1 W Smiths Station - Smiths Station National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Southeast Lee County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. A tornado touched down west southwest of Smiths Station, along County Road 581 and tracked to the northeast downing dozens of trees. The tornado destroyed many buildings at the Smiths Station School Athletic Complex and damaged several additional buildings. The tornado quickly lifted just northeast of the school. The tornado was 0.95 miles long and was 300 yards wide at its widest point. The tornado was rated an EF-1 with maximum winds around 90 mph. Thanks to Lee County EMA for their assistance with this survey. Start: 32.5294/-85.1094 End: 32.5377/-85.0971

NWS EF Scale: F1

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southeast Lee County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 90 mph. A tornado touched down west southwest of Smiths Station, along CR 581 and tracked to the northeast, uprooting several dozens trees. The tornado destroyed many buildings at the Smiths Station School Athletic Complex and damaged several additional buildings. The tornado quickly lifted just northeast of the school.

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