Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, March 2, 2012

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, March 2, 2012
Start: 2012-03-02T08:58
End: 2012-03-02T21:38
Location: Alabama

March 2, 2012 · NWS HUN · 56 events in 11 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: $28,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 56

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 HUN wrote it up.

North Alabama experienced a portion of a much larger outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather from the Ohio Valley south through the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast in advance of a strong cold front. The storms came in two waves. The first began during the mid-morning hours when two tornadic supercells developed across north central Alabama. The tornadoes (one EF-3 and one EF-2) tracked rapidly east-northeast across northeast Limestone and northern Madison Counties.

During the early afternoon, numerous thunderstorms re-erupted across north Alabama, including several supercells. Most of these storms were large hail producers, in one case up to softball sized. Three additional weak tornadoes were spawned in Limestone County. There were also reports of isolated wind damage. One last band of storms rolled through parts of north central and northeast Alabama during the mid evening hours as the cold front moved through.

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 Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 2, 5:42 AM CST, 3 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 2, 5:42 AM CST, 3 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
542 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

.UPDATE...
FOR 12Z TAFS

&&

.DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 514 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012/
A STRONG UPPER LOW CURRENTLY LOCATED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS IS
EXPECTED TO DEEPEN AND SLOWLY SHIFT SOUTHEASTWARD ACROSS MINNESOTA
LATER TODAY...AS A 120-130 KNOT HIGH-LEVEL SPEED MAX AND ASSOCIATED
MID-LEVEL VORTICITY CENTER SHIFT NORTHEASTWARD TO THE LOWER GREAT
LAKES REGION. AT THE SURFACE -- A WELL-DEFINED LOW TRACKING EAST-
NORTHEASTWARD OVER THE OZARKS THIS MORNING -- IS FORECAST TO DEEPEN
SUBSTANTIALLY AS IT SHIFTS TO CENTRAL LOWER MICHIGAN BY THIS
EVENING...IN RESPONSE TO THE FEATURES MENTIONED ABOVE. THE ASSOCIATED
WARM FRONT HAS ALREADY RETREATED NORTHWARD THROUGH THE FORECAST
AREA...WITH TROPICAL AIR SURGING INTO THE REGION CHARACTERIZED BY
BOUNDARY LAYER DEW POINTS RISING INTO THE 60-65 DEGREE RANGE. THE
EVOLUTION AND MODE OF CONVECTION REMAINS A VERY DIFFICULT ASPECT OF
THE FORECAST THIS MORNING...BUT IT APPEARS THAT SCATTERED STORMS
CURRENTLY DEVELOPING TO THE SOUTHWEST WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK
NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE MID-MORNING HOURS...WITH THIS ACTIVITY
POSSIBLY BEING ENHANCED BY A WEAK/SOUTHERN STREAM MID-LEVEL WAVE
APPROACHING THE AREA FROM THE ARKLATEX REGION. SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY
MAY BE SEVERE...AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS
AND ISOLATED TORNADOES. IN ADDITION TO THIS...STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY
GRADIENT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...AND A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN
ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA FOR SUSTAINED SWLY WINDS OF 20-30
MPH AND GUSTS OF 35-40 MPH.

