWN
FURNITURE...TRASH CANS....OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS COULD BE BLOWN
AROUND.

FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LAT...LON 3389 8553 3371 8563 3362 8533 3396 8540

Local storm report, Apr 25, 11:39 AM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1239 PM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

1230 PM    DANCY                     AL   TORNADO
04/25/03   PICKENS                        PRELIMINARY REPORT. TWO
                                          HOUSES DAMAGED.  NO
                                          INJURIES REPORTED.
                                          REPORTED BY PICKENS
                                          COUNTY 911.

Local storm report, Apr 25, 12:55 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
155 PM CDT FRI APR 25 2003

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0110 PM    KNOXVILLE                 AL   0.75 IN HAIL
04/25/03   GREENE                         INTERSTATE 20/59 AT EXIT
                                          52.  REPORTED BY STORM
                                          SPOTTER.

0120 PM    EUTAW                     AL   0.50 IN HAIL
04/25/03   GREENE                         REPORTED BY GREENE COUNTY
                                          EMA.

0125 PM    EUTAW                     AL   0.75 IN HAIL
04/25/03   GREENE                         DOWNTOWN EUTAW.  REPORTED
                                          BY GREENE COUNTY EMA.

0125 PM    MOUNDVILLE                AL   0.75 IN HAIL
04/25/03   HALE                           MOUNDVILLE STATE PARK.
                                          REPORTED BY TUSCALOOSA
                                          COUNTY EMA.

0126 PM    EUTAW                     AL   0.75 IN HAIL
04/25/03   GREENE                         DIME SIZE AND PENNY SIZE
                                          HAIL.  REPORTED BY
                                          TUSCALOOSA COUNTY EMA.

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:26 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Greene

When: April 25, 1:25 PM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where: Greene County, 5 mi SE of Forkland
Rating: F0
Path length: 4.2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 32.600, -87.817

Tornado, Hale

When: April 25, 1:30 PM CST
Where: Hale County, 5 mi W of Cedarville
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 32.617, -87.750

What these are

Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Alabama, 2003 Warnings in Alabama, April 2003

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5354299, 5354300.