Alabama, 2025Tornadoes and Damaging Wind in Alabama, March 15, 2025
March 15, 2025 · NWS MOB · 5 events in 3 counties and zones
Thunderstorms developed across the area during the evening hours Some of these storms became severe with several tornadoes developing across southwest Alabama.
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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
Thunderstorms developed across the area during the evening hours Some of these storms became severe with several tornadoes developing across southwest Alabama.
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 15, 5:22 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 15, 5:22 PM CST, 1 hour 58 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mobile AL
622 PM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
...New Aviation...
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 430 PM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
Now through Sunday Night...
Synopsis...As we alluded to earlier, we expected a later arrival
of thunderstorms. For the latest timing, the thunderstorms are
just now beginning to spread eastward across southeast
Mississippi and interior southwest Alabama, and will continue to
spread across the remainder of our forecast area throughout the
evening. The line of thunderstorms is then expected to exit our
area by 3 AM. We are anticipating more favorable atmospheric
forcing to unfold as our area will soon be located in the right
entrance region of a strong 100-130 knot 300mb polar jet. The low
level jet accompanying this system is very impressive with 850mb
winds of 60 and 70 knots through midnight. 0-6km Bulk Shear values
are now as high as 75 knots north of I-10.
MLCape values are ranging between 2000 and 2500 J/KG, with SFC-1KM
SRH values of 500 M2/S2. The near storm environment remains very
favorable to support the development of severe thunderstorms with
long-tracked violent tornadoes and damaging winds up to 70 mph
late this afternoon and evening. Hail up to 2 inches may occur in
a few storms.
Due to the fast moving nature of the storms, persons are going to
really need to pay attention to potential threats and act quickly.
Have multiple ways to receive warnings, including one that will
wake you up in the middle of the night. Know what to do and where
to go when warnings are issued for your location.
Wind...Due to 925mb winds as high as 55 knots, or only 2500 feet
above the surface, and frequent gusts of 40-45 mph at the surface,
the Wind Advisory will remain in effect until midnight for the
potential of downed trees and hazardous driving conditions on area
bridges.
Coastal Hazards...A High Surf Warning for dangerously large
breaking waves of 7 to 10 feet in the surf zone remains in effect
until 3 AM, followed by a High Surf Advisory from 3 AM to 3 PM
Sunday. On top of the high surf, life threatening rip currents
will be likely across all area beaches through Monday afternoon as
seas take a few days to subside. A Coastal Flood Advisory remains
in effect for central and southern Mobile and Baldwin counties,
mainly for minor flooding along the Highway 90/98 Causeway across
northern Mobile Bay, particularly along the outside, eastbound
lanes and around the I- 10/Causeway access ramps. In addition,
minor flooding is possible across southern Mobile Bay and along
coastal Alabama for lots and parks, with isolated road closures
possible.
Dry and cooler conditions are then expected through the reminder
of the weekend with the coastal hazard threats slowly diminishing.
/22
Monday through Friday...
No impactful weather expected. High pressure moves eastward over
the local area the first half of the week. The next front makes
passage across the area late Wednesday and brings next chance of
showers. There is favorable 0-6km bulk shear magnitudes in place
Wednesday but low instability. This results in a non- zero chance
of thunder, but only ~ 10% or less probabilities so will leave
thunder out of the zones. We quickly dry out and cool down once
again behind the mid-week frontal passage for Thursday and Friday
as high pressure builds in behind the front. Highs will gradually
moderate with each day through Wednesday, when highs top out into
the mid to upper 70's that day before tapering back to close out
the week and then back into the into the mid to upper 70's
Saturday. Nights cool with lowest mins coming Thursday night with
numbers 33 to 38 interior to lower 40's coast. /10
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 622 PM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
A broken line of convection, potentially severe, is expected to
progress eastward through much of the area this evening and exit
to the east during the late night hours. IFR to MVFR conditions
prevail until the storms move through, after which VFR conditions
develop. Low level wind shear of 50-55 knots from 180-210 degrees
at 2 kft is expected to shift eastward across the area this
evening. Southerly winds 15-25 knots with gusts to 40 knots become
southwest 10-15 knots after midnight, then become westerly 10-15
knots on Sunday. /29
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 430 PM CDT Sat Mar 15 2025
Southerly Gale Force winds this evening will shift westerly after
midnight and diminish toward daybreak Sunday behind a cold front.
