Tornadoes and High Wind in Alabama, March 30, 2022

South winds gusting to 50 knots for several hours Wednesday evening resulted in numerous reports of trees uprooted and power outages across Jefferson County.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Greene County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. The tornado is believed to have touched down just south of the intersection Greenwood Road and Interstate 20. This area was heavily wooded and inaccessible, leaving the exact touchdown point estimated by radar. However, timber damage was found along portions of Greenwood Rd and Interstate 20 where swaths of snapped and uprooted trees were observed from the highway. This correlates with a tornado debris signature seen on KBMX and KGWX RADARs. The tornado continued northeast crossing County Road 12 where additional trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado then tracked between Livingston Country Club and Livingston Park before dissipating near the University of West Alabama campus.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Pickens County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 105 mph. The tornado touched down in a wooded area near Snider Road, south of the town of Gordo. It snapped and uprooted trees as it crossed Snider Road, also causing roof damage to a residence and shed. The tornado continued to uproot trees as it began to parallel Benevola Road, blowing off the roof of a barn that was being constructed. It reached its first maximum in intensity as it approached the Kirk community, snapping and uprooting many trees, with at least one falling on a home. It continued to damage sheds and damaged the roof of a manufactured home. The tornado crossed into Tuscaloosa County about six-tenths of a mile south of Highway 82.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in western Tuscaloosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. This tornado began in Pickens and crossed into Tuscaloosa County six-tenths of a mile south of Highway 82. The tornado began to decrease in intensity as it moved northeast towards Highway 82, but continued to uproot trees and caused minor roof damage to some homes along Highway 82. It appeared to increase again in intensity again as it approached the intersection of Boyd Road and Upper Columbus Road in the Echola community, snapping and uprooting more trees and collapsing a couple chicken houses. The tornado continued to snap trees as it crossed the Sipsey River, dissipating just before reaching Highway 171.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Greene County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. The tornado touched down west of Johnston Lake where some trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado then impacted some mobile homes on Knott Rd. One mobile home was rolled and destroyed. The tornado continued northeast across a heavily wooded area but then impacted homes and farm buildings near Taylor Branch. One house sustained minor roof and siding damage, but a mobile home farther east was completely destroyed with debris blown north into a tree line along County Road 50. Residents were not home at the time. The tornado continued northeast impacting a nearby church at County Roads 50 and 72. Several homes nearby sustained minor to significant roof damage on Develle Road. The tornado continued northeast crossing County Roads 49, 20 and 148, where trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado lifted near Taylor Creek before it crossed Highway 43.

This is the first segment of a tornado that originated in Choctaw, Alabama, and crossed into southwest Marengo County. National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 125 mph. A corridor of uprooted softwood trees was first observed near the Marengo County line where the trees were toppled across Blue Rock Road. The tornado tracked northeast near the intersection of Highway 69 and County Road 9. This area contained the highest degree and widest swath of damage noted on the survey where the tornado was likely at its strongest. There were considerable and continuous swaths of uprooted hardwood and softwood trees in addition to multiple snapped trunks. A manufactured home on County Road 9 was completely destroyed as the undercarriage rolled at least 30 yards from its foundation. A brick home next door also sustained roof damage not only from the winds, but also from a tree which fell onto the bedroom. The tornado continued northeast where it removed large portions of the roof and exterior walls from a single family residence on Highway 10. Other nearby residences sustained minor damage in addition to tree damage. After the tornado crossed Highway 10, it nearly paralleled Highway 69. Eventually the tornado reached Half Acre Circle where multiple trees were uprooted and a few residences sustained minor damage. On County Road 17, an abandoned and structurally unstable manufactured home was rolled onto its side. At this point, observed damage indicated that the tornado was likely weakening before it eventually lifted in the woods just east of County Road 17.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in central Perry County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 115 mph. The tornado began along Dr JJ Howard Road where a path of trees were snapped and uprooted either side of farmland. Additional trees were snapped and uprooted along Albert Turner Sr Memorial Highway. The most significant damage occurred along Fikes Ferry Road where a large swath of pine trees were snapped, pushing the rating to EF2. The tornado continued northeastward, lifting before reaching Highway 14 just north of Radford.