BEYOND THIS MORNING...IT IS UNCLEAR HOW MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE A RIBBON
OF STRONGLY SUBSIDENT AIR ALOFT -- ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRONGER
VORT MAX EJECTING TO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES -- WILL HAVE ON THE AREAL
COVERAGE OF CONVECTION. VARIOUS SHORT TERM MODELS SUGGEST THAT ANY
WARM SECTOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON WILL REMAIN
WIDELY SCATTERED. HOWEVER...WITH THAT SAID...ANY STORMS THAT DO
DEVELOP WILL LIKELY BE SUPERCELLULAR...GIVEN CONSISTENT MODEL PROGS
OF FAVORABLE MOISTURE/INSTABILITY AND VERTICAL WIND SHEAR /850 MB
SWLY WINDS OF 45-55 KNOTS AND MID-LEVEL WSWLY FLOW IN THE 65-75 KNOT
RANGE/. THESE STORMS WILL HAVE THE HIGHEST LIKELIHOOD OF PRODUCING
SIGNIFICANT WINDS/HAIL AND TORNADOES. IT APPEARS THAT RIGHT AROUND
03/00Z...A SOLID LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE
PRIMARY SURFACE COLD FRONT AS IT BEGINS TO ENTER FAR NORTHWEST
ALABAMA. THE COLD FRONT AND ITS ACCOMPANYING SQUALL SHOULD PROGRESS
RAPIDLY SOUTHEASTWARD AS THE GREAT LAKES SURFACE CYCLONE CONTINUES TO
DEEPEN...ENDING THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER BETWEEN 03/01-03Z
ACROSS NORTHWEST ALABAMA...03/03-05Z IN THE I-65 CORRIDOR...AND
03/05-07Z ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHEAST. ALTHOUGH LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED
TORNADOES MAY EXIST WITH THIS LINE...THE PRIMARY THREAT WILL COME
FROM DAMAGING WINDS.

A SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT POST FRONTAL SHOWERS WILL BE CARRIED INTO
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN HALF OF THE AREA...BUT
EXPECT THE MAJORITY OF THE DAY TO BE PARTLY/MOSTLY CLOUDY AND
DRY...WITH A MUCH COOLER/DRIER AIR MASS BEING ADVECTED SOUTHEASTWARD
ON BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS. ALL MODELS AGREE THAT A BROAD POSITIVELY-
TILTED LONG WAVE TROUGH AXIS WILL STILL BE LOCATED TO THE WEST OF THE
AREA...AND FOR THIS REASON HAVE MAINTAINED AT LEAST SOME DEGREE OF
CLOUD COVER IN THE FORECAST UNTIL THE TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS EASTWARD ON
SUNDAY. A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE -- MAINLY ON SUNDAY
MORNING -- AS THE STRONGEST LARGE SCALE FORCING FOR ASCENT MOVES
THROUGH THE REGION. GENERALLY DRY AND PLEASANT CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...AS A MID-LEVEL RIDGE AXIS BUILDS
OVER THE REGION IN THE WAKE OF THE DEPARTING TROUGH. ALTHOUGH DEW
POINTS WILL REMAIN SEASONABLY LOW /UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S/ THROUGH
THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK...DEVELOPING SOUTHEASTERLY RETURN FLOW AHEAD
OF THE NEXT WESTERN CONUS MID/UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL ALLOW
MOISTURE LEVELS TO GRADUALLY RISE BY THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.

70/DD

&&

.AVIATION...
FOR 12Z TAFS...

MVFR CIGS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS AT BOTH TAF
SITES AS SCT -SHRA/-TSRA DEVELOP AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT EXPECTED THIS
EVENING. CIGS COULD DROP BELOW MVFR WITH ANY OF THE -TSRA ACTIVITY. HAVE
INCLUDED A TEMPO GROUP FOR -TSRA TO ACCOUNT FOR THE -TSRA ACTIVITY
AND POSSIBLE DROP IN CIG TO MVFR FROM 12-14Z. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO
INCREASE TO 20G30KTS BY 14Z WITH A HIGHER CIG (VFR). TSRA ARE
POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY...BUT SPATIAL COVERAGE IS UNCERTAIN.
HAVE THUS KEPT VCTS IN FROM 14Z THRU 02-03Z. THE COLD FRONT SHOULD
THEN SHIFT WINDS TO THE NW BY 02-03Z WITH -TSRA POSSIBLE ALONG THE
FRONT. TSRA ACTIVITY SHOULD THEN DIMINISH/DISSIPATE WITH FROPA BY
04-05Z

SL.77

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: ALZ001>010-016.

TN...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: TNZ076-096-097.

&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE.

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 2, 4:36 AM CST, 4 hours 22 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
436 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-021930-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
436 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS MORNING. A FEW
OF THESE STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO LOCALLY SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES THE PRIMARY THREATS.