Small Craft conditions follow for the remainder of the weekend
over the Gulf due to high seas and moderate to strong westerly to
northwesterly winds. Light to occasionally moderate offshore flow
Monday decreases and becomes mainly southerly by the middle part
of next week, before shifting back to northerly on Thursday. /22
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Mobile 55 73 43 69 40 73 54 77 / 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pensacola 59 75 47 67 46 69 57 74 / 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Destin 63 74 49 69 49 70 58 73 / 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Evergreen 55 76 40 68 35 77 44 79 / 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Waynesboro 52 69 39 68 39 76 49 79 / 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Camden 54 71 40 64 38 75 46 77 / 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 10
Crestview 57 78 42 69 34 75 43 78 / 90 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
&&
.MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...Wind Advisory until midnight CDT tonight for ALZ051>060-261>266.
Coastal Flood Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for
ALZ263>266.
High Rip Current Risk through Monday afternoon for ALZ265-266.
High Surf Warning until 3 AM CDT Sunday for ALZ265-266.
High Surf Advisory from 3 AM to 3 PM CDT Sunday for ALZ265-266.
FL...Wind Advisory until midnight CDT tonight for FLZ201>206.
High Rip Current Risk through Monday afternoon for FLZ202-204-
206.
High Surf Warning until 3 AM CDT Sunday for FLZ202-204-206.
High Surf Advisory from 3 AM to 3 PM CDT Sunday for FLZ202-204-
206.
MS...Wind Advisory until midnight CDT tonight for MSZ067-075-076-078-
079.
GM...Gale Warning until midnight CDT tonight for GMZ630>636-650-655-
670-675.
Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 3 AM CDT Sunday
for GMZ630>636.
Small Craft Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM CDT Monday
for GMZ650-655-670-675.
&&
This product is also available on the web at:
www.weather.gov/mobTornado, Mobile
- When
- March 15, 7:20 PM CST to 7:25 PM CST
- Where
- Mobile County, 3.89 mi NE of Citronelle to 6.92 mi NE of Citronelle
- Rating
- EF1
- Path length
- 3.04 mi
- Path width
- 200 yd
- Continued into
- Washington, Al (MOB)
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 31.114, -88.177
The tornado touched down along County Road 96 near Meinhardt Loop Road West, where a few trees had their tops snapped. The tornado continued to the northeast into an area that ground survey crews could not get to between the start point and Sam Lewis Road. This stretch was likely where the tornado peaked in intensity as Sentinel 2 and Planet satellite imagery depicted substantial damage to several segments of the forest likely in the form of tree snaps and uproots. It is also in this stretch the tornado peaked in width reaching close to 200 yards wide. The tornado weakened based on satellite imagery and ground survey crew as the tornado crossed Sam Lewis Road where a metal outbuilding lost its roof and had its walls collapsed inward. No other damage was observed in this location, leading to a lower rating at this location. The tornado continued to the northeast, crossing into Washington County, where more trees were damaged along the path visible via satellite imagery. The tornado appears to have lifted west of Sandy Ridge Road based on available satellite imagery. Further adjustments in track length, width, and intensity are likely in the coming days or weeks as higher resolution satellite imagery becomes available.
Utilized imagery and derived products made available through the NASA Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and the NASA Disasters Program.
