Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, January 23, 2012

A tree was blown down across Highway 172 near Bear Creek Bridge.

Trees were reported down on Highway 140 and Holman Church Road.

A tornado, with maximum winds speeds of 85 mph, touched down just southeast of Panola, along S. H. and G. Drive, where it caused significant roof damage to one single family residence. As the tornado moved northeast towards Marby Heights, another home sustained minor siding damage. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing Marby Heights.

Trees reported down on Romulus Rd.

A tornado, with maximum winds speeds estimated at 120 mph, touched down near the intersection of Alabama Highway 171 and Koffman Ranch Road, in the Koffman area. Approximately two dozen pine trees were uprooted in the location. The tornado then traveled northeast destroying one outbuilding along Koffman Spur. Just to the northeast of Koffman spur, a barn was destroyed and the entire roof was torn off of a well-constructed single family residence. The tornado lifted before reaching Carroll Creek. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $4K.

A tornado, with maximum winds speeds estimated to be 115 mph, touched down about one quarter of a mile west of Watermelon Road, where it snapped and uprooted a few small pine trees. From there, the tornado traveled northeast and hit a hunting camp, where approximately twenty small pine trees were snapped and eight campers were rolled. Three of the campers were destroyed and the other five received differing degrees of damage. The tornado continued northeast crossing Watermelon Road, where it snapped three wooden H-frame transmission lines before lifting just to the east of Watermelon Road. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $4K.

A tornado touched down in Northeastern Tuscaloosa County just east of the Black Warrior River and then traveled into Jefferson County. The tornado initially touched down one mile west of Groundhog Road, approximately 3 miles northwest of Bull City. Here, dozens of soft and hardwood trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado then traveled to the northeast with winds of 100 MPH, snapping and uprooting hundreds of trees along the track. It then crossed into Jefferson County, eventually lifting along Toadvine Road, just southwest of Short Creek. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $5K.

This tornado initially touched down in northeast Tuscaloosa County, and traveled to the northeast, crossing into Jefferson County northeast of Groundhog Rd. As the tornado tracked toward, across, and then parallel to Lock 17 Rd, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado continued northeastward crossing Camp Oliver Road and took a turn to the north at Blue Sky Rd. Tree damage continued as the tornado tracked parallel to Toadvine Rd and winds increased to a maximum of 130 MPH. Approximately 50 homes were damaged or destroyed along Toadvine Rd, including a manufactured home that was destroyed resulting in one fatality. Several more homes were damaged along Taylors Ferry Rd. The tornado lifted along Toadvine Road just southwest of Short Creek. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $75K.

A tornado, with winds of 75 MPH, touched down along Highway 11 about 5 miles northeast of Livingston, snapping and uprooting a few small soft and hardwood trees. The tornado then traveled northeast toward County Road 39 and McCainville Road, where additional trees were damaged, along with minor damage to an outbuilding. The tornado lifted along McCainville Road.

The tornado touched down in central Jefferson county and tracked northeastward for 15.69 miles, before lifting in western St. Clair county. It touched down along Pawnee Village Rd, about 3.25 miles northeast of Tarrant where several businesses sustained roof and wall damage. The tornado then tracked to the northeast, across Pinson Valley Parkway where several additional businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. In the city of Center Point, the path width increased to 880 yds as the tornado strengthened to 120 mph. Center Point Elementary School sustained extreme damage, with one building destroyed and extensive damage to several other buildings. The destroyed building was valued at $13 million and the loss of contents inside at $5 million. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Center Point Parkway, causing damage to numerous businesses near 24th St. Minor roof damage, consistent with winds of 100 MPH, occurred to multiple businesses, gas stations, and a strip mall. The tornado crossed Sweeney Hollow Rd and Tyler Loop Rd, and moved through Paradise Valley subdivision, damaging or destroying approximately 200 homes. As the tornado crossed Old Springville Rd, it intensified to 150 MPH, causing extensive damage or destroying to two dozen homes in the George Brook subdivision. Of the homes destroyed, most, if not all, exterior and interior walls were collapsed. The tornado crossed the southern extent of Steeplechase subdivision, destroying two homes, where one fatality occurred, and causing minor to moderate roof damage to numerous other homes. Path width was approximately 600 yds wide at this point. The tornado continued northeast, causing minor to moderate damage to numerous homes in the Pilgrim’s Rest subdivision. The heaviest damage was along Plymouth Rock Dr., where approximately a dozen homes were destroyed. As the tornado approached the St. Clair county line, it weakened to an EF1 with winds of 105 MPH, and caused significant damage to at least two homes, with minor damage to several others along Skyline Way. In addition, numerous trees were knocked down. The tornado crossed into St. Clair County south of Will Keith Rd, one mile north of Interstate 59, Exit 148. In total, approximately 50 businesses received some degree of damage, 200 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and 200 homes received minor to moderate damage. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $132K.

The tornado initially touched down in central Jefferson county and tracked northeastward for 15.69 miles, before lifting in western St. Clair county. The tornado crossed into St. Clair county south of Will Keith Rd, near Mary Ann Ln, moving northeast with winds of 105 MPH. The tornado continued to damage homes and down trees, before crossing Interstate 59, 1.37 miles northeast of Exit 148, with a path width of 300 yds. To the east of Interstate 59, the tornado tracked through Argo, crossing U.S. Highway 11 north of Angus St, downing numerous trees and causing minor to moderate damage to several homes. One home was destroyed when a large tree fell. As the tornado continued northeast, several manufactured homes sustained minor damage along Hidden Valley Drive. The tornado lifted just northeast of Country Living Cir, where several more trees were uprooted.