THE MORE DANGEROUS ROUND OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED DURING THE
LATE AFTERNOON HOURS FRIDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THE EVENING...AS A
STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA FROM THE WEST. DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES ARE THE THREATS WITH ANY SEVERE
STORMS. THE TORNADO THREAT WILL BE MOST LIKELY WITH ANY DISCRETE
THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP WELL AHEAD OF THE FRONT OR WITH ANY BREAKS
IN A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG OR AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT.

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS THIS MORNING THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL
RISE TO THE 20 TO 30 MPH RANGE WITH HIGHER GUSTS LIKELY OVER HIGHER
ELEVATIONS. PLEASE REFER TO THE WIND ADVISORY THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED
FOR THE AREA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.

THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH FROM WEST TO EAST
WITH THE ONSET OF THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES EAST
OF THE AREA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
REQUESTED FOR FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 7:21 AM CST, 1 hour 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
721 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALZ001-002-004-021400-
COLBERT-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-
721 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COLBERT...LAUDERDALE AND LAWRENCE
COUNTIES UNTIL 800 AM CST...

AT 720 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LA GRANGE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 60 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  NE SMITH...TOWN CREEK.
  NORTH COURTLAND...COURTLAND.
  WHEELER...ROGERSVILLE.

THIS THUNDERSTORM COULD INTENSIFY QUICKLY...SO BE READY TO ACT IF A
WARNING IS ISSUED.

&&

LAT...LON 3487 8733 3479 8725 3478 8728 3476 8727
      3476 8722 3467 8712 3450 8753 3457 8753
      3457 8761 3464 8766
TIME...MOT...LOC 1320Z 240DEG 52KT 3460 8749

SL

Special weather statement, Mar 2, 8:09 AM CST, 49 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
809 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

ALZ001>005-021500-
COLBERT-FRANKLIN-LAUDERDALE-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-
809 AM CST FRI MAR 2 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COLBERT...FRANKLIN...
LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE AND LIMESTONE COUNTIES UNTIL 900 AM CST...

AT 805 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR THARPTOWN...OR NEAR RUSSELLVILLE...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  LA GRANGE...WHITEOAK.
  NE SMITH...HATTON.
  TOWN CREEK.
  COURTLAND...WHEELER.
  HILLSBORO...OLIVER.
  RIPLEY.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISION STATIONS FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS
CONCERNING THIS WEATHER SITUATION.

&&

LAT...LON 3500 8695 3473 8678 3468 8679 3462 8698
      3465 8704 3465 8705 3467 8709 3469 8710
      3458 8711 3442 8765 3457 8776 3501 8715
TIME...MOT...LOC 1409Z 240DEG 49KT 3454 8760

SS

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:56 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

45 hail, 7 tornado, 4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Limestone

When: March 2, 8:58 AM CST to 9:01 AM CST
Where: Limestone County, Ripley
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.750, -87.120

Quarter sized hail was reported in Ripley. Time estimated by radar.

Hail, Limestone

When: March 2, 9:08 AM CST to 9:12 AM CST
Where: Limestone County, 0.53 mi ENE of Athens
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 34.803, -86.971

Local law enforcement estimated quarter to golf ball-sized hail and winds (estimated) between 60-70 MPH through downtown Athens.

Tornado, Limestone

When: March 2, 9:10 AM CST to 9:25 AM CST
Where: Limestone County, 2.06 mi N of Stewerds Store to 3.3 mi NNE of Capshaw
Rating: EF2
Path length: 10.29 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Continued into: Madison, Al (HUN)
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.760, -86.953

A tornado developed near the Athens Country Club and Golf Course along Hatfield Lake Road off U.S. Highway 31. Several trees were snapped and uprooted along a path that crossed Interstate 65 and Strain Road. The tornado then tracked across Lindsay lane about one mile south of U.S. Highway 72. In the Canebrake neighborhood, numerous homes sustained significant roof loss with garage doors blown out and some exterior wall damage. Minor structural damage also occurred in the Indian Trace Community off Woodland Road. The tornado then crossed U.S. Highway 72 near Piney Creek and continued to track northeast. At Mooresville Road and Pepper Road, numerous homes sustained significant damage, including major roof loss. A brick garage was collapsed and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. As the tornado continued tracking northeast across McCulley Mill Road, additional homes were damage, again sustaining major roof to homes occurred along Nick Davis Road near East Limestone Road. Damage continued to homes along Eagle Point Drive and Freedom Drive where a home lost its roof completely an other homes received major roof loss, broken windows ad collapsed garages. The tornado then crossed into Madison County. This tornado obtained EF-2 status producing peak wind speeds of 125 mph.