Tornado, Washington
- When
- March 15, 7:25 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
- Where
- Washington County, 2.56 mi SSE of Summit to 1.43 mi W of Fairford
- Rating
- EF1
- Path length
- 3.22 mi
- Path width
- 200 yd
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 31.144, -88.140
The tornado touched down along County Road 96 near Meinhardt Loop Road West, where a few trees had their tops snapped. The tornado continued to the northeast into an area that ground survey crews could not get to between the start point and Sam Lewis Road. This stretch was likely where the tornado peaked in intensity as Sentinel 2 and Planet satellite imagery depicted substantial damage to several segments of the forest likely in the form of tree snaps and uproots. It is also in this stretch the tornado peaked in width reaching close to 200 yards wide. The tornado weakened based on satellite imagery and ground survey crew as the tornado crossed Sam Lewis Road where a metal outbuilding lost its roof and had its walls collapsed inward. No other damage was observed in this location, leading to a lower rating at this location. The tornado continued to the northeast, crossing into Washington County, where more trees were damaged along the path visible via satellite imagery. The tornado appears to have lifted west of Sandy Ridge Road based on available satellite imagery. Further adjustments in track length, width, and intensity are likely in the coming days or weeks as higher resolution satellite imagery becomes available.
Utilized imagery and derived products made available through the NASA Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and the NASA Disasters Program.
Tornado, Clarke
- When
- March 15, 7:48 PM CST to 8:05 PM CST
- Where
- Clarke County, 2.74 mi SSW of Carlton to 2.66 mi SSE of Gainestown
- Rating
- EF1
- Path length
- 13.9 mi
- Path width
- 240 yd
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 31.291, -87.861
An EF0 tornado began near Choctaw bluff tracking northeast tracking along the Alabama River. Sentinel and Planet satellite imagery revealed a narrow discontinuous path of tree damage, likely in the form of tree top snaps and/or uproots. This path tracks into the one building that sustained damage east of Walker Springs Road where some of the metal roofing material was removed towards the northwest. The tornado becomes untraceable after this point from satellite imagery, and will serve as the end point.
Utilized imagery and derived products made available through the NASA Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and the NASA Disasters Program.
Update May 15th, 2025: After further review of high-resolution satellite imagery that became available, it was determined this tornado began earlier to the south of Carlton where it was at its strongest point wiping out a large portion of forest west of Oil Well Road. Concentrated, weaker damage was evident all the way back to Belgreen Road which will serve as the starting point for this tornado. The intensity has been bumped to EF1 to match other corroborated ground and satellite survey tornadoes within the region. The tornadoes width was also increased to 240 yards which occurred back where it reached its peak intensity.
Thunderstorm Wind, Clarke
- When
- March 15, 8:02 PM CST to 8:04 PM CST
- Where
- Clarke County, 2 mi SSE of Gainestown
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 31.423, -87.687
High winds caused damage to a metal roof of a home.
Tornado, Clarke
- When
- March 15, 8:10 PM CST to 8:11 PM CST
- Where
- Clarke County, 1.97 mi NE of Barlow Bend to 3.4 mi NE of Barlow Bend
- Rating
- EF0
- Path length
- 1.43 mi
- Path width
- 200 yd
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 31.467, -87.603
A new tornado was discovered after thorough review of available high resolution satellite imagery. A narrow continuous path of notable tree damage was observed from just southwest of Barlow Bend Road and east of Pops Road, continuing northeast to just north of Linda's Creek. The intensity is estimated to be EF0 in corroboration with other satellite and ground-based surveys in the region. The tornado reached a peak width of 200 yards.
- 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.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, March 15, 20254 deaths · 8 injured · $10 million · EF4 · 4 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, March 15, 20253 deaths · 3 injured · EF3 · 47 events
- Rip Currents in Puerto Rico, March 15 to 19, 20252 deaths · 2 injured · 2 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Indiana, March 15, 2025$3.5 million · EF2 · 7 events
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Indiana, March 15, 20253 injured · $2.2 million · EF1 · 29 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, March 15 to 19, 2025$1.8 million · EF1 · 40 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, March 15, 2025$567,000 · EF1 · 36 events
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Georgia, March 15 to 16, 2025$343,000 · EF1 · 41 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kentucky, March 15, 2025$2.1 million · 2.75 in hail · 23 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Louisiana, March 15, 2025$505,000 · EF1 · 9 events
- Hail and Damaging Winds in West Virginia, March 15 to 16, 2025$96,000 · 1 in hail · 58 events
- Tornado and Hail in Indiana, March 15, 20254 injured · EF1 · 38 events
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: 1244977, 1244980, 1244986, 1248942, 1245292.