Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, December 22, 2011

Name: Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, December 22, 2011
Start: 2011-12-22T12:56
End: 2011-12-22T14:53
Location: Alabama

December 22, 2011 · NWS BMX · 14 events in 8 counties and zones

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: $248,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 14

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.

In response to a strong upper level shortwave, a surface low developed over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico and rode along a previously stalled front across northwest Central Alabama, Thursday, December 22, 2011. Much of Central Alabama resided in an unseasonably warm airmass, with dewpoints near 70 degrees and CAPE over 1000 J/kg. As the surface low passed over northwest Central Alabama and low level winds backed, helicity increased. Rotating supercells within several thunderstorm complexes produced six tornadoes and isolated wind damage.

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 Dec 22, 11:55 AM CST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 22, 11:55 AM CST, 1 hour 1 minute before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1155 AM CST THU DEC 22 2011

.UPDATE...MESOSCALE UPDATE.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

THE SURFACE LOW NEAR MERIDIAN MS IS CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN AS IT
SLOWLY MOVES UP THE WARM FRONT.  MEANWHILE...SAID WARM FRONT IS ALSO
STRUGGLING JUST A BIT AS RAIN COOLED AIR AND AND STRONGER EAST TO
NORTHEAST FLOW EXISTS ACROSS NORTHERN MS AND AL. THE STRENGTHENING
SURFACE LOW IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING AS THE SURFACE WINDS AND LOW
LEVEL FLOW IN GENERAL CONTINUE TO BACK WITH TIME...THEREBY
INCREASING 0 TO 1 KM BULK SHEAR AND LOW LEVEL HELICITY VALUES.  THIS
IS NOT ALL THAT SURPRISING GIVEN THE TYPICAL WINTER TIME KINEMATIC
FIELDS THAT USUALLY OCCUR.  HOWEVER...THIS EVENT MAY UNFOLD A BIT
DIFFERENTLY AS A SECONDARY WARM LIFTS FROM THE CENTRAL GULF COAST
WITH HIGH 60S TO NEARLY 70 DEWPOINTS.  THIS IS IMPRESSIVE GIVEN THE
LACK OF SURFACE HEATING DUE TO THE AMPLE CLOUD COVER...WITH ONLY
OCCASIONAL BREAKS.  THE SURFACE BASED CAPE VALUES HAVE SOARED TO
AROUND 1500 J/KG OR AT LEAST POCKETS OF NEARLY THAT...WITH
WIDESPREAD 1000 J/KG.  AGAIN...VERY IMPRESSIVE WITH MINIMAL SURFACE
WARMING...THE FACT THAT IT IS DYNAMICALLY DRIVEN.

THESE TRENDS ARE CONFINED TO MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20 AND ALONG
AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 65.  COULD MAKE FOR AN INTERESTING
AFTERNOON...AS IT KIND OF REMINDS US OF NOVEMBER 16.  SHEAR IS
OBVIOUSLY IN PLACE...SO THE INSTABILITY TRENDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
WATCHED CLOSELY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS...FROM AS FAR NORTH AS
INTERSTATE 59...SOUTH TO THE GULF COAST.  THERE IS AN IMPERFECT
BALANCE BETWEEN THE BEST SHEAR PROFILES FURTHER NORTH WHERE THE
BETTER JET STRUCTURE AND LOW LEVEL BACKING WILL OCCUR...AND THE
MODERATE INCREASES IN INSTABILITY CLOSER TO THE COAST.  THIS WILL
LIKELY PLACE THE BETTER BALANCE RIGHT OVER THE EAST CENTRAL HEART OF
CENTRAL ALABAMA.  STAY ALERT!

03/KLAWS

&&

.AVIATION...
18Z TAF DISCUSSION.

THE FRONT HAD MOVED AS FAR NORTH AS TUSCALOOSA TO FORT PAYNE. WITH
THE LOW NOW BEGINNING TO MOVE FURTHER NORTHWARD WE ARE SEE THE RAIN
AND FRONT BEGIN TO SLIDE BACK TO THE EAST AS WELL LIFT NORTHWARD. A
UPDATE TO THE CURRENT CONDITIONS ARE FORTHCOMING AND WILL FOLLOW
THIS UPDATE. AS OF 1730Z THE FRONT HAD MOVED BACK THROUGH TCL AND
THE WIND HAS SHIFTED TO THE NORTHWEST. THIS MOVEMENT WILL SLOWLY BE
EASTWARD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. FRONT NOW FRONT STALLED ACROSS
CENTRAL ALABAMA THIS MORNING EXPECTED TO ONLY DRIFT A LITTLE NORTH
TRYING TO TIME THE SLOW PROGRESSION OF THE FRONT IS A TOUCH ON THE
DIFFICULT SIDE...BUT THE PRECIPITATION TREND IS A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
SHRA WITH EMBEDDED TSRA WILL SPREAD INTO BHM AND EET OVER THE NEXT
HOUR AND IMPACT THE SOUTHERN TAFS THIS AFTERNOON. LOW PRESSURE
SHOULD DRAG THE FRONT EAST OF THE AREA BY EARLY TONIGHT BUT EXPECT
IFR TO MVFR CIGS TO CONTINUE OVERNIGHT IN ITS WAKE AND INTO THE
MORNING HOURS. WENT SLOWER THAN MODELS IN CLEARING THE CLOUDS OUT AS
IS TYPICALLY THE CASE.

