Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 24 to 25, 2023

A tree was knocked down at 1465 Maud Road. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 2265 Old Memphis Pike. Time estimated by radar.

A bow echo from an embedded supercell within a line of thunderstorms intensified and produced a long-lived and at times wide swath of wind damage as it entered the Shoals, including Tuscumbia, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, to the northeast part of the county before crossing the Tennessee River. Wind speeds were measured over 60 mph at multiple locations, and gusts may have reached up to 80-90 mph when a brick wall of a two story building collapsed and a large part of roofing was taken off another portion of the building. Trees, power poles and power lines were taken down in numerous locations. According to utilities in Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals, over 60 power poles were knocked down or snapped and over 25 transformers were knocked out resulting in widespread power outages. Numerous trees were knocked down. Extensive debris had to be cleaned up off area roads and streets. At least two vehicles were damaged or destroyed by falling trees or other debris. Numerous residences experienced minor to significant damage due to falling trees, or roof damage due to the high winds, and resultant flooding inside homes. At least one home was struct by lightning sparking a damaging fire. Damage and repair costs for public, business and residential exceeded $10 Million.

A tree was knocked down onto a house at 1225 CR 139. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Willingham Loop and Sweetgum Lane. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at the intersection of Oak Hill Avenue and Edgewood Drive. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down onto a concrete railing at the Henson Creek bridge on Wagon Mountain Road.

A tree was knocked down on Spring Court. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 1085 Tennessee Avenue. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 310 South Blackwell Road. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at the intersection of St. Louis Avenue and West 6th Street. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 1309 Annapolis Avenue. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 3306 Northeast 13th Avenue. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down on Ashe Blvd. near the railroad bridge. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 2206 Ashe Blvd. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at the intersection of McGee Street and Tressie Street. Time estimated by radar.

A tree was knocked down at 682 Pinegrove Drive. Time estimated by radar.

The roof was torn off of the El Politos restaurant. Multiple trees and power lines were also knocked down along Chisholm Road.

A bow echo from an embedded supercell within a line of thunderstorms intensified and produced destructive winds in a narrow swath of north and northeast Florence.|Wind speeds of 60-65 mph occurred in much of this area, with a few gusts of 80-90 mph in a few locations. Trees, power poles and power lines were taken down in multiple locations. Trees were knocked down onto multiple homes and vehicles. The Seven Points district and areas just north and northeast of the University of North Alabama campus were hit particular hard. Along this long swath, a significant number of trees, power lines and power pols were knocked down. Many residences experience minor to severe damage from trees falling onto their homes or vehicles.

A bow echo from an embedded supercell within a line of thunderstorms intensified and produced a long-lived and at times wide swath of wind damage as it entered the Shoals, including Florence and Killen, to the east central part of Lauderdale County north of Elgin. Widespread wind damage occurred in south, southeast and eastern Florence to Killen, becoming more sporadic further east. Wind speeds of 60-65 mph occurred in much of this area, with a few gusts of 80-90 mph in a few locations. One of the hardest hit locations was between Killen and Florence where the entire roof was taken off of antique mall, a sign was blown out at a church, and roofing was taken off of a fire station. Trees, power poles and power lines were taken down in numerous locations, stormwater and gas lines were damaged, and debris and utility restoration costs were extensive. Schools buses were damaged, parks were damaged with extensive cleanup. A significant number of residences experienced damage due to falling trees. Damage, cleanup and repair costs are in the millions of dollars.

The tornado touched down near the intersection of Sweetwater Avenue and Huntsville Road in southeast Florence. The tornado nearly paralleled Sweetwater Creek as it tracked northward. Along Sweetwater Creek and Sweetwater Avenue, numerous trees were uprooted and snapped and structures and small outbuildings were damaged. There was also minor room damage to a single family home. As the tornado crossed Highway 43, more trees and minor structure damage was observed near Mall Road and north of Hough Road. The tornado approached Hunter Ridge subdivision northeast of Florence and south of Saint Florian along County Road 61, removing part of a roof at the back of the neighborhood. The tornado then moved northeast into the Plantation Springs subdivision, damaging roofs to two homes on the southeastern corner of Plantation Springs Drive around the Blackberry Trail Golf Course. The tornado then strengthened to its strongest and widest point between Cottonwood Trail and Karley Lane, producing the most widespread structure damage along its path here. About half of the roofs of several homes were destroyed, and the backside of the homes sustained severe damage as the tornado moved through the area. At this point, the tornado was about 100 yards wide, and produced peak winds of 120 mph at this location. The last house on the northeast corner of Plantation Springs Drive sustained the worst damage near the golf course, with more than half the roof destroyed and two rooms with walls collapsed at this location. The tornado lifted shortly after this point.

