Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, December 28 to 29, 2024

The tornado began near the intersection of County Road 34 and Hopper Hollow Road, where a site-built home lost its roof. Dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted in this area as well. The tornado continued to the northeast producing additional tree damage particularly near the intersection of Alabama Highway 18 and Coyote Road. The tornado continued to produce minor tree damage as it moved northeastward before dissipating near Watson Creek Road. Maximum winds were estimated at 105 mph.

Trees were downed across southern Sumter County, including in York, along McElroy Road and Delaine Road south of Cuba, along County Road 9 in Ward, and along Alabama Highway 28 in Coatopa.

The tornado began near Lost Creek Road, moved northeastward across Byson Road, and ended near Chapel Road. Damage consisted of downed limbs and several snapped and uprooted trees. Maximum winds were estimated at 65 mph.

The tornado began near the intersection of Sharon Chapel Road and Cantrell Road, where a house sustained shingle damage. The tornado moved northeastward and ended near Olive Hill Road, where a cluster of trees was uprooted and snapped. Maximum winds were estimated at 70 mph.

A tree fell on a chicken pen in Kennedy.

Multiple trees were downed in northwest Fayette County, including Highway 107 at Turner Road.

Multiple power lines and power poles were downed around County Highway 58 in Guin.

Several trees were downed between Winfield and Brilliant. A tree fell on a home in Brilliant.

Trees and power lines were downed on County Road 9 near Gordo.

The tornado began near County Highway 171, where a power pole was snapped and a manufactured home lost roof covering material. The tornado moved northeastward and crossed near the intersection of County Highway 46 and County Highway 70. Here, a few trees were uprooted, one home sustained a loss of shingles, and a trampoline was blown into the woods. The tornado continued to the northeast and produced significant tree damage around a residence near the intersection of County Highway 46 and Alabama State Highway 233. The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing State Highway 233. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.

The tornado began approximately four miles northeast of Forkland in extreme eastern Greene County along County Road 25, just north of Modley Lane. At this location, numerous large hardwoods were uprooted surrounding a site-built home, causing damage to the residence and at least one vehicle. Additionally, metal panels were removed from the roof and sides of a farm outbuilding. A few hundred yards to the north, a well-defined area of significant tree damage occurred, where many dozen to perhaps hundreds of pine trees were snapped. These non-contiguous pockets of well-defined damage suggest the tornado was characterized by multiple vortices. The tornado widened substantially and maintained its multiple vortex nature as it continued to the northeast and moved into Hale County.

Several trees were downed across the county, including near Fosters, Gorgas Rd at Northside Rd, Boyd Rd near Echola, and Highway 69 near Rosser Rd.

A tornado moved into Hale County from Greene County. Pockets of non-contiguous damage were found along Carnation Road and County Road 17, where the tornado was nearly one mile wide. Near the intersection of Carnation Road and Quail Drive, a hay barn was demolished, and at least two residences sustained uplift and removal of roof covering materials. Along County Road 17, dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado then made a northward turn as it moved through the center of Sawyerville, where only very minor damage was observed along State Highway 14. The tornado increased in intensity as it turned back to the northeast and continued to produce sporadic tree damage in a one mile wide path across County Road 18 and County Road 30. The tornado weakened and dissipated quickly as it crossed County Road 21 and Rasberry Road. Maximum estimated winds were 100 mph.

A shed was shifted and part of a pole barn was blown away.

A few trees were downed in Manchester.

A few trees were downed around the Perry County.

A few trees were downed near Vance.

A few trees were downed in western and northern Jefferson County, including near Oak Grove, Graysville, and Kimberly.

A few trees were downed around the West Blocton area.

Several trees and a few power lines were downed near Alabaster, Pelham, Hoover, and Indian Springs Village. A couple trees or large limbs fell on structures.

The tornado began east of Thorsby near County Road 23 where a few trees were uprooted. The tornado crossed Alabama State Highway 145, where a barndominium lost a few metal roof panels. Additional minor tree damage continued to the northeast from State Highway 145 to County Road 61 and County Road 197. Maximum winds were estimated at 65 mph.

