Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, December 25, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, December 25, 2012
Start: 2012-12-25T16:21
End: 2012-12-25T21:40
Location: Alabama

December 25, 2012 · NWS MOB · 15 events in 8 counties and zones

A powerful storm system moved out of the plains on|Christmas, producing numerous strong storms across southeast|Mississippi, southwest Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle|out ahead of a strong cold front and accompanying squall line. Multiple|tornadoes, some long track, were observed along the central gulf coast|region.

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: 1
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $1.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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 MOB wrote it up.

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 25, 3:49 PM CST, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 25, 3:49 PM CST, 32 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
349 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALL OF US AT YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOBILE HOPE YOU AND
YOUR FAMILIES HAVE A HAPPY SAFE CHRISTMAS.

...DANGEROUS SEVERE WEATHER EPISODE IS EVOLVING TONIGHT...INCLUDING
A RISK FOR STRONG TORNADOES AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS...ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL GULF COAST REGION...

.SHORT TERM MESOSCALE SITUATION AS OF MID AFTERNOON...HIGHEST RISK
OF LONG TRACK TORNADOES LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE MID EVENING
SHOWING CLOSE SYNCHRONIZATION WITH INSITU SURFACE DATA...SATELLITE
IMAGERY AND RADAR IMAGERY. TRACKS OF STORMS ARE GENERALLY RIGHT OF
THE MEAN FLOW INDICATING INGESTION OF HIGH HUMIDITY AIR IN LOW
LEVELS. VEERING OF LOW LEVEL WIND WITH HEIGHT IN THE INSITU AND
FORECAST HODOGRAPHS INDICATING ROTATION. EXPECTING SUPERCELL
DEVELOPMENT WITH DEEPENING ROTATION IN SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI BEFORE
SUNSET. MESOCYCLONES DEEPENING AND INTENSIFYING EARLY THIS EVENING.
TORNADO WATCH 695 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR EVERYTHING WEST OF I-65
PLUS BALDWIN COUNTY. TORNADO WATCH 696 IN EFF CT UNTIL 10 PM
ELSEWHERE. EXPECT MOST ACTIVE PERIOD FOR SEVERE WEATHER LATE THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING.

LARGER SCALE SYNOPTIC SITUATION FOR TONIGHT...WATER VAPOR IMAGERY IS
CONGRUENT WITH WITH LOWERING GEOPOTENTIAL HEIGHTS SHOWING A
NEGATIVELY TILTED TROUGH WHICH EFFECTIVELY TRANSPORTS HIGH WESTERLY
MOMENTUM AIR FROM HIGH LATITUDES FORMING A VIGOROUS JET STREAK. THIS
EFFECTS INCREASING SHEAR AS WELL AS HELICITY THROUGH THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE ESPECIALLY BELOW 850. THE RIGHT ENTRANCE/LEFT EXIT
REGIONS AT 500 MB AND THEIR RESULTANT VERTICAL CIRCULATIONS AND
AGEOSTROPHIC COMPONENTS TO THE WIND...ARE FORCING CONVECTION AND
FURTHER SUPPORTING FRONTOGENESIS. LOW LEVEL HELICITY WILL DOWNSTREAM
OF THIS FEATURE IS A REGION OF ELEVATED HIGH ALTITUDE DIVERGENCE
OVER THE CENTRAL GULF COAST/SOUTHEAST STATES. AT THE SURFACE THE
STALLED FRONT HAS BACKED UP NORTHWARD PAST CENTRAL ALABAMA PUTTING
THE REGION IN THE WARM SECTOR OF THE CYCLOGENESIS NOW IN PROGRESS.