Tornado, Madison

When: March 2, 9:25 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.29 mi SW of Cluttsville to 1.9 mi SE of Plevna
Rating: EF3
Path length: 23.7 mi
Path width: 250 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.816, -86.785

A tornado crossed from Limestone into Madison County just north of Orville Smith Road where a single wide modular home lost much of its roof and tree were snapped around it. Major structural damage occurred at the intersection of Yarbrough Road and Old Railroad Bed Road. This was one of the worst hit areas around the Harvest community. Damage to homes, mostly collapsed roofs and some exterior wall damage continued east along Yarbrough Road across Bridges Drive and Bedford Lane, just before Wall Triana Blvd. Also in this area, power poles were snapped near the base. Damage continued across State Highway 53 just south of Jeff Road. The tornado snapped and uprooted trees along Quarter Mountain Road, Carters Gin Road, and Beaver Dam Road just before Pulaski Pike. More significant damage bean to be seen along Patterson Lane, between Mount Lebanon Road and Harwell Lane where wood power poles were snapped, numerous trees uprooted and several homes had roof loss. A large metal barn/shed lost it's roof and some of it's walls were collapsed inward. Damage continued along U.S. Highway 231 at Meridianville Middle School where a concrete power pole was snapped an minor roof damage occurred to nearby buildings.

The tornado then strengthened between Hubert Road and Walker Lane along Mitzi Drive. In this area, EF-2 to low end EF-3 damage was found as several single story homes were destroyed with a loss of all walls. Other homes received significant damage with complete loss of roof and failure of exterior walls. Estimated path width in this area was 200-250 yards. Just northeast of this location along Charley Patterson Road, EF-3 damage occurred as 3 brick veneer/cinder block houses were reduced to rubble. The tornado continued to produce significant damage along Butler Road just south of Walker Lane where additional concrete power pols were snapped and large oak trees were snapped and uprooted. The damage path continued north of New Market, near Hillsboro, with additional trees snapped and uprooted and some roof shingles were lost to some residences. Damage here suggests the tornado was beginning to weaken. Along Davis Road, just south of Moe Road, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted with severe shingle loss to a house about 200 yards away from the road. Beyond this, the tornado appeared to weaken and lift as it moved across the higher plateau region of extreme northeast Madison County.

Hail, Limestone

When: March 2, 9:58 AM CST to 10:01 AM CST
Where: Limestone County, 0.69 mi S of Ardmore
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.990, -86.850

Golf ball sized hail was reported.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 10:05 AM CST to 10:08 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Meridianville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.850, -86.570

Golf ball sized hail was reported.

Tornado, Madison

When: March 2, 10:06 AM CST to 10:15 AM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.02 mi NW of Meridianville to 1.43 mi E of Buckhorn
Rating: EF2
Path length: 7.26 mi
Path width: 220 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.850, -86.570

A tornado of EF-2 intensity with a peak wind speeds of 130 mph crossed portions of north central into northeast Madison County. The tornado began it's path just south of the Meridianville-Madison County Executive Airport off Meridianville Bottom Road where several trees were snapped. The tornado continued it's path eastward to Buckhorn High School before lifting at a farm across from the school on Winchester Road.