16

&&

.BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: FAYETTE...LAMAR...MARION...PICKENS...WALKER...WINSTON.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 22, 12:00 PM CST, 56 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1200 PM CST THU DEC 22 2011

ALZ011>015-017>050-231800-
AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE-
CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE-
JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY-
PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA-
TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON-
1200 PM CST THU DEC 22 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS AN INCREASING CHANCE THAT SEVERE STORMS WILL CONTINUE
ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE STRONGEST STORMS
MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS...AND
POSSIBLY A TORNADO. AT THIS TIME...THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE
STORMS WILL BE AT LEAST THROUGH 6 PM...MAINLY SOUTH AND EAST OF A
LINE FROM NEAR TUSCALOOSA TO BIRMINGHAM TO CENTRE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAY BECOME
NECESSARY TODAY.

03/KLAWS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 22, 9:52 AM CST, 3 hours 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
952 AM CST THU DEC 22 2011

ALZ013-022-221615-
FAYETTE AL-PICKENS AL-
952 AM CST THU DEC 22 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN PICKENS AND FAYETTE
COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 AM CST...

AT 950 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ASHCRAFT CORNER...OR 6 MILES
NORTHEAST OF REFORM...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  FAYETTE...
  ASHCRAFT CORNER...
  BELK...
  GLEN ALLEN...
  RICHARD ARTHUR FIELD...

&&

LAT...LON 3353 8803 3353 8794 3368 8795 3392 8781
      3391 8764 3387 8763 3386 8754 3352 8778
      3352 8784 3343 8784 3335 8790 3343 8809
TIME...MOT...LOC 1552Z 209DEG 52KT 3348 8794

27

The radar

The Birmingham radar (KBMX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 tornado, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Bibb

When: December 22, 12:56 PM CST to 12:57 PM CST
Where: Bibb County, 1.1 mi SSE of Centreville Fox Arpt to 1.12 mi SSE of Centreville Fox Arpt
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.06 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.905, -87.123

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Bibb County and assessed damage that was consistent with a tornado. An EF-0 tornado with winds of 70 to 80 mph briefly touched down 2 miles south of Centreville. Several large pines were uprooted at this location. No other damage was noted in either direction, which indicates just a brief touchdown along County Road 219.

Tornado, Bibb

When: December 22, 1:25 PM CST to 1:28 PM CST
Where: Bibb County, 0.25 mi WSW of Lawley to 1.54 mi SSW of Randolph
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.62 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.869, -86.974

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Bibb County and assessed damage that was consistent with a tornado. An EF-0 tornado with winds of 70 to 80 mph briefly touched down between Lawley and Randolph in southeast Bibb County. Damage along the beginning of the path was only 50 yards wide. This was along Hwy 82, where only large limbs were broken. The tornado then lifted just east of County Road 36. Here, the damage was 150 yards wide with numerous trees uprooted and snapped.

Tornado, Dallas

When: December 22, 1:30 PM CST to 1:33 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, 1.78 mi ESE of Selma Selfield Arpt to 2.48 mi ESE of Manila
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.17 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.423, -86.921

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Dallas County and assessed damage that was consistent with a tornado. The tornado touched down approximately 6 miles east of Selma along County Road 306 where minor tree damage occurred, along with roof damage to two mobile homes. The tornado then traveled further to the northeast, to Garner and Harville Roads where several soft and hardwood trees were damage or snapped. There was also some structure damage, with one outbuilding destroyed and one mobile home that was shifted off its foundation blocks. The tornado lifted shortly after, near River Road, with evidence of some additional tree damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Autauga

When: December 22, 1:34 PM CST
Where: Autauga County, 0.61 mi NNW of Statesville
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 32.478, -86.853

A tree was reported down across Alabama Highway 14 near Starksville.