0-1 KM STORM RELATIVE HELICITY INCREASING TO NEAR 300 M^2/S^2
INCREASING THE RISK OF DEEP AND LONG LIVED ROTATING UPDRAFTS...SOME
BEARING TORNADOES...IN SUPERCELL STORM. IN FACT...TORNADO PARAMETER
GUIDANCE IS ELEVATED OVER THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA. LARGE HAIL IS
ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS ENTIRE EVOLUTION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PASSAGE OF A
FAST MOVING ORGANIZED SQUALL LINE LATER THIS EVENING BRINGING A
HIGHER RISK OF LOCALIZED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS OVER 60 MPH BOWING
STRUCTURES OR LINE ECHO WAVE PATTERNS AS WELL AS RELATIVELY SHORTER
LIVED TORNADOES. THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COLD FRONT MOVING EAST
BETWEEN 6 PM AND MIDNIGHT. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT CAN
BE FOUND IN LOCAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AND SPECIAL WEATHER
STATEMENT PRODUCTS.

.LONG TERM [WEDNESDAY THROUGH NEW YEAR'S EVE]...NO CHANGES MADE TO
THE FORECAST EXCEPT APPLICATION OF MOS TWEAKS TO HIGH AND LOW
TEMPERATURES ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT. AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE
BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT BUT REBOUND TOWARD THE END OF
THE WEEK. MID-LEVEL HEIGHT FALLS BEGIN AGAIN AHEAD OF A POSITIVELY
TILTED TROUGH MOVING IN FROM THE WEST. AHEAD OF IT...RETURN FLOW FROM
THE GULF WILL ONCE AGAIN PRIME THE ATMOSPHERE FOR ADDITIONAL STORMS.
NOT EXPECTING AS STRONG AS TODAY...BUT IT WILL INCREASE RAIN CHANCES
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. BY SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY...EXPECT
TEMPERATURES TO DROP ONCE AGAIN BEHIND ANOTHER FRONTAL PASSAGE. /77

&&

.MARINE...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER CENTRAL LOUISIANA WILL MOVE
RAPIDLY NORTHEAST INTO CENTRAL TENNESSEE BY DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY. THIS
WILL RESULT IN A COLD FRONT MOVING RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS THE MARINE
AREA THIS EVENING...MOVING EAST OF THE COASTAL WATERS BY OR SHORTLY
AFTER MIDNIGHT. INCREASED ONSHORE FLOW IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT HAS
PROMPTED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...BUT AS THE WIND SHIFTS WEST AND
NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT WILL INCREASE INCREASE
FURTHER...WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO OR JUST ABOVE GALE FORCE EXPECTED.
THEREFORE...A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE GULF WATERS FROM 6
PM THIS EVENING TILL NOON WEDNESDAY WITH A SCA REMAINING IN EFFECT
FOR AREA BAYS AND WATERWAYS. THEREAFTER...WINDS WILL DECREASE SLOWLY
WITH A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINING IN EFFECT ALL MARINE ZONES
NOON THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY. WINDS WILL BE GREATLY DIMINISHED WITH
LOWER SEAS THROUGH FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS EAST JUST TO THE
NORTH OF THE MARINE AREA. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE EAST ACROSS
THE MARINE AREA ON SATURDAY...WITH HIGH PRESSURE QUICKLY REBUILDING
OVER THE COASTAL WATERS SUNDAY INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK.
12/DS

&&

.AVIATION (26/00Z KMOB/KBFM AND KPNS TAF ISSUANCE)...STRENGTHENING
WIND PROFILES OFF THE SURFACE TODAY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE
POSSIBILITY THROUGH MID EVENING. SURFACE SOUTHERLY FLOW 15 TO 20
KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO BETWEEN 25 AND 30 KNOTS THROUGH THIS EVENING.
GENERALLY MVFR CIGS OUTSIDE OF CONVECTIVE AREAS THROUGH THIS
EVENING...BUT IFR TO LIFR CIG/VSBYS EXPECTED ANYTIME THROUGH AROUND
04Z TONIGHT WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.  PRIMARY TIME FOR LINE
OF MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS...SOME VERY STRONG TO SEVERE
WITH SEVERE WIND GUSTS. 12/DS

