Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Alabama, March 15 to 17, 2021

Dime to quarter size hail along Highway 17 near the intersection of Military Grove Road.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Sumter County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 75 mph. The tornado began and ended near the intersection of Walker Road and Highway 17. Damage consisted of uprooted trees, broken large tree branches, and shingle damage to a residence.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northeastern Dallas County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 115 mph. The tornado first touched down near Water Avenue just south of State Road 14, initially producing minor tree damage. The tornado quickly intensified snapping and uprooting large stands of hardwood trees as it moved into the Burnsville community. Near State Road 14 and County Road 871, a well built home sustained structural damage including the loss of a carport, roof damage, broken windows, and partial loss of one wall structure. An unanchored manufactured home next door was completely destroyed with the remaining contents blown across the road and scattered over 100 yards. A vehicle at this residence was rolled and sustained damage. The tornado continued to move rather slowly off to the northeast causing additional trees to fall. Several additional homes along the path sustained structural damage of mainly roof uplift and loss of shingles. Another manufactured home with some anchoring was rolled and blown apart on the north side of State Road 14. There were two occupants inside the home who were sheltering. They survived and crawled out with minor injuries. Farther northeast along State Road 14, a two story home sustained structural damage along with additional damage from falling trees. They were very large hardwood trees snapped near the base. A motorist trying to evade the tornado attempted to take shelter here and narrowly missed a large falling tree. At this point the tornado was likely at its widest reaching nearly 1000 yards. The tornado crossed State Road 14 moving into a mostly forested area producing significant tree damage before crossing County Road 261. Here a wide swath of trees and power lines were downed. The tornado finally weakened and lifted before reaching County Road 880.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in east central Sumter County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 105 mph. A tornado touched down on the south side of Highway 28 East just west of Adams Drive. The tornado traveled north and produced mostly tree damage, with numerous hardwood and softwood trees snapped or uprooted. A home in the Bluffport community lost part of its roof and a mobile home was shifted from its blocks. The tornado lifted just north of Port of Epes Highway.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Autauga County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 90 mph. A tornado touched down near Tom Turner Road where minor tree damage was noted. The tornado traveled east-northeast nearly paralleling County Road 24. Here, large trees were snapped near a home with several causing minor damage to the home and a porch. Farther down the road, another home sustained minor roof damage. The tornado appeared to weaken rather dramatically with only minor evidence of tree damage before the tornado lifted west of County Road 19.

Tennis ball size hail reported near the town of Gordo.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Chilton County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 95 mph. A tornado touched down near County Road 484 and tracked north-northeast producing mainly tree damage along County Roads 491 and 97. Hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted along County Roads 486 and 491. Some minor structural damage was also noted with damage to farm buildings and an outbuilding. The tornado widened to about 500 yards in this area. As the tornado continued northeast towards County Road 28, it began to weaken with more minor tree damage noted. The tornado dissipated quickly just north of County Road 28.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in far northern Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 80 mph. The short-lived tornado began near Water Street and crossed Lock and Dam Road, dissipating before reaching the Tombigbee River. Damage consisted of uprooted trees, large tree branches broken, and some paneling pulled from a building.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwestern Hale County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 105 mph. A tornado touched down near Martin Slough Lake in a mostly inaccessible area just east of the Black Warrior River. It traveled northeast causing mostly sporadic timber damage. Upon entering the town of Moundville, stronger winds were indicated by varying degrees of minor to moderate structural damage, including damage to the post office and a nearby apartment building. Many other structures were damaged from falling trees and other flying debris based on video footage. The tornado crossed into Tuscaloosa County near the intersection of Highway 72 and Highway 69.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 90 mph. A tornado touched down south of the town of Sweet Water along County Road 6. It continued northeastward and reached its maximum intensity along County Road 7. The tornado dissipated as it crossed Highway 10 just southeast of Sweet Water. Damage was limited to numerous snapped trees.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Coosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 65 mph. The tornado began and ended around County Road 56. Damage was limited to an uprooted pine tree, and several trees had broken branches. A brief TDS was also noted on the BMX radar.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Tuscaloosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph. This tornado crossed from Hale County into Tuscaloosa County near the intersection of Highway 69 and Highway 72 in the city of Moundville. The tornado impacted a subdivision on Waterbury Drive and caused structural damage to a church and several homes. Farther northeast, the tornado produced sporadic timber damage, and lofted/flipped some campers on Old Greensboro Road. The most significant damage occurred along South Rosser Road where a few mobile homes were destroyed from a fallen tree. A corridor of fairly significant timber damage was also observed along South Rosser Road. The tornado continued northeast toward South Ridge Road before dissipating just west of Highway 82.