A tree was knocked down onto an automobile in the Seven Points area. Person inside vehicle.

A 63 mph wind gust was measured at the HCN/CRN station MSXA1 on the TVA reservation.

Trees were knocked down onto Kendall Drive.

Roof damage was reported at Wilson High School.

A tree was knocked down at the intersection of River Road and County Line Road.

A tree was knocked down onto CR 94. Time estimated by radar.

A power line was knocked down.

A 66 mph wind gust was recorded at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL).

Shingles were blown off of a house which caused some water to enter the residence.

A narrow swath of very high winds knocked down trees, power lines, uplifted roofing at multiple residences, and destroyed a well constructed outbuilding/detached garage.

Several trees were knocked down across roads in the Aqua Vista neighborhood.

Trees were knocked down onto the eastbound lanes of Highway 72 in front of Brooks High School.

A tree was knocked down at 1000 Fawn Lane. Time estimated by radar.

Fence and siding damage of a gymnasium was reported at Rogers High School.

A National Weather Service and Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency damage assessment team surveyed damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado near Anderson. Peak winds were estimated at 97 mph. The main damage indicators for this assessment were from uprooted or snapped trees and minor structural damage, mainly to roofs. The tornado touched down off County Road (CR) 49, near the West Fork of Anderson Creek and tracked east-northeast along Highway 64. Along Highway 64, between CR 508 and CR 93, numerous trees were uprooted with a couple of snapped trees that fell on at least one home. Near CR 508, one home sustained roof damage with greater than 20% loss of roofing materials. Additionally, a small garage was completely destroyed when the garage door caved in. The tornado began tracking more northeast as it passed CR 93. More trees were uprooted and sporadic limb damage was noted through CR 207 as the tornado lifted.

Lightning struck a residence at 313 Kimberly Avenue sparking a fire and causing significant damage.

A 67 mph wind gust was measured northwest of Rogersville.

An official from the Bankhead National Forest reported tornado damage to the National Weather Service (NWS) in a remote area. After reviewing high resolution satellite data through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the NWS has determined an EF-1 tornado occurred. Damage indicators were mostly noted as hard wood tree uproots. Satellite imagery showed large swath of trees uprooted as evidenced by Worldview (35 cm) imagery. Tree fall patterns indicates convergence and falls partly perpendicular to storm track. Based on this information, the tornado touched down near Northwest Road and Thompson Creek and lifted near Braziel Creek.

Several trees and power lines were knocked down along Highway 36 and CR 81.

The tornado likely first touched down between County Road 203 and Highway 157 in far eastern Lawrence County. Minor roof damage to chicken houses was noted at this location before the tornado crossed the highway. Sporadic tree damage was observed near the Highway 36 and CR 200 intersection. Peak wind speeds of 74 mph were estimated. The tornado then moved into Morgan County toward Danville.

A tornado tracked out of far east central Lawrence County into Morgan County. Minor damage was noted around Danville High School with the football scoreboard partially destroyed. The tornado intensified as it tracked east-northeast toward Targum Road. Uprooted trees, minor damage to a home, and a destroyed carport were observed. Tracking east, the tornado uprooted and snapped a significant number of trees along Iron Man Road and Forest Chapel Road. While there was heavy structural damage to single-family homes, the bulk of the damage was due to trees falling on houses. The tornado remained on the ground uprooting trees and tracking toward Vaughn Bridge Road. Near the Vaughn Bridge and Vest Road intersection, the tornado lifted and snapped the anchoring system of a single-wide mobile home. This caused the unit to overturn and roll, destroying the home. One fatality was reported at this location. Given the degree of damage, and strapping of anchors to the I-beam, the damage indicator held consistent with expected wind speed values. As the tornado tracked east, numerous trees were uprooted causing structural damage along Highway 31 and further east on Sparkman Street and through Bethel Road. The tornado likely lifted before the Bethel Road and I-65 intersection.