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...VERY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS WILL DOMINATE THE REST OF
THE DAY. PERIODS OF RAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH SEVERE
WEATHER LIKELY. FRONTAL PASSAGE THIS EVENING WITH COLD TEMPERATURES
AND LOWER HUMIDITY BEHIND IT. STRONG NORTHWEST TO NORTH WIND WILL
DOMINATE THE REST OF THE PERIOD...ACCOMPANIED BY HIGH DISPERSION AND
LOWER RELATIVE HUMIDITY. SURFACE WIND AND HUMIDITY NOT EXPECTED TO
MEET CRITERIA THROUGH THE PERIOD. FOG NOT EXPECTED IN THE NEAR TERM
BUT MAY OCCUR LATER THIS WEEK.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
MOBILE      44  54  30  54  37 /  60  10  00  05  10
PENSACOLA   48  56  33  54  39 /  80  20  00  05  10
DESTIN      51  59  36  53  40 /  80  20  00  05  10
EVERGREEN   45  52  28  53  30 /  80  20  00  05  10
WAYNESBORO  37  49  26  53  32 /  60  10  00  05  10
CAMDEN      41  49  26  53  30 /  80  20  00  05  10
CRESTVIEW   50  57  30  56  30 /  80  30  00  05  10

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...NONE.
FL...NONE.
MS...NONE.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20
     NM...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM...
     WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60
     NM...

     GALE WARNING UNTIL NOON WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...
     COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20
     NM...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM...
     WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60
     NM...

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM NOON WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM WEDNESDAY FOR
     THE FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO
     PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL
     TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM DESTIN TO
     PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO
     PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM...

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM WEDNESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY...MISSISSIPPI SOUND...NORTHERN
     MOBILE BAY...PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM...PERDIDO BAY...SOUTHERN
     MOBILE BAY...

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 25, 2:00 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
200 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-261200-
CHOCTAW-WASHINGTON-CLARKE-WILCOX-MONROE-CONECUH-BUTLER-CRENSHAW-
ESCAMBIA-COVINGTON-UPPER MOBILE-UPPER BALDWIN-LOWER MOBILE-
LOWER BALDWIN-INLAND ESCAMBIA-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-INLAND SANTA ROSA-
COASTAL SANTA ROSA-INLAND OKALOOSA-COASTAL OKALOOSA-WAYNE-PERRY-
GREENE-STONE-GEORGE-
200 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
ALABAMA...SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...NORTHWEST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR ALL INTERIOR COUNTIES OF
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA COUNTIES WEST OF INTERSTATE 65.
STRONG...LONG TRACKED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY
DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION.

THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE FOR
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BEGIN TO REDEVELOP ACROSS PARTS OF OUR AREA THIS AFTERNOON IN
RESPONSE TO A STRENGTHENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO OUR WEST. AS
THESE ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS DEVELOP...THEY ARE EXPECTED TO
MOVE RAPIDLY TO THE NORTHEAST. ALTHOUGH COVERAGE OF STORMS THIS
AFTERNOON IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE WIDESPREAD...ANY STORMS THAT DO
DEVELOP WILL INTENSIFY RAPIDLY...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND WEST OF THE
I-65 CORRIDOR. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THESE STORMS TO PRODUCE
STRONG...LONG TRACKED TORNADOES.

