Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, March 30 to 31, 2022

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, March 30 to 31, 2022
Start: 2022-03-30T23:15
End: 2022-03-31T00:43
Location: Florida

March 30 to 31, 2022 · NWS MOB · 9 events in 3 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: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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 MOB wrote it up.

A very active severe weather season continued as an outbreak of severe thunderstorms occurred across the area from the evening of the 30th into the early morning hours on the 31st. A strong spring storm system moved across the area. Ahead of the system plenty of Gulf moisture returned to the central Gulf coast. This led to a very unstable atmosphere over the region which combined to strong wind shear to produce 18 tornadoes which were rated from EF-0 to EF-2. In addition to the tornadoes, the storms produced damaging straight line winds and large hail. Numerous reports of damage came in from southeast Mississippi, southwest Alabama and the western Florida panhandle.

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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 30, 9:32 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 9:32 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1032 PM CDT Wed Mar 30 2022

...SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK ONGOING TONIGHT...

.NEAR TERM /Now Through Friday/...A severe weather outbreak
will continue across the central Gulf coast through tonight as a
line of severe storms with embedded tornadoes continues to move
eastward. Conditions remain favorable for strong tornadoes along
with wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph along and ahead of the line. The
severe threat ends once the line passes and the winds turn
northwest as the cold front passes. In addition to the severe
threat, non-convective strong wind gusts will continue. At the
coast, a High Surf Advisory will continue through Thursday
evening. A High Risk of Rip Currents continues through Friday
night. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for the area
around Mobile Bay for moderate coastal flooding to 2 to 3.5 feet
above normally dry ground and a Coastal Flood Advisory for the
remainder of the coast through 6 AM Thursday.

The line of storms exits east of the area by around 5 AM with a
few lingering showers possible southeast of I-65 during the early
mid-morning hours. Skies will clear rapidly from west to east
during the afternoon hours on Thursday. Dry conditions with
building high pressure continue through Friday.

Highs on Thursday will be in the low to mid 70s in most areas with
upper 70s possible in far eastern areas. Lows Thursday night
range from the low to mid 40s northwest of I-65 to upper 40s and
low 50s southeast of I-65. Highs on Friday will be in the low to
mid 70s./13

&&

.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Wind Advisory until midnight CDT tonight for ALZ053>060.

     Coastal Flood Warning until 6 AM CDT Thursday for ALZ263>265.

     High Wind Warning until midnight CDT tonight for ALZ051-052-
     261>266.

     High Rip Current Risk through late Friday night for ALZ265-266.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 6 AM CDT Thursday for ALZ266.

     High Surf Warning until 6 PM CDT Thursday for ALZ265-266.

FL...Wind Advisory until midnight CDT tonight for FLZ203>206.

     High Wind Warning until midnight CDT tonight for FLZ201-202.

     High Rip Current Risk through late Friday night for FLZ202-204-
     206.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until 6 AM CDT Thursday for FLZ202-204-
     206.

     High Surf Warning until 6 PM CDT Thursday for FLZ202-204-206.

MS...Wind Advisory until midnight CDT tonight for MSZ067-075-076-078-
     079.

GM...Small Craft Advisory from 7 AM to 1 PM CDT Thursday for GMZ650-
     655-670-675.

     Gale Warning until 7 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ630>636-650-655-670-
     675.

&&

This product is also available on the web at:
www.weather.gov/mob

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 30, 8:18 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
918 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0846 PM     TORNADO          MCLAIN                  31.11N 88.83W
03/30/2022                   GREENE             MS   AMATEUR RADIO

            NUMEROUS POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN IN THE
            MCLAIN COMMUNITY. REPORTS OF TREES AND
            DEBRIS OVER OLD HIGHWAY 24. TDS OBSERVED ON
            RADAR. TIME ESTIMATED.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 30, 8:40 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
940 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0917 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 S GILBERTOWN          31.87N 88.32W
03/30/2022                   CHOCTAW            AL   STORM CHASER

            REPORTS OF TREE DAMAGE A FEW MILES SOUTH OF
            GILBERTOWN, AL.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 30, 10:45 PM CST, 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1145 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1058 PM     TSTM WND DMG     1 WNW HOLLINGERS ISLAND 30.55N 88.12W
03/30/2022                   MOBILE             AL   STORM CHASER

            REPORTS RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OF
            TREES/POWER LINES DOWN NEAR HAMILTON BLVD
            AND RANGELINE RD IN THEODORE, AL.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 30, 10:49 PM CST, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1149 PM CDT WED MAR 30 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1034 PM     TSTM WND DMG     2 ESE BIG CREEK LAKE    30.76N 88.31W
03/30/2022                   MOBILE             AL   PUBLIC

            REPORTS OF TREES DOWN AND DAMAGED STRUCTURES
            NEAR WULFF ROAD SOUTH AND HOWELLS FERRY
            ROAD.