The tornado snapped power poles and lines along Moores Mill Road just north of Darwin Road. The tornado then intensified and destroyed a silo just east of that location before snapping trees and collapsing a barn on Macon Lane. The EF-2 tornado continued east causing significant tree damage and structural loss to residences along Rube Robinson Road and Morning Mist Drive. Most residences experienced roof damage, including loss of shingles and windows blown out. One home on Morning Mist Drive completely collapsed and was torn off it's foundation. The tornado was at it's peak width of about 220 yards at this point, before narrowing to 50 to 100 yards as it re-crossed Rube Robinson Road. The tornado collapsed a roof and barn in this area, then crossed fields for about 1 mile before reaching residents adjacent to Buckhorn High School on Shady Oak Lane ad Maysville Lane. A residence experienced significant damage, with brick walls buckled and a large portion of the roof torn off. A nearby cinder block wall of a garage collapsed.

The tornado then tracked through the Buckhorn High School campus at a width of up to 100 yards. A block building used by the ROTC students adjacent to the stadium collapsed. Several portions of the roof of the high school were torn off. Several cars in the parking lot were moved, twisted, and damaged with some windows blown out. The tornado then crossed Winchester Road and severely damaged a farmhouse, snapped and uprooted trees and strewn debris downwind across an adjacent cotton field where the tornado is believe to have lifted.

Tornado, Jackson

When: March 2, 10:08 AM CST to 10:09 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.45 mi NW of Francisco to 0.81 mi NNE of Francisco
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.77 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Continued into: Franklin, Tn (HUN)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.985, -86.255

A tornado of up to EF-1 intensity produced peak wind speeds of 90 mph. The tornado snapped and uprooted trees just west of Highway 65 near Francisco. The tornado tracked into far southwestern Franklin County in Tennessee for about another quarter of a mile before lifting. This tornado was spawned from the supercell thunderstorm which had produced an EF-3 tornado in east central Limestone into northern Madison Counties earlier in the morning. It is unknown if additional damage occurred with this tornado in the higher terrain of northeast Madison and northwest Jackson Counties as these areas were inaccessible by ground vehicle.

Tornado, Limestone

When: March 2, 1:55 PM CST to 1:59 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 0.37 mi SSE of Spencer to 1.19 mi W of Elkmont
Rating: EF0
Path length: 2.73 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.916, -87.047

A tornado of EF-0 intensity with peak wind speeds of 75 mph began a path in farm fields near the intersection of Easter Farm Road and County Road 49/Morris Road. Several tree limbs were snapped in this area along with sporadic uprooting of softwood trees. The tornado then tracked east toward the Elkmont community, mainly along a parallel track just south of Morris Road. The tornado lifted just west of Highway 127.

Hail, Limestone

When: March 2, 2:00 PM CST to 2:03 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 1.17 mi SSE of Holland Gin
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.954, -86.893

Quarter sized hail and a wall cloud was reported near the I-65 welcome center.

Hail, Colbert

When: March 2, 2:07 PM CST to 2:10 PM CST
Where: Colbert County, 0.89 mi SE of Allsboro
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.690, -88.110

Hail up to quarter-sized was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Colbert

When: March 2, 2:14 PM CST to 2:17 PM CST
Where: Colbert County, 2.09 mi ESE of Mt Hester
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.714, -87.984

Trees were blown down on a house in the White Pike area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Colbert

When: March 2, 2:14 PM CST to 2:17 PM CST
Where: Colbert County, 0.57 mi WNW of Cherokee
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.752, -87.980

Trees were blown down.

Hail, Colbert

When: March 2, 2:15 PM CST to 2:18 PM CST
Where: Colbert County, Barton
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.730, -87.880

Baseball-sized hail was reported.

Hail, Colbert

When: March 2, 2:18 PM CST to 2:21 PM CST
Where: Colbert County, 0.69 mi N of Cherokee
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.760, -87.970

Golf ball sized hail was reported.

