2 S Emerald Mountain - 1 S Emerald Mountain National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Southern Elmore County near Emerald Mountain and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-0 tornado. The tornado touched down briefly along Rifle Range Road near Emerald Mountain Christian Academy, cause damage to fencing and metal siding at the school. The tornado tracked to the northeast before quickly lifting east of Mountain Laurel Road. 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 Elmore County EMA for their assistance with this survey. Start: 32.4359/-86.1064 End: 32.4388/-86.1052

NWS EF Scale: F0

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in central Elmore County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. The tornado touched down on the north side of the Coosa River, south of South Boundary Street. The tornado tracked north northeast right into the city of Wetumpka. Just after crossing South Boundary Street, the tornado began snapping and uprooting trees. The strongest winds appeared to be between West Bridge Street and West Tuskeena Street where several large trees were uprooted and a church was damaged. The tornado continued north northeast where several more trees were uprooted and several structures received minor roof damage. The tornado lifted near Wetumpka City Park and North Bridge Street.

After over a week of near-record to record high temperatures, several upper-level disturbances followed by a strong upper-level low pressure system produced multiple rounds of severe weather across Central Alabama. This system was characterized by strong upper-level winds and very cold upper-level temperatures. The first round produced one brief, weak tornado in St. Clair County on the evening of January 19. The second round occurred on the morning of January 20 with 12 tornadoes across Marengo, Elmore, Macon, Lee, Pike, and Barbour Counties. A third round produced damaging straight line winds on the night of January 21, including in the Birmingham metro area where the Birmingham airport measured a 75 mph wind gust and in Oneonta where 80 mph straight-line winds caused significant damage. A brief tornado also occurred in Tuscaloosa County with this activity. Finally, a fourth round moved through during the day on January 22 with 3 tornadoes across Bullock and Lee Counties.

Part of 12-tornado outbreak on January 21, 2017