Tornado, Shelby

When: December 22, 1:42 PM CST to 1:45 PM CST
Where: Shelby County, 0.45 mi WNW of Columbiana to 1.76 mi NNE of Columbiana
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.83 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $45,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 33.183, -86.607

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Shelby County and assessed damage that was consistent with a tornado. An EF-0 tornado with winds of 70 to 80 mph briefly touched down in Columbiana along County Road 47 and moved northeast for 1.9 miles and lifted along County Road 25. Along its path, 2 homes were damaged due to falling trees, and another home suffered minor shingle damage. Approximately 50 trees were either snapped or uprooted.

Tornado, Autauga

When: December 22, 2:02 PM CST to 2:14 PM CST
Where: Autauga County, 3.44 mi S of New Prospect to 3.83 mi ENE of Wadsworth
Rating: EF0
Path length: 9.66 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Elmore, Al (BMX)
Property damage: $60,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.620, -86.548

A tornado initially touched down along County Road 57, just south of County Road 49. Here, a mobile home suffered significant roof damage and also damage to its decking material. The tornado continued to the northeast causing tree damage and then crossed Interstate 65 and Highway 31, where additional tree damage occurred. As it continued moving further northeast, it crossed County 68 and Highway 143 where several outdoor building suffered damage and trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado crossed the Elmore County line where it eventually lifted along Tram Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: December 22, 2:11 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, 1.87 mi NE of Selma
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 32.422, -87.001

A tree was reported down across a road near the junction of US Highway 80 and Alabama Highway 41.

Tornado, Elmore

When: December 22, 2:14 PM CST to 2:16 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 5.43 mi N of Deatsville to 5.15 mi WSW of Titus
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.52 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.698, -86.413

A tornado initially touched down along County Road 57, just south of County Road 49 in Autauga County. It moved to the northeast causing damage to a mobile home and tree damage. It crossed the Elmore County line and continued its northeastward progression. A few trees were snapped or uprooted and large branches were downed as well. The tornado eventually lifted along Tram Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Elmore

When: December 22, 2:16 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 2.7 mi SSW of Titus
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.687, -86.345

A tree was reported down along Tyler Road 2 miles southwest of Titus.

Thunderstorm Wind, Elmore

When: December 22, 2:23 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 3 mi N of Titus
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 32.763, -86.319

A tree was reported down along Law Road east of Welona.

Thunderstorm Wind, Talladega

When: December 22, 2:23 PM CST
Where: Talladega County, 1.19 mi SSE of Stockdale
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.404, -86.023

A tree was reported down on Woofolk Road in Waldo.

Tornado, Elmore

When: December 22, 2:24 PM CST to 2:25 PM CST
Where: Elmore County, 1.49 mi NW of Sykes Mill to 1.77 mi NNW of Sykes Mill
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.82 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Continued into: Coosa, Al (BMX)
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.744, -86.300

A tornado initially touched down along Grey Ferry Road in Elmore County. It moved northeast snapping approximately 50 trees along the path. It crossed into Coosa County and caused EF-1 rated damage and then crossed into Tallapoosa County, eventually lifting along Hix in Tallapoosa County.

Tornado, Coosa

When: December 22, 2:25 PM CST to 2:51 PM CST
Where: Coosa County, 3.58 mi ESE of Wetona to 1.32 mi ESE of Kellyton
Rating: EF1
Path length: 22.61 mi
Path width: 300 yd
Continued into: Tallapoosa, Al (BMX)
Property damage: $65,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.754, -86.292

A tornado initially touched down along Grey Ferry Road in Elmore County, where it caused tree damage. It then crossed into Coosa County, approximately one quarter of a mile east of County Road 31. The tornado continued on an northeastward path snapping and uprooting hundreds of trees. The most extensive damage occurred on County Road 89 near Highway 280, where a large metal building was destroyed. The tornado moved into Tallapoosa County and lifted along Hix Road.

Tornado, Tallapoosa

When: December 22, 2:51 PM CST to 2:53 PM CST
Where: Tallapoosa County, 2.79 mi NW of Alexander City to 3.06 mi NNW of Alexander City
Rating: EF0
Path length: 1.47 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.974, -86.008

A tornado initially touched down along Grey Ferry Road in Elmore County, where it caused tree damage. It moved northeastward and crossed into Coosa County, where extensive tree damage and structure damage occurred. Continuing on a northeastward path, the tornado crossed into Tallapoosa County just south of Sasser road. A few trees were snapped or uprooted along this section of the path. The tornado eventually lifted along Hix Road.

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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Alabama, 2011 Warnings in Alabama, December 2011

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: 355121, 355863, 355864, 355908, 355865, 355901, 355910, 355902, 355911, 355912, 355913, 355903, 355904, 355907.