Storm Events Database

Storm Events Database

Event Details:

Event Tornado
-- Scale EF3
-- Length 20.92 Miles
-- Width 1900 Yards
State ALABAMA
County/Area CALHOUN
WFO BMX
Report Source NWS Storm Survey
NCEI Data Source CSV
Begin Date 2018-03-19 19:23 CST-6
Begin Location 3SSW READS MILL
Begin Lat/Lon 33.8453/-85.9472
End Date 2018-03-19 19:50 CST-6
End Location 4E RABBITTOWN
End Lat/Lon 33.8031/-85.5863
Deaths Direct/Indirect 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...)
Injuries Direct/Indirect 4/0
Property Damage 0.00K
Crop Damage 0.00K
Episode Narrative Six tornadoes and hail up to 3 inches in diameter affected the northern areas of Central Alabama on the afternoon and evening hours of March 19th, with a rare PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Tornado Watch issued for a large portion of Central Alabama. An environment favorable for significant severe thunderstorms developed as a low-amplitude upper-level trough moved into the region with a deepening surface low passing across far north Alabama. These two features resulted in a deep column of strong wind shear with 0-6km Bulk Shear values of 60-70 knots. Additionally, moist southerly flow, warm surface temperatures, and colder temperatures aloft yielded a moderately unstable air mass. Initially, thunderstorms were producing large to very large hail. However, the tornado threat increased in the late afternoon and evening hours as wind speeds at low levels increased with the arrival of a low-level jet.
Event Narrative National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Calhoun Calhoun County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF3 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 150 mph. The tornado first touched down west of US Highway 431 north of town of Wellington, where it rapidly intensified and widened. It snapped and uprooted numerous trees along US Highway 431. Several homes were damaged by the falling trees. The tornado proceeded eastward across Websters Road and Broughton Road with scattered tree damage. As the tornado crossed Old Sulphur Springs Road, two homes were damaged with scores of trees snapped or uprooted. At Angel Station Road, the tornado filled the valley from one side to the other and caused extensive tree and home damage. An electrical transmission tower line was toppled at this point, but it was believed that flying debris compromised the structure. The tornado continued eastward and destroyed the sanctuary at West Point Baptist Church. Additional structures were severely damaged at the church. The tornado entered the City of Jacksonville where it gained strength into the EF3 category, with winds around 140 mph. It removed most of the roof and the top floor of two buildings in an apartment complex. The tornado affected the entire campus of Jacksonville State University. Several buildings sustained significant damage. The most intense winds remained north of the campus however, mowing down trees and causing direct damage to homes. As the tornado crossed Highway 21, it caused caused major damage to the Merrill Building. It then moved into a highly populated zone, where scores of homes suffered major damage and rendered uninhabitable. The tornado maintained its strength as it crossed Choccolocco Mountain, and winds funneled up the valley uprooting or snapping trees. It caused major damage to a number of homes on the mountainside. Damaged continued all the way up to just south of the peak of the mountain. As the tornado moved down the eastern side of Choccolocco Mountain, it narrowed substantially and became stronger once it reached the valley below. Stands of trees were wiped out with trunks snapped relatively close to ground level. Perhaps the most intense damage along the entire track occurred along Hollingsworth Road, where a site built home was completely destroyed with only a portion of one interior wall left standing. Debris from this home was blown downstream across a field with some evidence of wind rowing. Hay bales adjacent to the home, estimated at 800 pounds each, were thrown up to 300 yards to the east. Maximum winds at this location were estimated at 150 mph. The tornado continued east-southeast and downed thousands of trees in the Talladega National Forest and crossed into Cleburne County just south of County Road 534.


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Event Map:

Note: The tornado track is approximate based on the beginning (B) and ending (E) locations. The actual tornado path may differ from a straight line.
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Measure
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All events for this episode:

Location County/Zone St. Date Time T.Z. Type Mag Dth Inj PrD CrD
Totals: 0 4 0.00K 0.00K
SAYRE JEFFERSON CO. AL 03/19/2018 12:24 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MUNFORD TALLADEGA CO. AL 03/19/2018 14:03 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HOBSON CITY CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 14:04 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ABEL CLEBURNE CO. AL 03/19/2018 14:10 CST-6 Hail 1.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
PINE TUCKEY RANDOLPH CO. AL 03/19/2018 14:59 CST-6 Hail 1.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ABEL CLEBURNE CO. AL 03/19/2018 15:14 CST-6 Hail 1.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HOUSTON WINSTON CO. AL 03/19/2018 17:39 CST-6 Hail 1.25 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
THORN HILL MARION CO. AL 03/19/2018 17:45 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
PLEASANT HILL WINSTON CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:05 CST-6 Hail 1.25 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
STRAWBERRY BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:09 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
STRAWBERRY BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:10 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
BLOUNTSVILLE BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:25 CST-6 Hail 2.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WYNNVILLE BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:38 CST-6 Hail 3.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WALNUT GROVE ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:42 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
LIBERTY BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:45 CST-6 Hail 3.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MOUNTAINBORO ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:45 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WALNUT GROVE ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:47 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CHAMPION BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:50 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
SUMMIT BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:51 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CALDWELL ST. CLAIR CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:52 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CLARENCE BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:58 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CLARENCE BLOUNT CO. AL 03/19/2018 18:59 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
ROCKLEDGE ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:00 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
GREENSPORT ST. CLAIR CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:02 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WILLIAMS ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:05 CST-6 Hail 2.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MARKTON ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:10 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WILLIAMS ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:12 CST-6 Tornado EF2 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MARKTON ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:13 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
RAINBOW CITY ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:13 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
RAINBOW CITY ETOWAH CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:13 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
LEESBURG CHEROKEE CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:15 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 50 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CENTRE CHEROKEE CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:20 CST-6 Thunderstorm Wind 55 kts. EG 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
MOSHAT CHEROKEE CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:20 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
READS MILL CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:21 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
READS MILL CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:23 CST-6 Tornado EF3 0 4 0.00K 0.00K
PRICES CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:38 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
OAK LEVEL CLEBURNE CO. AL 03/19/2018 19:50 CST-6 Tornado EF1 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
WEAVER CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 20:07 CST-6 Tornado EF0 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
CHOCCOLOCCO CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 20:35 CST-6 Hail 1.25 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
PLEASANT RIDGE CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 20:37 CST-6 Hail 1.50 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HEFLIN CLEBURNE CO. AL 03/19/2018 20:42 CST-6 Hail 1.75 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
COLDWATER TALLADEGA CO. AL 03/19/2018 21:12 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
HOBSON CITY CALHOUN CO. AL 03/19/2018 21:15 CST-6 Hail 1.00 in. 0 0 0.00K 0.00K
Totals: 0 4 0.00K 0.00K