5 tornadoes hit Alabama in January 2020, killing 3
5 tornadoes touched down in Alabama in January 2020. The strongest was an EF2 in Pickens County on January 11, 2020. Survey notes, news coverage and every track.
5 tornado tracks across Alabama, colored by rating. Start and end points are as surveyed; the line between them is approximate.
Tornadoes
5
Deaths
3
Injuries
7
Strongest
EF2
Counties
4
5 tornadoes touched down in Alabama in January 2020, across 4 counties. That is above the January average of 3 over the previous 30 years.
The busiest day was January 11, 2020, when 5 tornadoes crossed Barbour, Cullman, Marshall and Pickens counties.
The strongest was an EF2 in Pickens County on January 11, 2020, with a 6.3-mile path up to 1,056 yards wide. 3 people were killed and 7 people injured over the month.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Pickens County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 134 mph. A tornado touched down south of Highway 86, just on the south side of Coleman Road.
A tornado touched down in the Holly Pond community near the center of town. The tornado caused minimal tree and roof damage as it quickly moved through the city.
The tornado caused damage to structures, and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along Highway 69, landing on a few homes. Tornado damage was rated up to EF-1 in the city of Joppa, with wind speeds of 100 mph.
The tornado initially touched down just south west of Brindlee Mountain Primary School. At this location, the school gymnasium, 10 classrooms, and the cafeteria were destroyed.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southeast Barbour County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 88 mph. The tornado touched down near Threatt Road (County Road 18) just southwest of the town of Bakerhill.