A tornado, with winds of 110 MPH, briefly touched down along County Road 7 and moved northeast crossing County Road 16 and Alabama Highway 5. Scores of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. The tornado lifted just after crossing Alabama Road 175. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $84K.

The supercell which produced the County Road 7 EF-1 tornado in central Perry County quickly generated a second tornado just south of the first tornado path. This tornado tracked through eastern Perry County and through much of Chilton County before dissipating north of Clanton. The total path length for this tornado was over 39 miles. The tornado touched down along County Road 16, east of Alabama Road 175 in Perry County, damaging one home, one manufactured home, and downing numerous trees. It moved northeast, crossing the Cahaba River and into the Talladega National Forest, where thousands of trees were knocked down along the tornado’s path. As the tornado crossed County Road 9, winds strengthened to 125 MPH and the sanctuary of historic Ephesus Church was destroyed as the roof and steeple were partially blown away. The tornado moved along Alabama Highway 183 for approximately 6 miles causing extensive tree damage and destroying several outbuildings. The tornado crossed Mat Moore Rd and into Chilton County, at Jim Foundry Rd, south of Alabama Highway 183. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $1.2M.

This tornado touched down in central Perry County and tracked through the Talladega National Forest, before crossing into western Chilton County, at County Road 309, south of Alabama Highway 183. The total path length for this tornado was over 39 miles. In Chilton County, the tornado continued to cross the national forest, downing hundreds of trees. The tornado crossed U.S. Highway 82, west of Maplesville and tracked across the northern portion of the city, with winds of 130 MPH. Along U.S. Highway 82, 16 homes sustained significant roof damage. As the tornado tracked just north of downtown, and parallel to Mulberry St, additional homes and several businesses were damaged. In total, approximately 40 homes sustained minor damage, and 36 sustained major damage or were destroyed. In Maplesville, 150 citizens took shelter in a community shelter, which despite having trees fall on it, sustained no significant damage. No injuries occurred. The tornado tracked along Alabama Highway 22, knocking down numerous trees and destroying a business on County Road 266. The tornado crossed County Road 37, damaging 10 manufactured homes, destroying 5 manufactured homes, and causing a nearby radio tower to collapse. The tornado took a noticeable turn to the northeast and moved just south of Lomax. Widespread and intense tree damage resulted in damage to several homes. The tornado weakened rapidly as it crossed U.S. Highway 31 and dissipated east of Friendship Circle, before crossing Alabama Highway 145. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $1.4M.

An EF-0 tornado touched down just west of the intersection of Alabama Highway 76 and County Road 175, causing minor roof damage to a house and storage building. The tornado moved to the northeast along Alabama Highway 76. The most concentrated damage, with winds estimated between 70 and 80 mph, was at the intersection of Alabama Highway 76 and Booker Road, where a dozen large pine trees were uprooted. Sporadic tree damage continued along the path until the tornado lifted along Alabama Highway 76, just east of Risersmill Rd.

A tornado touched down near the intersection of County Road 99 and County Road 24 in the Enterprise community, causing minor damage to several manufactured homes and destroying one. The tornado tracked northeastward, crossing County Road 24 and County Road 733. As the tornado crossed County Road 49 and County Road 370, the tornado reached it maximum strength of 105-110 MPH and maximum width of 500 yds. At least 10 homes were severely damaged in this area. One home was completely shifted off its foundation, while another was partially moved. Another home had 90 percent of its roof removed, however all walls remained standing. The tornado continued to the northeast with several other homes receiving minor roof and porch damage along County Road 59. Along the remainder of its path, the tornado destroyed a few outbuildings and knocked down numerous trees. The tornado lifted along County Road 434, east of County Road 7. Merchantable timber losses estimated by the Alabama Forestry Commission for this track are approximately $108K.

A swath of straight line wind damage 10.7 miles long began one mile southwest of U.S. Highway 63 on County Road 11 where several trees were uprooted. The damage extended to the northeast, through Wind Creek State Park, across U.S. Highway 280, and ended north of Jacksons Gap. The most heavily damaged area, where damage was consistent with 90 MPH winds, was on the west side of Lake Martin along Piney Woods Rd, where several homes and an RV were destroyed by falling trees. A small church sustained minor roof damage along U.S. Highway 280, near Midway Estates Rd. Wind damage ended 1.6 miles north of Jacksons Gap, where several trees were knocked down along Rock Springs Rd.

Trees and power lines were blown down in the Rock Mills area, including along County Road 75.

As heavy rainfall moved through the area, water covered several roads between New Site and Goldville.

A tornado touched down along County Road 39, just east of the Autauga County line, and moved eastward, crossing County Road 7, near the Pines Golf Club. Approximately 50 trees were knocked down along the golf course. As the tornado briefly tracked parallel to County Road 7, it reached it maximum strength with winds of 100 MPH. The tornado crossed County Road 3 and moved along Alabama Highway 14, lifting just west of the Wetumpka Municipal Airport. Along the path, approximately 60 homes sustained minor roof or siding damage. An apartment building on County Road 7 had its metal roof removed. An auto center sustained damage to its garage doors.

Several trees were blown down in Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.

Heavy rain resulted in street flooding in Roanoke for several hours.

Several trees were reported down on private property in the northern portion of Lowndes County.

A washed out culvert resulted in water covering County Road 622, making the road impassable.