NWS Birmingham storm survey determined a brief EF-1 tornado impacted an area northwest of Harpersville, mainly on El Gezira Road north of U.S. Highway 280. The tornado caused damage to a horse farm, impacting at least four structures. Varying degrees of timber damage were also observed with trees uprooted and large branches removed. The tornado caused additional damage near Prince Road, dissipating near Highway 83. Maximum estimated winds were 90 mph.

Several trees were downed around Vincent. A few structures sustained roof and/or structural damage as well.

A tornado began along Knight Place Rd and moved northeastward. Numerous trees were downed along or just west of the road, mainly limbs broken or uprooted trunks. A few small trees were snapped as well, along with downed power lines. A few structures sustained damage, including minor roof damage to a double-wide manufactured home, a single-wide manufactured home that was rolled over onto its roof, and a large open air shed that lost roof panels. Two people were injured in the overturned single-wide. The tree damage continued across County Road 45 into a large inaccessible area. Radar and satellite data were conclusive in showing that the tornado continued for a few more miles to the northeast, with significant tree damage on satellite imagery. Radar data and satellite show an east-southeast bend in the path before the tornado dissipated just west of Salem Church Rd. The ground survey resumed along Salem Church Rd and noted no discernible area of tornado damage. However, there was a large area of wind damage southeast of Salem Church Rd apparent from satellite, and tree debris from the residual tornado debris signature was noted along the road. After satellite analysis, roughly 4 miles was added to the existing track. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph.

NWS Birmingham storm survey has determined a brief EF-0 tornado impacted areas near Logan Martin Lake in far southern St. Clair County. The tornado began causing timber damage southwest of Rivercrest Drive. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and many fell onto homes near Shady Brook Lane. The tornado crossed the water and caused additional damage to timber and residences on Coosa Island Road. The tornado continued northeast causing, to a lesser degree, additional timber damage on Rabbit Branch Road and Treasure Island Road before dissipating. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph.

NWS Birmingham storm survey has determined an EF-1 tornado impacted and area southwest of Pell City, mainly on Roberts Mill Pond Road. Several areas of timber damage occurred, generally snapping and uprooting of hardwood trees, north of Highway 27. A chicken farm sustained significant damage, with at least five structures impacted. Debris was thrown at least 300 yards downstream. The tornado continued northeast toward Steward Road causing additional less significant timber damage dissipating thereafter. Maximum estimated winds were 110 mph.

A tornado began along County Road 26, with several cedar limbs down along the road. Numerous trees were uprooted across Hargrove Lane, and several more trees were downed near Rolling Acres Road. North of George Drive, a few trees were downed around a residence, solar panels were blown off the house, and siding was removed from an outbuilding. The tornado crossed into Montgomery County, where a small barn had much of the roof removed just east of Mason Road. A wooden playground set was flipped over against a tree just east of this location. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.

A tornado began along County Road 26, with several cedar limbs down along the road. Numerous trees were uprooted across Hargrove Lane, and several more trees were downed near Rolling Acres Road. North of George Drive, a few trees were downed around a residence, solar panels were blown off the house, and siding was removed from an outbuilding. The tornado crossed into Montgomery County, where a small barn had much of the roof removed just east of Mason Road. A wooden playground set was flipped over against a tree just east of this location. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.

A tornado began along Bill Joseph Pkwy and moved eastward across Folmar Pkwy and I-65. A few warehouses at the intersection of Bill Joseph and Folmar sustained roof and siding damage, with several trees down as well. At the end of County Court adjacent to I-65, the tornado became much stronger, and two warehouses sustained major roof loss on a corner of each building along with cinder-block wall collapse in sections of both buildings. Several semi trailers were flipped or tossed as well. This damage was rated upper-end EF1. After scattering debris across the interstate, two businesses at the intersection of U.S. 31 and Fischer Road sustained roof and structural damage, with several more semi trailers behind the buildings being flipped or moved. Just south of this location, Hooper Academy had mostly minor damage to the building and surrounding grounds which was not directly related to the tornado. Continuing east-northeast, several trees were uprooted north of Lagos Lane as the tornado tracked northeastward toward Hyundai Blvd. A newly constructed greenhouse-type building south of the main Hyundai facility had much of the covering ripped off. A house and shed at Hyundai Blvd had roof loss, and across the road a small metal building at the southeast corner of the Hyundai campus had roofing removed and blown across a railroad into a tree line. The tornado appeared to dissipate at this point, just before reaching U.S. 331. Maximum estimated winds were 110 mph.

