A quasi-linear convective system progressed east through north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee from the late morning through the middle afternoon hours. A supercell within the line produced an EF-1 tornado in Franklin County northwest of Russellville.
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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 HUN wrote it up.
A quasi-linear convective system progressed east through north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee from the late morning through the middle afternoon hours. A supercell within the line produced an EF-1 tornado in Franklin County northwest of Russellville. Damaging winds were reported at times along this line, knocking down trees, power lines, and producing damage to some homes. A second area of thunderstorms arrived during the mid to late evening hours in northwest Alabama, producing excessive rainfall and flooding in the Florence area.
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 Jan 3, 9:23 AM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Huntsville AL 923 AM CST Tue Jan 3 2023 ...New NEAR TERM... .NEAR TERM... (Rest of Today) Issued at 923 AM CST Tue Jan 3 2023 A Tornado Watch has been issued until 5 PM for most of the area except far northeast AL. We may have to extend this to those counties eventually, but will monitor convective trends closely. QLCS in MS will arrive in northwest AL in the next 1-2 hours, and CAMS suggest progression east across the I-65 corridor between 18-20Z. Gusty southerly flow continues to advection warm and moist air northward, and despite cloud cover, temperatures are around 70 with dew points in the lower 60s. Dew points in the middle 60s were located just to our south. The combination of SBCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg and effective bulk shear of 45-50kt, and effective SRH of 300-400 m2/s2 will yield supercellular structures within the QLCS. Will assess the line as it moves east on whether to extend the watch later today. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Wednesday night) Issued at 432 AM CST Tue Jan 3 2023 Some models hint at another round of strong to severe thunderstorms moving into the area ahead of and along the primary cold front during the overnight hours through daybreak on Wednesday. Not as certain of this. If this occurs, the severe threats look similar with the added possibility of some flooding occurring east of the I-65 corridor primarily. Holding off on flood watch for now given uncertainty of second round. Winds today will also increase and be sustained between 10 and 15 mph with gusts of 25 to 35 mph through 7 PM, before diminishing to around 25 mph. This should keep winds just below advisory criteria, but it will be close. Some lingering showers and storms could hold on into the morning hours on Wednesday, especially in northeastern Alabama. Then expect fairly quick clearing in the afternoon. Cold air advection behind the front will make for a cooler day, as highs only reach the 60 to 65 degree range. Thursday night will be much cooler dropping into the upper 30s to lower 40s. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday through Monday) Issued at 432 AM CST Tue Jan 3 2023 The coolest days looks to be on Thursday into Friday night, as the area of high pressure drops just to our southwest and then east over the area. Highs only climb into the lower to md 50s on Thursday. Lows Thursday night look to drop into the lower 30s with light winds and clear skies. The coolest day looks to be on Friday, with highs only in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Some warming is expected Friday night into Saturday, as a weak front approaches the area. Cloud cover should increase along with weak warm air/moisture advection. HIghs should climb back into the upper 50s again on Saturday. Then as the front stalls over or near the area, temperatures should remain fairly steady state. Highs in the lower/mid 50s with lows in the upper 30s/40s are expected with low chances of light showers and abundant cloud cover. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 543 AM CST Tue Jan 3 2023 MVFR CIGS are expected to continue through much of the TAF period at both terminals. VCSH are expected with periods of +TSRA through 21Z at KMSL and 01Z at KHSV. Another round of additional TSRA may need to be added later as the actual cold front pushes through the terminals overnight, but left out for now. Early this evening, expect CIGS to lower below 1000 feet. && .HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AL...None. TN...None. && NEAR TERM...17 SHORT TERM....KTW LONG TERM....KTW AVIATION...RSB
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 78 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:42 UTC.
13 thunderstorm wind, 2 flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and power lines were knocked down on Highway 247.
Trees were knocked down near Jones Road at Highway 247.
A tornado touched down just west of Shady Grove Road. Damage to a small farm outbuilding and snapped cedar trees were observed. The tornado quickly moved through a residential farm and damaged the roof of a couple farm outbuildings, snapped more large branches, and downed more trees. The owner of the property managed to safely seek shelter in his tractor as the tornado quickly passed. More tree damage was noted to the northeast of the Shady Grove Road farm before it produced minor roof damage to chicken houses and a mobile home. The tornado appeared to have lifted near this location. Maximum winds were estimated at 88 mph, using snapped cedar trees as a damage indicator.
Thunderstorm winds damaged chicken houses, rooves, and knocked trees down.
Multiple trees were knocked down.
A power pole and multiple trees, limbs and power lines were knocked down.
Trees and power lines were knocked down.
A tree was knocked down on power lines.
Approximately 4-6 inches of water over roadways to the West of downtown Athens. Most likely nuisance flooding as heavy rainfall moved through the area.
A metal barn was knocked down.
Report of broken windows, siding and shutters peeled and trees knocked down.
A tree was knocked down.
A tree was knocked down on power lines at the intersection of Wilhite Road and Coyote Hollow Private Drive.
A few trees were knocked down on Interstate 65, about 5 miles north of Cullman.
A few pieces of tin were torn off of a chicken house.
Over 6 inches of water over the road at Parks Avenue and Dover Street near the Jail in Scottsboro. This spot typically floods and is in a low-lying area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2023Warnings in Alabama, January 2023
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: 1076797, 1076798, 1074279, 1076799, 1076800, 1076801, 1076804, 1076807, 1077490, 1076808, 1076810, 1076811, 1076812, 1076813, 1076814, 1077491.