AS THE DAY PROGRESSES...A SQUALL LINE THAT IS OVER CENTRAL LOUISIANA
EARLY THIS AFTERNOON IS EXPECTED TO SURGE RAPIDLY EASTWARD... MOVING
INTO SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY THIS
EVENING...THEN RAPIDLY EAST ACROSS SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN
FLORIDA PANHANDLE MID EVENING HOURS...THEN MOVING EAST OF THE REGION
SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE PRIMARY SEVERE WEATHER CONCERN ALONG THE
SQUALL LINE WILL BE DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS OF 60 TO 80 MPH AND
LARGE HAIL...BUT AN ISOLATED TORNADO WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE.
BRIEF...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WILL ALSO LIKELY...BUT DUE TO THE SPEED
OF THE SYSTEM...FLOODING SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM. CONVECTIVE
CELLS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THE UNSTABLE WARM SECTOR OF THE
STORM OUT IN ADVANCE OF THE SQUALL LINE...WITH THE CONTINUED THREAT
OF STRONG...LONG TRACKED TORNADOES. THE TIMING FOR THE HIGHEST
POTENTIAL OF DANGEROUS...LONG TRACKED TORNADOES IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA
AND SOUTHWEST ALABAMA APPEARS TO BE LATE AFTERNOON THROUGH MID
EVENING TODAY.

STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER
SITUATION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
AS ANOTHER SYSTEM PUSHES EASTWARD ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO. WHILE
THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT BE NEARLY AS POTENT...PRECIPITATION CHANCES
WILL INCREASE TOWARD THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEKEND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF SKYWARN SEVERE STORM SPOTTER THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT.

GMZ630>635-650-655-670-675-261200-
NORTHERN MOBILE BAY-SOUTHERN MOBILE BAY-MISSISSIPPI SOUND-
PERDIDO BAY-PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM-CHOCTAWHATCHEE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PENSACOLA FL TO PASCAGOULA MS FROM 20 TO 60 NM-WATERS
FROM DESTIN TO PENSACOLA FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
200 PM CST TUE DEC 25 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE COASTAL
WATERS OF ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME PROGRESSIVELY STRONGER OVER THE MARINE
AREA THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...CREATING HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT. THESE WINDS COULD RESULT IN TIDES OF 1
TO 2 FEET ABOVE PREDICTED LEVELS LATER IN THE DAY CLOSER TO THE TIME
OF HIGH TIDE.

A LINE OF US STRONG TO SEVERE MARINE STORMS IS FORECAST TO CROSS THE
MARINE AREA THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS WITH A CONTINUED RISK OF SOME
OF THESE STORMS PRODUCING TORNADOES OVER WATER. OUT AHEAD OF THIS
LINE...MORE ISOLATED INDIVIDUAL STORMS COULD ALSO PRODUCE TORNADOES
OVER WATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

THE LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL SHIFT EAST OF DESTIN BY OR
SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE STRONG LINE OF STORMS...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY
WINDS WILL BECOME MORE WESTERLY...AND BE CAPABLE OF CAPSIZING SMALLER
MARINE CRAFT. EVEN STRONGER NORTHWESTERLY WINDS...POSSIBLE
APPROACHING GALE FORCE...CAN BE EXPECTED DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE EARLY
WEDNESDAY TIME FRAME FOR POSSIBLE GALE CONDITIONS.

THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO END DURING THE PREDAWN
HOURS WEDNESDAY AS THE STRONG COLD FRONT CLEARS THE AREA...BUT
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT DUE TO STRONG WINDS IS EXPECTED
TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE WINDS SUBSIDE WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
AS ANOTHER SYSTEM PUSHES EASTWARD ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO. WHILE
THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT BE NEARLY AS POTENT...PRECIPITATION CHANCES
WILL INCREASE TOWARD THE FIRST HALF OF THE WEEKEND.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 tornado, 6 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Crenshaw

When: December 25, 4:21 PM CST to 4:23 PM CST
Where: Crenshaw County, 0.12 mi WNW of Luverne to 0.17 mi N of Luverne
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.18 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.721, -86.272

The tornado briefly touched down in a wooded area|just south of Jeffcoat Street...where two hardwood trees were|uprooted. As the tornado crossed Jeffcoat Street...it caused roof|damage to two houses. The tornado continued northeast where it|crossed Franklin Street...causing significant damage to a third|home and snapped two pine trees. The tornado rapidly dissipated|as it moved into an open field.