Village Creek at Avenue W went into flood and several roads in the Ensley Community were flooded and impassable.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Tuscaloosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 90 mph. A short-lived tornado touched down near Lake Wildwood, east of Cottondale. However, it still managed to produce timber and minor structural damage that was consistent with EF1 strength. The tornado dissipated near Lawton Road.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Tuscaloosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. The tornado touched down along Lock 17 Road near Warrior Met Coal. The tornado tracked north-northeasterly and produced significant timber damage. Damage was also sustained to a metal warehouse on Davis Road where siding and roofing material was lofted east to west into the tree line. Downstream, a long corridor of significant timber damage was observed along with minor damage to a communications tower near the intersection of Hannah Creek Road and Searles Road. The tornado continued north-northeast across a mostly inaccessible wooded area where the last point of observable damage occurred at the end of Alabama Junction.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northeastern Tuscaloosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph. A tornado touched down in rural Tuscaloosa county with numerous hardwood and softwood trees were snapped or uprooted. Damage began along Burchfield Road where the most intense damage was observed. The tornado moved through mostly inaccessible areas, crossing Cane Creek, Davis Creek, and Rockhouse Creek before crossing into Jefferson County near Ethridge Road.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Jefferson County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 80 mph. This tornado began in Tuscaloosa County and crossed into Jefferson County near Ethridge Road. Damage consisted of a few uprooted trees. The tornado dissipated soon after it moved into Jefferson County.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Dallas County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 65 mph. The tornado touched down near State Road 66, just east of County Road 109. At this location, a few large branches were snapped off. The tornado tracked northeast through pastureland where additional minor tree damage was observed. The tornado lifted just north of County Road 109 where a large softwood tree was uprooted.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in west Jefferson County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph. The tornado touched down along Crocker Road. At a landfill along Porter Road, several garage doors were blown in, a tractor trailer was blown over, and an outbuilding was destroyed. The tornado reached its maximum intensity where Shady Grove Road crosses Village Creek, snapping numerous trees. The tornado continued into an inaccessible wooded area near Bayview Lake and dissipated prior to reaching Hazelwood Road.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph. This long track tornado began in the NWS Mobile forecast area and traveled almost 35 miles through Wayne, Choctaw, and Clarke Counties as an EF-2 tornado. It weakened to an EF-1 tornado as it crossed into Marengo County. It continued to snap and uproot numerous trees as it crossed Highway 69. The tornado dissipated in a wooded area northeast of Highway 69.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 65 mph. The tornado began near 3rd Avenue in Sweet Water and proceeded north crossing Highway 10. The tornado continued north of Sweet Water, dissipating near Beaver Creek Road. Damage mainly consisted of broken large tree branches.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Jefferson County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 85 mph. A tornado touched down near Sutherland Road on the west side of Interstate 65 and tracked northeast crossing Interstate 65 and Highway 31. Damage consisted of downed trees with relatively minor structural damage. However, there were several instances of significant residential and vehicle damage from fallen trees. One person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Chilton County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 130 mph. A tornado touched down in an inaccessible area near Little Mulberry Creek northwest of Billingsley. It continued north-northeastward, uprooting a few trees along County Road 361. The tornado intensified as it crossed County Road 37 near the intersection with County Road 24. Near this intersection, an unanchored home was shifted off of its foundation and a large anchored building was destroyed. In addition, a doublewide manufactured home was completely destroyed with debris blown downstream, some exterior walls of a brick residence were collapsed, and outbuildings were damaged. The occupants of the manufactured home reported getting the warning and taking shelter with additional family members in a storm shelter minutes before the storm hit. The resident of the brick structure also reported receiving the warning and taking cover in an interior closet with a friend. Both were uninjured. Also near this intersection, another residence suffered roof damage, two vehicles were moved 15 feet, and multiple trees were uprooted. The tornado continued northeastward through a wooded area, snapping numerous trees before dissipating as it crossed County Road 16 just east of Pools Crossroads.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Blount County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. The tornado began near Tim King Road along Hunt Mountain. It moved northeast and crossed Highway 231, with damage consisting mainly of snapped and uprooted trees. The tornado then crossed Wilson Chapel Road where it snapped a couple of trees and rolled a camper at a residence before dissipating.

Roof blown off tractor barn.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Autauga County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 70 mph. This short-lived tornado touched down and dissipated near the intersection of County Road 43 and County Road 21. Damage consisted of a destroyed metal outbuilding and a few snapped softwood trees. The tornado also caused damage to a nearby carport which was lofted into an open field. The tornado continued northeast into an open pasture where it dissipated.

A few trees uprooted along County Road 20.

A few trees uprooted near the intersection of Upper Kingston Road and Gardner Road.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Montgomery County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 80 mph. The short-lived tornado touched down on the east side of Highway 231 just north of County Road 72. The tornado produced damage on a farmstead, uprooting trees in the front yard, destroying a playhouse and trampoline. A tree fell on the house, damaging the roof. Additional structural damage was also noted to the roof mainly in form of shingle loss. The tornado continued northeast across the property uprooting mainly softwood trees with some sporadic snapping of trees along its path. The tornado lifted near the back pastureland.