&&

Local storm report, Mar 30, 11:08 PM CST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
1208 AM CDT THU MAR 31 2022

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1058 PM     COASTAL FLOOD    2 E PINTO ISLAND        30.68N 87.99W
03/30/2022                   BALDWIN            AL   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            U.S. 90 CAUSEWAY IS CLOSED IN BOTH
            DIRECTIONS DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING.

&&

The radar

The Mobile radar (KMOB), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:17 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Escambia

When: March 30, 11:15 PM CST to 11:17 PM CST
Where: Escambia County, Cantonment
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.620, -87.330

High winds downed trees in Cantonment.

Tornado, Escambia

When: March 30, 11:25 PM CST to 11:26 PM CST
Where: Escambia County, 2.34 mi E of Gonzalez to 2.56 mi E of Gonzalez
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.32 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.575, -87.261

A brief, weak EF0 tornado with winds upwards of 80mph began in|the Gonzalez area shortly after midnight on 3/31/22 impacting a|residential area from Chemstrand Road east northeast through|Caterpillar Lane and Crystal Drive. This tornado resulted in minor|damage to fencing, roofs, siding, and a couple uprooted/snapped|softwood trees in a weak convergent pattern along the damage path.|The tornado lifted at Crystal Drive.

Hail, Santa Rosa

When: March 30, 11:30 PM CST
Where: Santa Rosa County, Pace
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 30.600, -87.150

Tornado, Santa Rosa

When: March 30, 11:32 PM CST to 11:34 PM CST
Where: Santa Rosa County, 2.68 mi S of Wallace to 2.41 mi S of Wallace
Rating: EF1
Path length: 0.39 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.642, -87.185

A short duration EF1 tornado with winds upwards of 94mph impacted|the Pace area on 3/31/22. This tornado began on Dove Drive|impacting multiple residential structures resulting in notable|loss of roofing material along with many snapped/uprooted softwood|and hardwood trees. The tornado exited the community quickly|tracking just to the northwest of the Circle K on Quintette Road|where multiple trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado lifted|at or near the Berryhill and Chumuckla Highway intersection where|the damage path ended.

Tornado, Santa Rosa

When: March 30, 11:37 PM CST to 11:47 PM CST
Where: Santa Rosa County, 2.48 mi SSW of Mulat to 1.18 mi SSE of Galt City
Rating: EF1
Path length: 5.96 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey
Coordinates: 30.520, -87.143

An EF1 tornado began on 3/31/22 along the Escambia Bay Bridge of|I-10 overturning an eastbound semi-truck resulting in two|injuries. The tornado continued northeast moving onshore off of|Escambia Bay resulting in very sporadic minor tree damage around|North 6th Avenue. The tornado turned east northeast and picked up|in intensity as it uprooted and snapped numerous hardwood/softwood|trees and caused minor to moderate roofing damage to residential|homes. The tornado tracked northeast reaching its peak intensity|of 104mph along De La Rue Drive where a small tree stand had most|of its trees snapped with multiple uprooted and snapped trees in|its vicinity. The tornado continued northeast from here crossing|another small residential community located along Highland Lake Rd|into Edinburgh Castle Drive uprooting and snapping multiple trees|and removing some roofing material from residential homes. The|tornado cross Edinburgh Castle Drive where it impacted a|residential home which had a personal weather station located on|the back side of the house. The weather station measured a peak|wind gust of 97mph associated with the tornado. The home suffered|notable roof damage along with many of its windows blown out.|Several snapped and uprooted trees were also on the property. The|tornado continued east northeast crossing Florida 281, directly|impacting Avalon Utilities building removing some siding and|roofing material. The tornado likely continued to track northeast|of here, weakening as it did so across open fields and tree|stands. Due to limited road access, the end point of the tornado|is estimated based on the weakening of the couplet on radar and|the lack of any convergent wind damage on accessible roads to the|northeast.

Thunderstorm Wind, Escambia

When: March 30, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Escambia County, (Pns)pensacola Regio
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 30.470, -87.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Santa Rosa

When: March 31, 12:14 AM CST to 12:16 AM CST
Where: Santa Rosa County, 3.89 mi NNE of Floridale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Social Media
Coordinates: 30.730, -86.800

Strong winds downed a large oak tree at Blackwater Fish Hatchery.

Thunderstorm Wind, Okaloosa

When: March 31, 12:35 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa County, (Cew)bob Sikes Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 30.780, -86.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Okaloosa

When: March 31, 12:41 AM CST to 12:43 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa County, 4 mi NE of Campton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 30.921, -86.472

High winds downed trees an dpower lines on Plympton Road near Laurel Hill.

What these are

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.
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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Florida, 2022 Warnings in Florida, March 2022

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: 1016897, 1015498, 1015503, 1015499, 1015500, 1015511, 1015502, 1015512, 1015513.