Tornado, Crenshaw

When: December 25, 4:28 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Crenshaw County, 0.89 mi N of Patsburg to 0.95 mi N of Patsburg
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.07 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.793, -86.231

The tornado briefly touched down along Live Oak|Road in Patsburg. Near the intersection of Sims Road...a large|pine tree was snapped and car windows were blown out in two|vehicles. Metal roofing was peeled off a small vacant metal|building and a home sustained significant roof damage. Video|and eyewitness accounts confirm the brief touchdown.

Tornado, Choctaw

When: December 25, 4:45 PM CST to 4:56 PM CST
Where: Choctaw County, 1.64 mi WSW of West Butler to 2.43 mi ESE of Riderwood
Rating: EF2
Path length: 5.91 mi
Path width: 880 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 32.057, -88.354

The tornado touched down along Pineview Road near|the Riderwood community...or approximately 8 miles west southwest|of Butler. The worst damage occurred in this area as three|manufactured homes were completely destroyed...with the debris being|blown several hundred yards away. Several other structures sustained|minor to moderate damage...including one mobile home and one single|family residence. A couple of barns/outbuildings were also almost|completely destroyed. The tornado then moved northeast crossing|Dollywood Road and County Road 24...where extensive tree damage|occurred in the heavily forested area. From there...the tornado|continued northeast crossing Riderwood Drive where numerous trees|were snapped or uprooted. The damage path was at its widest along|Riderwood Drive...approximately one half mile. The damage path then|narrowed and the tornado lifted before reaching Alabama Highway 10.

Tornado, Mobile

When: December 25, 4:54 PM CST to 5:05 PM CST
Where: Mobile County, 0.59 mi W of Mertz to 0.91 mi NE of Magazine
Rating: EF2
Path length: 5.15 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $1.4 million
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.670, -88.090

The initial tornado touchdown was located near|Dauphin Island Parkway...Duval Street and Halls Mill Road...where it|initially moved northwestward. The tornado continued northward to|near the intersections of Holcomb Avenue...Government Street and|Dauphin Island Parkway where it produced damage consistent with an|EF-1 tornado...damaging several commercial retailers. The tornado|continued northward...damaging homes and producing roof damage to|numerous homes. It then reached Murphy High School...where it|destroyed several out-buildings...blew out windows and produced|significant roof damage to the high school. From here...The tornado|tracked northward to Dauphin Street where it strengthened and widened|to 200 yards producing damage consistent with an EF-2 tornado to|several homes. Also significantly damaged was the Trinity Episcopal|Church on Dauphin Street. The tornado then moved into the Silverwood|Street area where it produced EF-1 damage and sporadic EF-2 damage to|several homes. The tornado next tracked north northeast across the|Mobile Infirmary Hospital ...where it blew out several windows and|damaged several automobiles...as well as flipping one automobile. The|tornado continued tracking northeastward across interstate 165 moving|into the Prichard area where it produced damage to the roofs of|several homes...as well as snapping several trees. The tornado|continued across Telegraph Road where it tossed several large|shipping containers and damaged a warehouse facility before|dissipating on Jakes Lane in Prichard.

Tornado, Washington

When: December 25, 5:53 PM CST to 6:01 PM CST
Where: Washington County, 1.88 mi S of Deer Park to 1.88 mi ESE of Deer Park
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.18 mi
Path width: 110 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.193, -88.322

The tornado touched down two miles south southwest of|Deer Park. The tornado widened to 110 yards as it passed just south|of a few houses. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted at the|widest point. The tornado continued to highway 45 and dissipated.

