January 21, 2017
5:14 AM2.8 E Gilbertown - 1 E Putnam The tornado first touched down on Clark Road and continued 15 miles to the northeast to the Choctaw and Marengo County line. 4 homes were destroyed, including 2 mobile homes. 2 other mobile homes were destroyed by downed trees. Another 18 structures experienced varying degrees of damage, some of which included major roof damage or roof loss. The most significant damage was located on Chapel Hill Road, Wimberly Road, and Pleasant Hill Road. This tornado continued from Choctaw County where EF2 damage occurred. The tornado crossed into Marengo County near the Slater Community on Blue Rock Road. The tornado moved northeast and generally parallel Blue Rock Road into the Putnam Community. The tornado crossed State Highway 69 and lifted east of Putnam on County Road 4. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. At least one mobile home was destroyed and several homes sustained roof damage. The tornado was 0.21 miles long and was 90 yards wide at its widest point. The tornado was rated an EF-0 with maximum winds around 75 mph. Thanks to Marengo County EMA for their assistance with this survey. We would like to thank Choctaw County EMA and the people of Choctaw County for their time and assistance with this survey. Start: 31.8476/-88.2905 End: 32.0237/-88.0173
NWS EF Scale: F2
The tornado first touched down on Clark Road near Gilbertown and continued 15 miles to the northeast to the Choctaw and Marengo County line. The tornado then crossed the Tombigbee River and continued into Marengo County. A total of 24 structures were damaged by the tornado along its path. 4 residences were completely destroyed, 2 of which were mobile homes with the other 2 homes having no attached foundation. 2 other mobile homes were destroyed by downed trees. Another 20 structures experienced varying degrees of damage, some of which included major roof damage. The EF-2 intensity damage was located on Chapel Hill Road, Wimberly Road, and Pleasant Hill Road. 4 people were injured with 2 receiving significant, but non life threatening injuries after they were ejected 100-200 yards from their destroyed mobile home. Damage estimates of property were around $600,000 with another $150,000 estimated on the extensive tree damage.
Multiple rounds of severe weather occurred across inland southwest and south central Alabama, inland southeast Mississippi, and the western Florida Panhandle from January 21st to January 22nd, 2017. The prolonged period of severe weather was the result of a longwave trough axis over the southern plains that was very slow to move east, allowing several strong shortwaves to move across the north central Gulf Coast in the southwest upper level flow. The first round of severe weather on the morning of January 21st resulted in 2 strong tornadoes over the WFO Mobile County Warning area along with straight line wind damage. Large hail was the predominate hazard with the second round of storms on the evening of January 21st. A combination of straight line winds and large hail impacted the region on the morning of January 22nd.
Part of 12-tornado outbreak on January 21, 2017
Multiple rounds of severe weather occurred across inland southwest and south central Alabama, inland southeast Mississippi, and the western Florida Panhandle from January 21st to January 22nd, 2017. The prolonged period of severe weather was the result of a longwave trough axis over the southern plains that was very slow to move east, allowing several strong shortwaves to move across the north central Gulf Coast in the southwest upper level flow. The first round of severe weather on the morning of January 21st resulted in 2 strong tornadoes over the WFO Mobile County Warning area along with straight line wind damage. Large hail was the predominate hazard with the second round of storms on the evening of January 21st. A combination of straight line winds and large hail impacted the region on the morning of January 22nd.