Tornadoes · United States · Alabama · 2025
EF1 tornado, Mehama to Oak Grove, Alabama, February 15, 2025
From Mehama to Oak Grove, this EF1 tornado ran 1.5 miles across Lawrence County on February 15, 2025, touching down at 11:33 PM CST and reaching 150 yards wide. It killed nobody.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF1
- Date
- February 15, 2025
- Touchdown
- 11:33 PM CST (05:33 UTC)
- Lifted
- 11:34 PM CST (05:34 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
- Path width
- 150 yards (137 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- County
- Lawrence County
- Touchdown point
- 34.549, -87.499
- Lift-off point
- 34.551, -87.473
- Record number
- 2502152333-01
The damage survey
38 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS HUN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF2. The highest wind the damage implies is 115 mph.
- Images from Lawrence County EMA.
- Move point SW 500 yards. Done.
- Move to NW about 500 yards
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
An impactful severe weather event occurred during the late evening of the 15th into the early morning of the 16th. A squall line of severe thunderstorms pushed east across north Alabama, producing widespread wind damage and 6 tornadoes (1 EF-2 and 5 EF-1). Numerous trees, power poles and power lines were knocked down, resulting in road blockages and structural damage.
The tornado, embedded in a line of severe thunderstorms touched down west of CR 129, and damage was observed near CR 129 and along CR 131. Damage indicators were mainly a mix of snapped and uprooted trees and farm outbuildings. Damage was tracked eastward along CR 131 and before the tornado lifted west of CR 132.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
10 minutes of warning. NWS HUN issued a tornado warning for this county at 05:23 UTC, 10 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 06:00 UTC.
The county was under a tornado watch, issued at 03:12 UTC and running to 06:18 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03:00 UTC | 08:38 UTC | Wind Advisory | HUN |
| 03:12 UTC | 06:18 UTC | Tornado Watch | HUN |
| 04:45 UTC | 05:30 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN |
| 04:56 UTC | 05:30 UTC | Tornado Warning | HUN |
| 05:23 UTC | 06:00 UTC | Tornado Warning | HUN |
| 05:24 UTC | 06:15 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN |
| 05:28 UTC | 06:15 UTC | Tornado Warning | HUN |
| 05:59 UTC | 06:16 UTC | Tornado Warning | HUN |
| 06:04 UTC | 06:31 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | HUN |
| 12:48 UTC | 15:00 UTC | Wind Advisory | HUN |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 00:56 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 00:00Z
5.6 hours before the tornado, 166 km from the path. February 16, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 52 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -13 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 125 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 894 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 34 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 290 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 365 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 5.1 K/km
Birmingham, AL (KBMX), 12:00Z
6.4 hours after it, 166 km from the path. February 16, 2025.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 5 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -7 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 62 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 845 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 104 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -237 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- -374 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.7 K/km
The surface observations
Courtland (9A4), 17 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03:35 UTC | 66.2 | 59 | 180° 16 kt | 22 | 1003 | |
| 03:55 UTC | 68 | 59 | 190° 16 kt | 23 | 1002.7 | |
| 04:15 UTC | 68 | 59 | 190° 19 kt | 23 | 1001.7 | |
| 04:35 UTC | 68 | 59 | 190° 20 kt | 26 | 1001.4 | |
| 04:55 UTC | 68 | 57.2 | 180° 18 kt | 26 | 1000.3 | |
| 05:15 UTC | 68 | 55.4 | 190° 14 kt | 27 | 1000 | |
| 05:35 UTC | 68 | 57.2 | 190° 18 kt | 29 | 998.3 | -RA |
| 05:55 UTC | 60.8 | 57.2 | 300° 20 kt | 37 | 1001 | +RA |
| 06:15 UTC | 57.2 | 290° 10 kt | 1002 | RA | ||
| 06:35 UTC | 57.2 | 270° 6 kt | 1002 | +RA | ||
| 06:55 UTC | 57.2 | 260° 5 kt | 1001.7 | +RA | ||
| 07:20 UTC | 57.2 | 130° 3 kt | 1000.3 | RA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 106 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 05:33 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03:54 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Sw Vina | Franklin, AL | NWS Storm Survey using information from Worldview-3 satellite imagery and Franklin County EMA resulted in an EF-1 tornado southwest of Vina Alabama. |
| 04:12 UTC | TORNADO | 7 Nw Phil Campbell | Franklin, AL | NWS Storm Survey using Worldview-3 imagery and information from Franklin County EMA resulted in an EF-0 tornado southwest of Russellville, Alabama. |
| 04:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Vina | Franklin, AL | A roof of a home was lifted off and very large trees uprooted along Jacksontown Road. Time estimated by radar. |
| 04:57 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Se Vina | Franklin, AL | A very large tree was uprooted and a garage was collapsing along Highway 42 near the Jacksontown Road intersection. Time estimated by radar. |
| 04:58 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Vina | Franklin, AL | Large trees were uprooted and snapped along Highway 172 just west of Cedar Tree Lane. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:09 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ssw Underwood-Petersv | Lauderdale, AL | Trees down at CR 457 at CR 57. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:09 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ssw Underwood-Petersv | Lauderdale, AL | TREES DOWN AT CR 457 AT CR 57. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 05:09 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | Trees down at 728 Sherrod Avenue. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:09 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | TREES DOWN AT 728 SHERROD AVENUE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 05:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | Tree knocked down on a house at 2237 Randolph in Florence. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:10 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | TREE KNOCKED DOWN ON A HOUSE AT 2237 RANDOLPH IN FLORENCE. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 05:11 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Tuscumbia | Colbert, AL | A church steep was knocked off of Westside Baptist Church. The trees on the property were all knocked down as well. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ene Tuscumbia | Colbert, AL | Reports of multiple trees and powerlines down on East 6th street near N Commons and Jefferson street. Transformers also blown in the vicinity. Time estimated based on radar. |