Tornado, Clarke

When: December 25, 6:00 PM CST to 6:40 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 3.81 mi SE of Winn to 5.42 mi N of Chance
Rating: EF2
Path length: 24.84 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Continued into: Wilcox, Al (MOB)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.618, -87.867

The tornado touched down on Todd Town Road|seven miles north of Jackson. It then moved northeast where|it destroyed a farm out building then crossed Highway 43|approximately six miles southwest of Grove Hill. After it|crossed...the tornado was at its widest and caused extensive|damage to farm equipment...including a destroyed grain bin.|Many large trees were uprooted in this area with minor structural|damage to several homes as well. It continued northeast uprooting|large trees as it crossed Highway 84...two miles southeast of|Grove Hill. The tornado then weakened as the thunderstorm core|collapsed...causing a microburst which resulted in a half mile|wide damage swath on Nettlesboro Road...13 miles northeast of|Grove Hill. The tornado then reformed before exiting northeast|Clarke County...moving into southwest Wilcox County. The tornado|uprooted trees along the way before dissipating 12 miles|southwest of Camden.

Tornado, Wilcox

When: December 25, 6:36 PM CST to 6:40 PM CST
Where: Wilcox County, 1.51 mi E of Lower Peach Tree to 0.94 mi SSW of Coy
Rating: EF1
Path length: 5.01 mi
Path width: 80 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 31.828, -87.524

The tornado moved northeast out of the Dickinson area of Clarke county, crossing the Wilcox county line a few miles southeast of County Road 1, snapping numerous pine trees along an 80 yard wide path. The tornado lifted just south of the railroad tracks west of the Coy community.

Hail, Clarke

When: December 25, 7:15 PM CST to 7:17 PM CST
Where: Clarke County, 3 mi S of Grove Hill
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.657, -87.780

Quarter size hail.

Tornado, Mobile

When: December 25, 7:22 PM CST to 7:27 PM CST
Where: Mobile County, 3.97 mi NW of Piercie to 2.51 mi ENE of Wilmer
Rating: EF1
Path length: 6.65 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.794, -88.413

Tornado touched down at the intersection of Findley|Road and Natchez Highway where it flipped over a tractor trailer|semi rig...produced minor damage to one manufactured home...destroyed|a second manufactured home...and damaged the roof of a frame house.|The tornado continued northeast passing just southeast of Wilmer...|damaging a nursery with several destroyed greenhouses...and snapping|several trees before crossing Highway 98. The tornado lifted just east|of Glenwood Road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mobile

When: December 25, 7:40 PM CST to 7:42 PM CST
Where: Mobile County, Semmes
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $4,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 30.780, -88.250

Winds estimated at 70 mph downed several trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Escambia

When: December 25, 8:35 PM CST to 8:37 PM CST
Where: Escambia County, Freemanville
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 31.070, -87.530

Winds estimated at 60 mph caused damage near Fast Lane Gas Station on Jack Springs Road 1/2 mile south of Exit 54 and I-65. The strong winds overturned 18 wheelers. Also a house behind gas station was on fire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When: December 25, 9:08 PM CST to 9:10 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 2 mi NE of Georgiana
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.651, -86.726

Winds estimated at 70 mph blew a large pine tree into a house...seriously injured him. The man later died at the hospital the next day.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When: December 25, 9:30 PM CST to 9:32 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 8 mi NE of Georgiana
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.712, -86.654

Winds estimated at 70 mph downed several trees and power lines along County Road 24 and County Road 45.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When: December 25, 9:38 PM CST to 9:40 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 1 mi E of Greenville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.830, -86.613

Winds estimated at 70 mph caused a modular home porch to be blown off and roof peeled off. Several trees and power lines were also downed in the area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butler

When: December 25, 9:38 PM CST to 9:40 PM CST
Where: Butler County, 1 mi NE of Greenville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.840, -86.618

Winds estimated at 70 mph destroyed a barn.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Thunderstorm Wind, Butler	2012-12-25		Male	Permanent Home	Direct

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Alabama, 2012 Warnings in Alabama, December 2012

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: 422497, 422498, 422371, 422348, 422370, 422499, 430812, 423163, 422369, 423193, 426355, 426364, 426376, 426379, 426380.