Hail, Colbert

When: March 2, 2:30 PM CST to 2:33 PM CST
Where: Colbert County, 0.88 mi NW of Barton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.739, -87.891

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 2:35 PM CST to 2:38 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 0.41 mi W of Florence
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.800, -87.677

Half dollar sized hail was reported.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 2:35 PM CST to 2:38 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 0.57 mi E of North Florence
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.830, -87.670

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 2:35 PM CST to 2:38 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 0.34 mi E of Petersville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.850, -87.674

Penny sized hail was reported just north of Florence.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 2:35 PM CST to 2:38 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, Florence
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.800, -87.670

Golf ball sized hail was reported.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 2:45 PM CST to 2:48 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 2.48 mi SE of Kimbrough Xrds
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.807, -87.716

Hail up to quarter sized was reported covering the ground.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 3:00 PM CST to 3:03 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 0.34 mi SSW of Elgin
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.845, -87.382

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 3:05 PM CST to 3:08 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 0.57 mi E of North Florence
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.830, -87.670

Quarter sized hail accumulated a depth of 2 inches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lauderdale

When: March 2, 3:11 PM CST to 3:14 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County, 3 mi N of Rogersville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.873, -87.280

Trees were knocked down and structural damage to a roof was reported 3 miles north of Rogersville. Time estimated by radar.

Hail, Lawrence

When: March 2, 3:23 PM CST to 3:26 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, 0.92 mi SSE of Hatton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.557, -87.415

Penny sized hail was reported on Highway 101 in Hatton.

Tornado, Limestone

When: March 2, 3:26 PM CST to 3:31 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 0.99 mi ENE of O Neal to 1.77 mi SE of Carey
Rating: EF0
Path length: 4.97 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.856, -87.014

A tornado of EF-0 intensity with peak wind speeds of 85 mph touched down on the west side of Edgewood Road/County Road 65 a little south of the intersection with Coffman Road. Several trees were uprooted in this area with large branches from hardwood trees also snapped. The tornado moved in an easterly direction crossing County Road 26 and Old Elkmont Road. Minor and very sporadic tree damage was noted along the path. The width narrowed to less than 50 yards as it moved further east and finally lifted near the intersection of U.S. Highway 31 and Interstate 65. The last signs of any tornado damage were a few snapped and twisted tree limbs in this area.

Tornado, Limestone

When: March 2, 3:39 PM CST to 3:46 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 1.79 mi WSW of Bethel to 1.25 mi SE of Bethel
Rating: EF1
Path length: 2.59 mi
Path width: 150 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 34.918, -86.858

A tornado was up to EF-1 intensity and peak wind speeds of 100 mph began a path in the Thach community, just west of the intersection of Thach Road and Oak Grove Road. The tornado moved nearly due east paralleling Thach Road for much of it's life cycle. The tornado appeared to skip along it's path, leaving some structures and trees intact but damaging others. The tornado finally lifted east of Highway 251. Numerous softwood and hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted along the tornado path. Several homes along the path had minor structural damage with lost of shingles, siding damage, and damage to one garage. One home had more significant damage to a section of it's roof. A well-constructed barn lost most of it's roof.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 3:45 PM CST to 3:48 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 4 mi NNW of Hazel Green
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.983, -86.607

Half dollar sized hail was reported 4 miles north-northwest of Hazel Green.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 3:48 PM CST to 3:51 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.16 mi ENE of Harvest
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.856, -86.751

Golf ball sized hail was reported at Ready Section Road and Wall Triana Highway.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 3:59 PM CST to 4:02 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.56 mi ENE of Hazel Green
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.934, -86.572

Golf ball sized hail was reported at Hazel Green High School.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:00 PM CST to 4:03 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.57 mi E of Hazel Green
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.930, -86.570

Golf ball sized hail was reported.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:03 PM CST to 4:06 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.89 mi SE of Hazel Green
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.920, -86.570

Penny sized hail was reported.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:03 PM CST to 4:06 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.86 mi S of Skinem
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.938, -86.522

Quarter to half dollar sized hail was reported at the intersection of Joe Quick Road and Tanner Road.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:05 PM CST to 4:08 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.35 mi SSW of Union Grove
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.925, -86.482

Quarter sized hail was reported at the intersection of Butler Road and New Market Road.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:06 PM CST to 4:09 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.12 mi NE of Mint Spg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.962, -86.457

Golf ball sized hail was reported on Buddy Williamson Road.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:09 PM CST to 4:12 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 2.19 mi NE of New Sharon
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.976, -86.627

One inch hail was reported at the 1500 block of Elkwood Section Road.

