← Back to Dashboard
December 14, 2022 · Choctaw County · 2022
EF2

December 14, 2022

5:48 PM
Choctaw County, Alabama · Near Chatom (ZIP 36518)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
2.7 mi
Max Width
120 yd
DateDecember 14, 2022
Time5:48 PM
CountyChoctaw
CityChatom
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 1072168
NWS Birmingham

2 SE - 3 ENE Bladon Springs After reviewing sentinel satellite imagery available on 12/18/22, the determination has been made that the segment of the original surveyed tornado track from Blue Dirt Road to Highway 84 was a separate EF2 tornado with peak winds of 115mph. The original tornado occluded a few minutes prior to the genesis of this tornado. A remarkable gradient at the point of genesis was noted by the survey team in a field of snapped/uprooted trees, where trees went from untouched to numerous snaps of softwood trees in as little as 5 to 10 feet. Based on sentinel satellite imagery, the tornado maintained intensity, perhaps slightly strengthening as it moved off to the northeast of Blue Dirt Road where significant deforestation was noted in an approximate 120 yard swath. At the tornadoes halfway point, it likely weakened to an EF0/EF1 as it passed by a field with no notable tree damage on satellite imagery. Once the tornado reached Highway 84, it was a very weak EF0 that uprooted a couple softwood trees, lifting at that location. Extended path to start earlier based on Planet and Worldview Satellite Imagery. Tornado start time was simultaneous to the timing of the occlusion of the first tornado. Start: 31.7191/-88.1792 End: 31.7489/-88.1505

NWS EF Scale: F2

Event Narrative

After reviewing sentinel satellite imagery available on 12/18/22, the determination has been made that the segment of the original surveyed tornado track from Blue Dirt Road to Highway 84 was a separate EF2 tornado with peak winds of 115mph. The original tornado occluded a few minutes prior to the genesis of this tornado. A remarkable gradient at the point of genesis was noted by the survey team in a field of snapped/uprooted trees, where trees went from untouched to numerous snaps of softwood trees in as little as 5 to 10 feet. Based on sentinel satellite imagery, the tornado maintained intensity, perhaps slightly strengthening as it moved off to the northeast of Blue Dirt Road where significant deforestation was noted in an approximate 120 yard swath. At the tornadoes halfway point, it likely weakened to an EF0/EF1 as it passed by a field with no notable tree damage on satellite imagery. Once the tornado reached Highway 84, it was a very weak EF0 that uprooted a couple softwood trees, lifting at that location.||Extended path to start earlier based on Planet and Worldview Satellite Imagery. Tornado start time was simultaneous to the timing of the occlusion of the first tornado.

Episode Narrative

A very warm and moist airmass developed ahead of a strong cold front. Thunderstorms developed ahead of the front and produced damaging winds along with a 2-EF2 tornadoes in Choctaw County Alabama along with wind damage in Baldwin County.

Outbreak Context

Part of 3-tornado outbreak on December 14, 2022

Shared Episode Narrative

A very warm and moist airmass developed ahead of a strong cold front. Thunderstorms developed ahead of the front and produced damaging winds along with a 2-EF2 tornadoes in Choctaw County Alabama along with wind damage in Baldwin County.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 1072168

See Also

2.7 mi120 yd wide