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March 24, 2023 · Lauderdale County · 2023
EF2

March 24, 2023

9:54 PM
Lauderdale County, Alabama · Near Florence (ZIP 35630)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
3.8 mi
Max Width
300 yd
DateMarch 24, 2023
Time9:54 PM
CountyLauderdale
CityFlorence
Property Loss$3.90M
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 1086259
NWS Birmingham

4 NNW Anderson - 4 W Lester The main damage indicators for this assessment were from uprooted or snap trees and minor structure damage, mainly to roofs. The tornado touched down off CR49, near West Fork Anderson Creek and tracked east-northeast along Highway 64. Along Highway 64, between CR 508 and CR 93, numerous trees were uprooted with a couple of snapped trees that fell on at least one home. Near CR 508, one home sustained roof damage with greater than 20% loss of roofing materials. Additionally, a small garage was completely destroyed when the garage door caved in. This location prompted the max winds of 97 mph. The tornado began tracking more northeast as it passed CR93. More trees were uprooted and sporadic limb damage was noted through CR207. The tornado likely lifted near this location. Start: 34.9685/-87.2904 End: 34.9880/-87.2244

NWS EF Scale: F1

Event Narrative

A National Weather Service and Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency damage assessment team surveyed damage consistent with an EF-1 tornado near Anderson. Peak winds were estimated at 97 mph. The main damage indicators for this assessment were from uprooted or snapped trees and minor structural damage, mainly to roofs. The tornado touched down off County Road (CR) 49, near the West Fork of Anderson Creek and tracked east-northeast along Highway 64. Along Highway 64, between CR 508 and CR 93, numerous trees were uprooted with a couple of snapped trees that fell on at least one home. Near CR 508, one home sustained roof damage with greater than 20% loss of roofing materials. Additionally, a small garage was completely destroyed when the garage door caved in. The tornado began tracking more northeast as it passed CR 93. More trees were uprooted and sporadic limb damage was noted through CR 207 as the tornado lifted.

Episode Narrative

A severe line of thunderstorms rolled through north Alabama during the late evening hours of the 24th into the early morning hours of the 25th, producing 7 tornadoes. An embedded supercell thunderstorm with a history of tornadoes in Mississippi moved east-northeast across northwest Alabama, yielding another two tornadoes in Lauderdale County in Florence and near Anderson. Associated with this line, multiple narrow swaths of intense damaging winds of 60 to 90 mph occurred across the Shoals metro area, including Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals and Florence. The winds caused widespread power outages, damaged numerous structures, and toppled or snapped numerous trees, power poles and power lines. A few trees and power poles were dropped onto residences and vehicles, either destroying or heavily damaging them. Roof damages were reported at many locations as well. All told, an estimated #### million in damages occurred, the majority in northwest Alabama in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties. As the line continued east, additional tornadoes were spawned in Lawrence, Morgan, Jackson and DeKalb Counties.

Outbreak Context

Part of 7-tornado outbreak on March 24, 2023

Shared Episode Narrative

A severe line of thunderstorms rolled through north Alabama during the late evening hours of the 24th into the early morning hours of the 25th, producing 7 tornadoes. An embedded supercell thunderstorm with a history of tornadoes in Mississippi moved east-northeast across northwest Alabama, yielding another two tornadoes in Lauderdale County in Florence and near Anderson. Associated with this line, multiple narrow swaths of intense damaging winds of 60 to 90 mph occurred across the Shoals metro area, including Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals and Florence. The winds caused widespread power outages, damaged numerous structures, and toppled or snapped numerous trees, power poles and power lines. A few trees and power poles were dropped onto residences and vehicles, either destroying or heavily damaging them. Roof damages were reported at many locations as well. All told, an estimated #### million in damages occurred, the majority in northwest Alabama in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties. As the line continued east, additional tornadoes were spawned in Lawrence, Morgan, Jackson and DeKalb Counties.

Source Data
NCEI Event ID: 1086259

See Also

3.8 mi300 yd wide