A multi-day severe weather event struck the southeast January 21-22, 2017 with three rounds of severe weather moving through the area. The first round of severe weather started during the mid-morning hours on Saturday, January 21, 2017 as a squall line pushed into southeast Alabama and the Florida panhandle.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS TAE wrote it up.
A multi-day severe weather event struck the southeast January 21-22, 2017 with three rounds of severe weather moving through the area. The first round of severe weather started during the mid-morning hours on Saturday, January 21, 2017 as a squall line pushed into southeast Alabama and the Florida panhandle. As it pushed eastward nine warnings were issued with a total of 18 damaging wind reports (trees and power lines downed) related to these storms.
After a brief lull during Saturday evening as the aforementioned squall line washed out near the Gulf Coast, strong southerly flow returned late Saturday night as a warm front pushed northward across the Florida Big Bend and southern Georgia. Initially with this late Saturday night to early Sunday morning event, a strong supercell moved across southern Georgia producing a tornado that moved across Thomas and northern Brooks Counties. This was the first tornado across the area with this multi- day event. From the same supercell that produced the tornado in Thomas and northern Brooks Counties, another tornado developed that tracked across Brooks, Berrien and Cook Counties and this tornado resulted in 11 fatalities. This overnight into early Sunday morning event produced one more tornado, an EF-1 that struck Lowndes County.
A final round of severe weather moved through Sunday afternoon as a warm front continued to push northward into southeast Alabama and southern Georgia while the main low and trailing cold front pushed eastward across the Florida panhandle and offshore regions. This afternoon round of supercells first produced a tornado in Henry County, AL. An hour and a half after the Henry County tornado, two more tornadoes developed, an EF-2 that struck Clay, Randolph and Calhoun Counties (Georgia) and an EF-1 tornado that hit Franklin County, FL. After this, a long tracked tornado (track length of more than 70 miles) moved across Albany (Dougherty County) and into Worth and Turner Counties, causing extensive damage and five fatalities.
Overall this multi-day event resulted in seven tornadoes, 16 deaths and numerous injuries. Three days of damage surveys were conducted to rate the tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
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 Tallahassee, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 21, 5:26 AM CST, 3 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
626 AM EST Sat Jan 21 2017
.AVIATION [Through 12Z Sunday]...
SHRA has cleared nearly all TAF sites at this hour, with only
activity lingering near ABY. Expect MVFR to IFR CIGS through
daybreak, with the exception of ECP where LIFR conditions are
being observed. CIGS will be slow to improve this morning ahead of
a line of strong TSRA to the west. Southerly winds will increase
ahead of this line, with TSRA affecting all terminals from west to
east this afternoon. Gusty winds, low vsbys, and low CIGS expected
with this activity.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION [311 AM EST]...
.NEAR TERM [Through Today]...
...Multiple rounds of severe storms expected over the next 24 to 48
hours across the region...
The Storm Prediction Center has much of the region outlined in
an enhanced risk for severe weather today, with areas across
the eastern Big Bend and the eastern half of our southeastern
Georgia counties in a slight risk.
A complex of showers and embedded thunderstorms continue to spread
northeastward at this hour across the Florida Panhandle/western Big
Bend region into southwestern Georgia, on the leading edge of the
2nd of 3 potent upper lows that will impact the region this weekend.
The latest meso-analysis shows up to 500 J/KG of SBCAPE in place
across the aforementioned areas at this hour, along with modestly
increasing bulk shear with the eastward moving shortwave suggests
this activity will continue through much of the overnight hours,
likely clearing the region by daybreak. Severe weather is unlikely
with this activity, with locally torrential rainfall and sub-severe
gusty winds being the main threats.
Once the aforementioned complex clears the region this later this
morning, the tri-state region will likely see a quiet period weather-
wise, allowing the atmosphere to regroup ahead of what will be an
ongoing MCS across MS and AL. The most likely timing for increasing
activity is the late morning/early afternoon hours, with the
development of discreet/semi-discreet cells possible ahead of the
aforementioned MCS. Model guidance consensus suggests between
1000- 1500 J/KG of CAPE across much of the region by early
afternoon, with 50 to 60 kts of bulk shear and mid level lapse
rates generally in the 7 degree C range. Given these conditions,
large hail, particularly with any discreet cells, and damaging
straight-line winds will be the main threats this afternoon.
Though shear profiles will generally be nearly uni-directional
late this morning and this afternoon, the threat for isolated
tornadoes cannot be ruled out. The MCS is expected to clear the
eastern border of the forecast area by early evening, with some
early indications in some of the CAM guidance of thunderstorm
redevelopment along the coast on the leading edge of the next
shortwave ahead of the main system by early evening.
.SHORT TERM [Tonight Through Monday]...
**High impact weather event tonight through Sunday--All severe
weather modes possible!**
Will focus this period discussion on the high impact weather event.
NAM/GFS/Local CAMs are coming into better agreement on the evolution
of this dynamical system with models slowing down the ending of
precipitation to later Sunday and Sunday evening. This will continue
the severe threat into Sunday afternoon and eventually ending from
west to east.