A tornado began along Hobbie Road and Hillabee Road with a few uprooted trees and broken limbs. Tree damage gradually became more concentrated as the tornado moved northeastward, with a home south of Ridgeland Farms Road having the top of a pine tree fall on it. Several trees were uprooted across wooded areas before the tornado arrived at Mount Zion Road, where numerous pine trees were snapped or uprooted, one of which fell into the corner of a double-wide manufactured home. Significant splatter was observed on the east facing side of the double-wide. A couple sheds nearby sustained damage as well. Numerous trees were uprooted northeastward across wooded areas and pastures to Woodley Road and further to U.S. 231. Here, the BBQ Hill business sustained roof damage and had numerous pine trees snapped or uprooted on the premises. More trees were downed and an outbuilding was damaged along Old Carter Hill Road as the tornado dissipated. Maximum estimated winds were 100 mph.

A tornado was confirmed using aerial and ground surveys. Convergent tree damage was noted in a wooded area west-southwest of Split Bark Drive. Several small trees were snapped or uprooted along Hickory Hollow Cove, and a garage sustained partial roof loss. Further to the east along Cecil Station Road, numerous trees were uprooted, and tree limbs were snapped. A concentrated area of tree damage continued across Flowers Road and Vaughn Road, and the tornado appeared to dissipate just east of Vaughn Road and Pharr Road. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 mph.

A tornado began over an inaccessible area north of County Road 2 and south of Old Federal Road. Several trees were uprooted or limbs were snapped around a couple homes and a church as the tornado crossed Old Federal Road and U.S. 80. The church also sustained minor siding damage. More trees were uprooted as the tornado crossed Redland Road and Cross Keys Road, where the most substantial area of tree damage occurred just north of Deborah Cannon Wolfe School. The damage extent decreased substantially crossing County Road 30, with small trees and tree limbs downed. A few more tree limbs were downed along County Road 9 as the tornado track ended. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.

A tornado began south of U.S. 80 in a wooded area and moved northeast. Several trees and tree limbs were downed across Jackson Rd. Further northeast, along Old Federal Rd, numerous trees were uprooted behind the Shorter Post Office and Town Hall. Minor roof damage occurred to the post office building. A couple fences and signs were blown down as well. Tree damage continued across U.S. 80, where the Shorter Lodge building sustained minor roof damage and had a tree fall onto a ramp and porch overhang. An adjacent church had minor roof and siding damage as well. Minor tree damage continued into a wooded area east of County Road 40. A tornado debris signature was observed on KMXX (Maxwell Air Force Base) radar. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 mph.

A few trees were downed in roadways, including County Roads 32 and 41.

A tornado began just west of the confluence of Chewacla Creek and the Tallapoosa River near the Elmore County line and moved east-northeast just north of County Road 8. Several trees were snapped or uprooted in a wooded area adjacent to the railroad. Satellite imagery indicated the tornado dissipated along Chewacla Creek northeast of County Road 8. A Tornado Debris Signature was detected by KMXX (Maxwell Air Force Base) radar. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph.

A weak tornado moved northward across County Road 56, just southwest of Sharpe Field. Only a few small trees and tree limbs were downed. A tornado debris signature was detected by KMXX (Maxwell Air Force Base) radar. Maximum winds were estimated at 60 mph.

Power lines were downed along Old Montgomery Rd.

Trees and power lines were downed across Lee County. The roof was ripped off a structure along Lee Road 137 southwest of Auburn.