A tornado touched down on Highway 55 in Falkville and tracked generally northeastward. Initially, the tornado snapped trees and a small power pole in a yard on Highway 55. Farther to the northeast, the tornado did considerable roof damage to a barn at a residence on Chappell Road, and uprooted trees near the intersection of Chappell Road and Bert Stinson Road. The tornado then tracked along a largely wooded area, before snapping and uprooting trees on Nature Trail. There, the tornado also created roof damage to a small log cabin style home.

Farther to the northeast, in a heavily wooded area to the north of Nature Trail, the tornado uprooted and snapped a long swath of trees nearly continuously before emerging into an open field, where it continued to snap and uproot trees along its path. In the open field, the tornado completely destroyed a large pole barn that contained 4x4 posts, some of which were anchored into the ground with cement. The walls of the barn were made of exterior metal sheeting with 2x4 wooden studs, which were toe-nailed into the 4x4 posts, and accompanied by a metal truss system. The barn contained 10,500lb hay bales which were blown downstream. A very large, old oak tree was uprooted adjacent to the barn. The width at its base was estimated to be 5 feet.

The tornado continued to track generally to the northeast, snapping and uprooting trees along Wilson Mountain Road, which continued along the northeast adjacent and along Blankenship Narrell Drive. On Cottonwood Lane, trees were uprooted and snapped. One tree fell on an RV at a residence. From there, the tornado moved into a largely inaccessible heavily wooded area.

A tree was knocked down along Oakwood Avenue.

A National Weather Service damage survey assessed tornado damage in northeastern Morgan County. Damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado with a peak wind speed of 94 mph.

Many damage indicators were in the form of uprooted trees and minor structural damage. The tornado touched down near the Highway 32 and Crisco Circle intersection. Tracking east-northeast, numerous trees were uprooted along Rescue Road. Near Rescue Road and Highway 231, an unanchored shed was destroyed. The tornado crossed the highway and uprooted many more trees along Old Silo Road and also damaged the roof to chicken houses. The tornado lifted just west of the Morgan-Marshall County line.

Roof damage to a barn/outbuilding was reported near 532 CR 138.

Major wall damage and roof damage to a barn/outbuilding was reported at 10449 CR 17.

Major wall damage and roof damage to a barn/outbuilding was reported at 10561 CR 17.

Minor window damage to a home at 286 Sleepy Lane.

Trees were snapped and uprooted at 1400 Old Larkinsville Road.

A tree was knocked down onto a home at 112 Benson Lane.

A large tree was snapped and crushed a car at 635 CR 42.

A large antenna at a residence was bent completely over and a water pipe was broken at a residence at 1045 CR 36.

A tree was knocked down onto a car at 600 CR 42.

Trees were snapped and uprooted at 4155 Highway 40.

Trees were snapped and uprooted at 1900 CR 46.

A tree was knocked down onto a house at 103 5th Street.

Roof damage and a broken water pipe was reported at 294 CR 81.

Large tree limbs were knocked down at 25127 AL Highway 71.

Aerial surveillance provided by Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), supplemented by a ground survey of National Weather Service personnel and DeKalb County EMA confirmed an EF-1 tornado near the Flat Rock area.

The tornado touched down southwest of CR 81, north of Flat Rock near Fabius Poultry. Multiple chicken houses sustained roof damage at this location. The tornado tracked east toward CR 81 where numerous softwood trees were uprooted. The final damage point was east of Highway 117 where a possible ground scar was noted. Damage was then reported along and between Highway 71 and CR 326 to the county line. Uprooted|trees and minor structure damage was observed in this location.

Roof damage was reported at 3881 CR 326.

Power lines were knocked down along CR 92.

Aerial surveillance provided by Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), supplemented by a ground survey of National Weather Service personnel and DeKalb County EMA confirmed an EF-1 tornado near the Flat Rock area.

The tornado tracked from Jackson into DeKalb County where it caused minor roof damage to a single-family home and uprooted several trees. As it tracked east to Highway 75, power poles were tilted, and additional trees were uprooted before the tornado lifted just east of Highway 75.