| 05:12 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ene Tuscumbia | Colbert, AL | REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN ON EAST 6TH STREET NEAR N COMMONS AND JEFFERSON STREET. TRANSFORMERS ALSO BLOWN IN THE VICINITY. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR. |
| 05:12 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Sw Tuscumbia | Colbert, AL | An EF-1 tornado with peak wind of 105 mph, path length of 2.01 miles, and maximum path width of 215 yards. |
| 05:12 UTC | TORNADO | 1 Sw Tuscumbia | Colbert, AL | Update to extend the path. An EF-1 tornado with peak wind of 105 mph, path length of 4.3 miles, and maximum path width of 215 yards. |
| 05:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Se Saint Florian | Lauderdale, AL | Tree down on house along Williams Ave. |
| 05:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 8 N Killen | Lauderdale, AL | Trees down at 110 CR 341. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:15 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 8 N Killen | Lauderdale, AL | TREES DOWN AT 110 CR 341. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 05:16 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Ese Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Two trees were uprooted and minor damage to the roof of a trailer home was identified. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Nnw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | Tree across Mars Hill rd. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sw Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | A very large tree was knocked down onto the front of a home on Chase Drive causing considerable damage. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Wnw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | Tree on house along Randolph street. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Nnw Florence | Lauderdale, AL | Transformer and tree on top of house along Stovall dr. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Sw Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Social media report. Some roofing was torn off of a grocery store at West 6th at highway 43. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Social media report of trees down and fencing damage on Portage Street. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Social media report of uprooted trees on West Steven Street in Muscle Shoals. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Social media report. The ramada was damaged at the Sunoco gas station at Highway 43 at Brighton Avenue. Trees snapped and fell on a home on Brighton adjacent to this damage. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:17 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wsw Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Social media report. Trees uprooted on West Tuxedo Street. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:18 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 W Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Social media report of fencing damage on John R Street. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:18 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Se Saint Florian | Lauderdale, AL | Trees and power lines down in back yd along Dowdy dr. |
| 05:19 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 2 Wnw Saint Florian | Lauderdale, AL | Tree in road, partial blockage of Bluewater Landing Rd. |
| 05:19 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 4 Nne Underwood-Petersv | Lauderdale, AL | Tree and power lines down at intersection of Co rd 224 and Rocky Ford Lane. |
| 05:20 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Sse Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Trees were uprooted along Lincoln Avenue. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:20 UTC | TORNADO | 4 Ese Russellville | Franklin, AL | An EF-2 tornado with peak wind of 115 mph, path length of 3.93 miles, and maximum path width of 170 yards. |
| 05:21 UTC | TSTM WND GST 84 | 2 E Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | Measured at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (KMSL). |
| 05:21 UTC | TSTM WND GST 84 | 2 E Muscle Shoals | Colbert, AL | MEASURED AT THE NORTHWEST ALABAMA REGIONAL AIRPORT (KMSL). |
| 05:22 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Killen | Lauderdale, AL | A tree was knocked down on a residence at 104 Mimosa Cove in Killen. Time estimated by radar. |
| 05:22 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | 3 Wsw Killen | Lauderdale, AL | A TREE WAS KNOCKED DOWN ON A RESIDENCE AT 104 MIMOSA COVE IN KILLEN. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR. |
| 05:22 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Wsw Killen | Lauderdale, AL | An EF-1 tornado with peak wind of 94 mph, path length of 13.42 miles, and a maximum path width of 250 yards. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2025 tornado in AlabamaEvery tornado in Alabama since 1950Warnings in force in Alabama nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of February 15, 2025
14 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 15 | 7:01 PM CST | EF2 | Gibson, TN | 4.1 | 300 | $500,000 | ||
| February 15 | 9:46 PM CST | EF1 | Simpson, KY | 4.3 | 150 | |||
| February 15 | 10:04 PM CST | EF0 | Hinds, MS | 2.6 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| February 15 | 10:10 PM CST | EF1 | Lee, MS | 16.6 | 350 | $250,000 | ||
| February 15 | 10:27 PM CST | EF1 | Itawamba, MS | 6.6 | 300 | $25,000 | ||
| February 15 | 10:39 PM CST | EF0 | Itawamba, MS | 1.0 | 75 | $25,000 | ||
| February 15 | 10:45 PM CST | EF1 | Itawamba, MS | 1.4 | 200 | $10,000 | ||
| February 15 | 10:54 PM CST | EF1 | Franklin, AL | 6.0 | 75 | |||
| February 15 | 11:12 PM CST | EF0 | Franklin, AL | 2.9 | 75 | |||
| February 15 | 11:12 PM CST | EF1 | Colbert, AL | 4.3 | 215 | |||
| February 15 | 11:20 PM CST | EF2 | Franklin, AL | 3.9 | 170 | 1 | ||
| February 15 | 11:22 PM CST | EF1 | Lauderdale, AL | 13.4 | 250 | |||
| February 15 | 11:31 PM CST | EF1 | Newton, MS | 16.7 | 720 | $325,000 | ||
| February 15 | 11:37 PM CST | EF1 | Lauderdale, AL | 0.4 | 115 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.