January 12, 2023

1 NE Orrville - 1 SE Burnsville National Weather Service surveys have concluded that the damage across Dallas County was consistent with a high-end EF-2 tornado. The tornado began just east of Orrville near the intersection of Hwy 22 and Cahaba Rd. As it moved northeast, it intensified as the damage path was nearly parallel with Hwy 22. The damage consisted of mainly uprooted trees with some trunks that were snapped. There were also several manufactured homes that sustained roof and some foundation damage. As the tornado continued down Hwy 22, additional tree damage was observed as it neared the southwestern sections of Selma. The tornado quickly intensified as it entered the city limits of Selma, nearly parallel to Hwy 22/W Dallas Ave. The overall length and width of the EF1 to EF2 damage in the densely populated neighborhoods had devastating impacts to the city. Many hardwoods were uprooted and softwood trees were snapped, many on homes. Most of the softwood trees were snapped about halfway up on the trunks. The daycare on W Dallas Ave and Cooper Dr sustained heavy roof and exterior wall damage which was consistent with the higher-end EF2 wind speeds. Some debris rowing was also noted in the downstream vicinity. Over 70 children, infants, and workers survived without injury by taking shelter in small interior rooms and bathrooms after getting the warning, while portions of the roof collapsed over large open classrooms and the former sanctuary. The second area of higher-end EF2 damage was noted downstream at the Selma Country Club where buildings had significant roof and exterior wall damage and there was a complete blow down of extremely large hardwood trees. Additional softwood trees were also snapped in and around adjacent streets. As the tornado continued further north and east, it entered the northern sections of downtown Selma. Much of the damage continued to consist of downed trees, some on homes, but several homes near the center of the track had roofs removed consistent with continued EF2 damage. Another notable area of high-end EF2 damage was where Broad Street crosses the railroad tracks. Here a strip mall had much of its roof removed, and some of the X-braces in a metal building system failed, which from a structural engineering perspective was one of the more impressive damage indicators for the tornado. A couple older residences collapsed near the intersection of Minter Street and St. Phillip Street, but as they were built on brick pilings with open air underneath the rating was kept in the EF2 range. As the tornado exited downtown, it crossed Hwy 14, east of Selma, crossing Parkway Dr. Additional structure damage was noted with exterior walls that collapsed consistent once again with higher EF-2 wind speeds. The tornado finally began to weaken and lift just east near the Brantley community near River Rd, but not before some significant damage was observed at the Dallas County Jail on Selfield Rd. Start: 32.3173/-87.2278 End: 32.4561/-86.8786

NWS EF Scale: F2

Part of 16-tornado outbreak on January 12, 2023