1 NNE - 5 NE Ward NWS Birmingham storm survey team assessed damage in Ward and found evidence of an EF-1 tornado. The tornado touched down west of County Rd 9 where timber damage was observed from the highway. The tornado then damaged two homes near Chapel Branch. Each sustained varying degrees of roof damage, mostly minor. Timber damage in this area was also blown in varying directions, mostly westward. One home had roof material peeled away and was lofted to the northwest, and the porch had been lifted. A couple of nearby farm structures had roof and minor structural damage with debris lofted to the north. The tornado then continued northeast crossing Gully Rd where addition non-divergent timber damage was observed. The next accessible road was Hwy 17 and Wright Rd where additional timber damage was observed, though of a lesser degree. No observable damage was found downstream of Wright Rd though road access was limited. No damage was found upstream of Ward on Charles Spur Rd or Ward Rd 16, near the Choctaw County line. Start: 32.3698/-88.2732 End: 32.4133/-88.2201

NWS EF Scale: F1

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Sumter County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 90 mph. The tornado touched down just west of the the intersection of County Road 9 and Jessie Powell Road. Several softwood trees were snapped along County Road 9 and there was damage to two homes. Each home sustained varying degrees of roof damage, mostly minor. One home had roof material peeled away and was lofted to the northwest, and the porch had been lifted. A couple of nearby farm structures had roof and minor structural damage with debris lofted to the north. The tornado then continued northeast crossing Gully Road where a few trees were damaged. The next observable damage point was at the intersection of Highway 17 and Wright Road, where additional tree damage was observed. The tornado lifted shortly after crossing Highway 17.

A warm sector with surface temperatures in the 70s and dewpoints in the 60s developed over southwest Alabama during the afternoon of December 14th. Low level shear and helicity values were also high during the afternoon, producing conditions favorable for tornadoes.

Part of 3-tornado outbreak on December 14, 2022