Mid level low will move from the TX panhandle eastward to N AL/N MS
by Sunday evening. At the surface, the near term MCS will largely be
east of the CWA with additional development across the northern Gulf
coast aided by increasing large scale lift and speed convergence on
the nose of the strengthening LLJ. Wind fields strengthen
considerably overnight with 40-50 kt LLJ underneath 60-80 kt mid
level jet in the exit region of upstream 120kt speed max. This leads
to 50-70 kts of 0-6km bulk shear and sfc-1km bulk shear of 25-35
kts. This system has a lot of wind with it with lines and bowing
segments having the potential to produce damaging winds and isolated
tornadoes. Although surface winds will be south to south-
southwest, area hodographs are curved and become longer with time
overnight Saturday night into Sunday. The tornado threat will be
highest during this time frame, which is suggested by local CAM
guidance. Mid level lapse rates will remain around 7 C/km so
isolated large hail is possible as well.
Atmosphere remains primed Sunday with the mid level low progged
to move across the southeast United States. This feature will
help induce cyclogenesis of a surface low across MS/AL emerging
into N GA Sunday afternoon. Low level wind fields strengthen
further in response to this feature with another squall line
possible. Again, all modes of severe weather is possible. As the
low races northeastward, a cold front will sweep through and
effectively end the severe weather threat from west to east
through the afternoon hours and be east of our CWA by Sunday
evening.
SPC has our entire area outlooked in an enhanced risk of severe
weather both today and Sunday. All modes of severe weather will be
possible with this event, with the highest probability favoring
damaging winds, followed by isolated tornadoes then large hail. If
discrete cells develop in this regime, the tornado potential will
increase. Residents across the Tri-State region should remain
weather aware through Sunday and stay tuned to a trusted weather
source to receive weather alerts and be ready to seek safe shelter
should a warning be issued for your area.
.LONG TERM [Monday Night Through Saturday]...
Tuesday and Wednesday we will be between weather systems with high
pressure building in, a warmup is in store for Wednesday with
southerly winds returning. The warmup will be short lived as
another cold front is progged to move through Thursday. Colder,
Canadian air will accompany this front with high temperatures
tumbling down into the 50s Friday and Saturday.
.MARINE...
South winds will increase across the coastal waters from west to
east today. Small craft advisories have been hoisted across all
coastal waters. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected
through Sunday with a few storms possibly becoming severe. A cold
front will move through Sunday night with winds becoming westerly to
northwesterly with the possibility of gale force gusts Sunday night
and Monday. Winds will decrease beginning Tuesday with seas
diminishing as a result.
.FIRE WEATHER...
Several rounds of thunderstorms today and tomorrow will keep RHs
well above critical thresholds and fuel moisture high through the
period, precluding any red flag warning conditions. Elevated
transport and 20 foot winds on Sunday will yield high dispersion
values across much of the region, particularly the western half.
.HYDROLOGY...
Rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches with isolated higher amounts are
likely with this event through Sunday afternoon. Although we are
expecting multiple rounds of rainfall, the overall speed at which
these occur will be quick enough to preclude widespread flash
flooding. Some minor nuisance flooding will be possible in low lying
and poorly drainage areas. As far as local rivers are concerned, we
are not expecting any to reach flood stage with this event.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Tallahassee 75 65 75 51 65 / 80 90 80 30 20
Panama City 73 67 72 55 63 / 70 80 80 30 20
Dothan 73 63 73 50 60 / 90 90 80 20 20
Albany 74 63 75 50 62 / 90 90 80 30 20
Valdosta 75 64 76 51 63 / 80 80 80 30 20
Cross City 77 66 76 54 65 / 50 70 90 60 20
Apalachicola 74 68 74 56 65 / 70 80 80 50 20
&&
.TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...High Rip Current Risk through Monday morning for Coastal Bay-
Coastal Gulf-South Walton.
GA...None.
AL...None.
GM...Small Craft Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 AM EST Tuesday
for Apalachee Bay or Coastal Waters From Keaton Beach to
Ochlockonee River Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal Waters From
Ochlockonee River to Apalachicola Fl out to 20 Nm-Coastal
waters from Suwannee River to Keaton Beach out 20 NM-Waters
from Suwannee River to Apalachicola FL from 20 to 60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM EST Tuesday for Coastal waters
from Apalachicola to Destin FL out 20 NM-Waters from
Apalachicola to Destin FL from 20 to 60 NM.
&&
NEAR TERM...Pullin
SHORT TERM...Scholl
LONG TERM...Scholl
AVIATION...Pullin
MARINE...Scholl
FIRE WEATHER...Pullin
HYDROLOGY...SchollThe Ft Rucker radar (KEOX), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:23 UTC.
10 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Four trees were blown down in the northern part of Coffee county.
A tree fell on a car on Matthews Ave. Damage cost was estimated.
A tree was blown down on County Road 68.
Flooding was reported on East Davis and Claxton Roads. The roads were reported to be impassible.
Quarter sized hail was reported in Ozark.
Quarter sized hail was reported on County Road 57.
Flooding was reported on Geneva Highway with one car reported to be stuck.
Flooding near residential homes was reported in Ozark. Radar estimated some areas of 1 hour rainfall amounts around 3 inches.
A tree was blown down along Highway 10 East.
A tree was blown down in Ashford.
There were widespread reports of trees and power lines down across Dale county.
Trees were blown down in the Clayhatchee area.
Several trees were blown down near State Highway 103 and County Road 49.
An EF1 tornado tracked across southern Henry County, snapping and uprooting numerous trees, destroying a mobile home, and causing minor roof damage to a few structures. Max winds were estimated at 110 mph. Damage cost was estimated.
Widespread trees and power lines were blown down.
Power lines were blown down near Halesburg.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2017Warnings in Alabama, January 2017
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: 673311, 673312, 673313, 673314, 673315, 673316, 673317, 673318, 673327, 673328, 673329, 673310, 673330, 673007, 673332, 673333.