Hail, Morgan

When: March 2, 4:18 PM CST to 4:21 PM CST
Where: Morgan County, 0.74 mi W of Flint City
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.520, -86.983

Quarter sized hail was reported near Austinville Flint Road.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:38 PM CST to 4:41 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.79 mi NE of Triana
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.589, -86.741

Nickel sized hail was reported at Fields Pond Drive.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:45 PM CST to 4:48 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.7 mi E of Huntsville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.730, -86.590

Hail up to quarter sized was reported. Location in southeast Huntsville not specified.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:49 PM CST to 4:52 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 1.14 mi E of Lily Flag
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 34.650, -86.550

Quarter sized hail accumulated to a depth of up to an inch.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:50 PM CST to 4:53 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.96 mi S of Lily Flag
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.636, -86.567

Penny sized hail was reported at the intersection of Memorial Parkway and Meadowbrook Drive.

Hail, Madison

When: March 2, 4:50 PM CST to 4:53 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 0.96 mi S of Lily Flag
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.636, -86.567

Penny sized hail was reported at Memorial Parkway at Meadowbrook Drive.

Hail, Jackson

When: March 2, 5:12 PM CST to 5:15 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.57 mi E of Pleasant Grove
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 34.730, -86.210

Hail up to quarter sized was reported.

Hail, Jackson

When: March 2, 5:49 PM CST to 5:52 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.61 mi E of Avery
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.869, -85.839

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, Jackson

When: March 2, 5:52 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.69 mi S of Skyline
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.810, -86.120

Hail up to quarter sized was reported.

Hail, Cullman

When: March 2, 6:00 PM CST to 6:03 PM CST
Where: Cullman County, 1.17 mi N of Bremen
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.997, -86.968

Nickel sized hail was reported at the intersection of County Road 222 and Highway 69.

Hail, Cullman

When: March 2, 6:19 PM CST to 6:22 PM CST
Where: Cullman County, 1.51 mi ESE of Bethel
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.195, -86.954

Nickel sized hail was reported.

Hail, Jackson

When: March 2, 6:30 PM CST to 6:33 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, 0.57 mi E of Bolivar
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 34.900, -85.790

Half dollar sized hail was reported.

Hail, Marshall

When: March 2, 6:49 PM CST to 6:52 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 2.15 mi SSE of Douglas
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.140, -86.320

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, Franklin

When: March 2, 6:52 PM CST to 6:55 PM CST
Where: Franklin County, 0.41 mi S of Posey Mill
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.314, -87.579

Penny sized hail was reported.

Hail, Marshall

When: March 2, 6:58 PM CST to 7:01 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 0.58 mi ENE of Douglas
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 34.174, -86.321

Hail up to quarter sized was reported.

Hail, Jackson

When: March 2, 7:10 PM CST to 7:20 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Scottsboro
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 34.670, -86.030

Hail up to quarter sized fell for 5 to 10 minutes in Scottsboro.

Hail, Dekalb

When: March 2, 8:49 PM CST to 8:52 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, Peeks Corner
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 34.400, -85.880

Quarter sized hail was reported.

Hail, Marshall

When: March 2, 9:12 PM CST to 9:15 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 0.9 mi SW of Albertville Muni Arp
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.220, -86.260

Nickel sized hail was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: March 2, 9:17 PM CST to 9:20 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 0.2 mi NNW of Mc Ville
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.282, -86.132

A chicken house was damaged. The front corners were damaged and a 20 foot portion of the roof was blown off and wrapped around a tree.

Hail, Dekalb

When: March 2, 9:35 PM CST to 9:38 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County, Geraldine
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 34.350, -86.000

Quarter sized hail was reported.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Alabama, 2012 Warnings in Alabama, March 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: 362954, 376532, 361096, 361097, 362709, 362710, 361143, 362962, 361149, 362711, 362712, 362864, 362865, 362713, 362714, 362715, 362716, 362717, 362718, 362757, 362719, 362720, 362722, 362949, 362723, 361150, 361148, 362724, 362725, 362726, 362727, 362728, 362729, 362730, 362731, 362732, 362733, 362734, 362735, 362736, and more.