This is the second segment of a tornado that originated in Choctaw, Alabama, and crossed into southwest Marengo County. National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 125 mph. A corridor of uprooted softwood trees was first observed near the Marengo County line where the trees were toppled across Blue Rock Road. The tornado tracked northeast near the intersection of Highway 69 and County Road 9. This area contained the highest degree and widest swath of damage noted on the survey where the tornado was likely at its strongest. There were considerable and continuous swaths of uprooted hardwood and softwood trees in addition to multiple snapped trunks. A manufactured home on County Road 9 was completely destroyed as the undercarriage rolled at least 30 yards from its foundation. A brick home next door also sustained roof damage not only from the winds, but also from a tree which fell onto the bedroom. The tornado continued northeast where it removed large portions of the roof and exterior walls from a single family residence on Highway 10. Other nearby residences sustained minor damage in addition to tree damage. After the tornado crossed Highway 10, it nearly paralleled Highway 69. Eventually the tornado reached Half Acre Circle where multiple trees were uprooted and a few residences sustained minor damage. On County Road 17, an abandoned and structurally unstable manufactured home was rolled onto its side. At this point, observed damage indicated that the tornado was likely weakening before it eventually lifted in the woods just east of County Road 17.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Greene County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. The tornado touched down near Flag Road, near the Black Warrior River. The tornado snapped and uprooted dozens of trees, some of which fell onto homes. Some homes sustained significant roof damage, with debris blown in a north direction and splatter on south and east facing walls. The tornado tracked northeast snapping and uprooting more trees near Sims Creek. The damage path may have continued farther but there was no access beyond the last observable point.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Perry County and determined that it was consistent with an EF3 tornado, with maximum winds near 145 mph. The tornado touched down near the intersection of county road 183 and 219.|Tree damage was observed, of which became quite significant along Barnette Road and Whitetail Road, where a wide swath of large pine trees were snapped. The tornado continued to increase in intensity and reached EF3 strength as it approached the Bibb County line. An aerial survey was conducted and significant timber damage was observed and photographed in northeast Perry County. This area is in the Oakmulgee District of the Talladega National Forest. Though it was hard to assess how many trees were blown down, it was clear that tens of thousands of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted along the tornadoes path during max intensity. Some trunks were left at least partially debarked. Due to the widespread nature of the timber damage, including some 300-400 yard wide sections of complete blow-down, the rating of this tornado was upgraded to EF3 with estimated peak winds of 145 mph. The tornado crossed into Bibb Count about one mile west of Beaverdam Creek.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Bibb County and determined that it was consistent with an EF3 tornado, with maximum winds near 145 mph. This tornado originated in Perry County and crossed into southern Bibb County about one mile west of Beaverdam Creek. The most widespread tree damage occurred near the Perry/Bibb county line in the Oakmulgee National Forest. The tornado continued northeast and crossed Highway 82 near the northeast corner of the National Forest. Trees were uprooted and snapped in this area. The tornado tracked across northeast Bibb County, causing additional timber damage as it approached the Brierfield community. It crossed into Shelby County near Moreland 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 95 mph. The tornado touched down in a wooded area just east of Holt near Hurricane Creek. It snapped and uprooted trees as it crossed Don Drive and Shades Creek Drive. It reached its maximum intensity on the south side of Holt Lock and Dam based on tree damage. It crossed the Black Warrior River and continued to snap and uproot trees at the Deerlick Creek Campground. The tornado continued to uproot trees on Deerlick Road as it began to parallel the Black Warrior River, with more trees down at the end of Port Mayfield Road. The tornado continued northeastward into an inaccessible area, but based on radar it dissipated before crossing the Black Warrior River.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Shelby County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 88 mph. This tornado originated in Perry County, crossed through eastern Bibb County, and crossed into Shelby County near Moreland Road. The tornado mostly uprooted softwood trees as it approached the town of Wilton. A few homes were damaged in Wilton, in the area of Church Street due to fallen trees. The tornado continued northeast and dissipated over the University of Montevallo campus where a few trees were blown over, several building windows were blown out and some roofing damage was observed on a few buildings.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northeast Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 100 mph. A brief tornado touched down in a open field just south of Hinton Road near Faunsdale. Large branches were broken from hardwood trees along a treeline in the field with some uprooted trees on Hinton Road. The tornado tracked northeastward through open pasture before reaching the town of Faunsdale. A majority of the damage was focused along Main Street where the roof and exterior wall were removed from the Faunsdale Bar and Grill. Surrounding structures sustained partial roof removal and tin panels were peeled back from the roof of a metal warehouse.|Minor tree damage was also noted in this area. The tornado lifted shortly after as it crossed Church Street.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in western Dallas County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 85 mph. A short-lived tornado touched down near the intersection of Alabama Highway 22 and County Road 113. Sporadic downed limbs and uprooted trees were noted at this location. The tornado tracked northeast and destroyed a barn as it crossed Alabama Highway 22. Debris was thrown several hundred yards downstream to the edge of a forested area. The tornado dissipated once it reached County Road 109.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Shelby County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph. The tornado touched down within the Chelsea Farms community where numerous softwood tress were snapped and uprooted. It quickly moved northeast crossing County Road 69 near the intersection of Twelve Oak Circle, hitting a power substation and destroying several hundred feet of pasture fencing. Farther downstream, the tornado reached its maximum intensity crossing County Roads 333 and 47, where several outbuildings were destroyed. There was also damage to numerous houses where roofing materials were lifted and sustained heavy damage. As the tornado continued northeast, it crossed County Road 49 where additional hard and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted and a barn lost a majority of its outer walls. The tornado began to lift along Pumpkin Swamp Road where additional hard and softwood trees were uprooted.

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Lowndes County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 85 mph. The tornado touched down at Fice Cemetery along Highway 80 on the south side of Lowndesboro, where a couple of trees were snapped. The tornado strengthened as it tracked northward toward the center of town along Broad Street. At Lowndes Academy, one building lost its metal roof. Numerous historic homes sustained minor roof damage, and a couple dozen very large mature trees were uprooted at these homes. Only one home sustained partial roof removal due to uplift along the front porch. The tornado weakened as it moved north of the historic district and eventually dissipated near the intersection of Broad Street and Brown Hill Road.