Monthly report

22 tornadoes hit Alabama in March 2023, killing 1

22 tornadoes touched down in Alabama in March 2023. The strongest was an EF2 near Wetumpka on March 27, 2023. Survey notes, news coverage and every track.

See on the map
22 tornado tracks across Alabama, colored by rating. Start and end points are as surveyed; the line between them is approximate.
Tornadoes
22
Deaths
1
Injuries
0
Strongest
EF2
Counties
15

22 tornadoes touched down in Alabama in March 2023, across 15 counties. That is more than double the March average of 8.4 over the previous 30 years.

The busiest day was March 24, 2023, when 7 tornadoes crossed Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion and Morgan counties. Tornadoes also broke out on March 26, 2023 (7).

The strongest was an EF2 near Wetumpka on March 27, 2023, with a 15.4-mile path up to 1,450 yards wide. 1 person was killed and 0 people injured over the month; the deadliest tornado struck near Moulton on March 24, 2023.

13 of the 22 touched down at night, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Tornadoes by day

  1. Mar 12
  2. Mar 32
  3. Mar 121
  4. Mar 247
  5. Mar 252
  6. Mar 267
  7. Mar 271

Tornado by tornado

As they happened, with notes from the damage surveys.

  1. 9:54 PM
  2. 10:32 PM
  3. 2 days later

    12:39 PM
  4. 12:47 PM
    EF1

    EF1 near Scottsboro

    March 3, 2023, 3.2-mile path

    A tornado tracked from County Road 88 where several trees were uprooted. Another tree was uprooted on County Road 61. Then, the tornado lifted on County Road 126 after producing minor roof damage to chicken houses.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  5. 9 days later

    7:17 AM
    EF0

    EF0 near Alexander City

    March 12, 2023, 0.6-mile path

    National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in western Tallapoosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum winds near 65 mph. A brief tornado began just north of Highway 280 and moved along an east-northeast path across Flint Hill Place.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  6. 13 days later

    9:54 PM
  7. 10:14 PM
  8. 10:44 PM
  9. 11:00 PM
    EF1

    EF1 near Haleyville

    March 24, 2023, 2.8-mile path

    An official from the Bankhead National Forest reported tornado damage to the National Weather Service (NWS) in a remote area. After reviewing high resolution satellite data through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the NWS has determined an EF-1 tornado occurred.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  10. 11:23 PM
    EF2

    EF2 near Moulton

    March 24, 2023, 13.5-mile path, 1 death

    The tornado likely first touched down between County Road 203 and Highway 157 in far eastern Lawrence County. Minor roof damage to chicken houses was noted at this location before the tornado crossed the highway.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  11. 11:33 PM
  12. 11:47 PM
    EF1

    EF1 near Arab

    March 24, 2023, 2.1-mile path

    A National Weather Service damage survey assessed tornado damage in northeastern Morgan County. Damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado with a peak wind speed of 94 mph. Many damage indicators were in the form of uprooted trees and minor structural damage.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  13. 12:28 AM
  14. 8 hours later

    8:00 AM
    EF0

    EF0 near Dothan

    March 25, 2023, 4.5-mile path

    A tornado developed just west of County Road 55 in eastern Houston County. The tornado caused the collapse of a wooden storage building and destroyed a metal outbuilding. Minor damage was noted to the roof and siding of several single family homes at this location.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  15. 1 day later

    5:24 PM
  16. 7:27 PM
    EF1

    EF1 near Camden

    March 26, 2023, 0.9-mile path

    A unique scenario unfolded between Highway 265 South and Highway 10 East on 3/27/2023. A rapid succession of tornadoes occurred from the same supercell producing three separate tornadoes discernible on high resolution Worldview satellite imagery.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  17. 7:29 PM
    EF1

    EF1 near Camden

    March 26, 2023, 0.2-mile path

    The second Estelle tornado began immediately as the prior tornado quickly occluded off to the northwest. This tornado began just east of the prior tornado path causing a narrow swath of tree uproots.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  18. 7:30 PM
    EF1

    EF1 near Camden

    March 26, 2023, 3.2-mile path

    The third and final tornado in this cyclic supercell developed to the south of the occluding second tornado. This tornado began southwest of Highway 10 East where it quickly grew in size and intensified as it curved to the north, reaching a max width of 300 yards.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  19. 7:33 PM
    EF2

    EF2 near Linden

    March 26, 2023, 5.8-mile path

    National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southeast Marengo County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 120 mph. A tornado touched down in an inaccessible area west of County Road 53 and moved along an east-southeast path.

    NOAA Storm Events Database
  20. 8:39 PM
  21. 9:22 PM
  22. 4 hours later

    1:41 AM
    EF2

    EF2 near Wetumpka

    March 27, 2023, 15.4-mile path

    National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Macon County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 125 mph. The tornado touched down in the area of Tysonville Road, with only sporadic tree limbs and small trees uprooted.

    NOAA Storm Events Database

In the news

Coverage from 11 outlets.

More from the Alabama Tornado Report