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March 24, 2023 · Morgan County · 2023
EF2

March 24, 2023

11:33 PM
Morgan County, Alabama · Near Hartselle (ZIP 35670)
Fatalities
0
Injuries
0
Path Length
4.9 mi
Max Width
125 yd
DateMarch 24, 2023
Time11:33 PM
CountyMorgan
CityHartselle
Property Loss$0
Crop Loss$0
SourceNCEI 1086265
NWS Birmingham

10 WNW - 8 WNW2 Union Grove A NWS damage survey tracked tornado damage in northeastern Morgan County, associated with the same storm that produced the Hartselle tornado. Damage was consistent with EF1 winds of 94 mph. Many damage indicators were in the form of uprooted trees and minor structural damage. The tornado likely touched down near the Highway 32 and Crisco Cir intersections. Tracking east-northeast, numerous trees were uprooted along Rescue Rd. Near Rescue Rd and Hwy 231, an unanchored shed was destroyed. The tornado crossed the highway and uprooted many more trees along Old Silo Rd and also damaged the roof to chicken houses. The tornado likely lifted just west of the Morgan County and Marshall County line. Start: 34.4758/-86.6003 End: 34.4790/-86.5642

NWS EF Scale: F1

Event Narrative

A tornado touched down on Highway 55 in Falkville and tracked generally northeastward. Initially, the tornado snapped trees and a small power pole in a yard on Highway 55. Farther to the northeast, the tornado did considerable roof damage to a barn at a residence on Chappell Road, and uprooted trees near the intersection of Chappell Road and Bert Stinson Road. The tornado then tracked along a largely wooded area, before snapping and uprooting trees on Nature Trail. There, the tornado also created roof damage to a small log cabin style home. ||Farther to the northeast, in a heavily wooded area to the north of Nature Trail, the tornado uprooted and snapped a long swath of trees nearly continuously before emerging into an open field, where it continued to snap and uproot trees along its path. In the open field, the tornado completely destroyed a large pole barn that contained 4x4 posts, some of which were anchored into the ground with cement. The walls of the barn were made of exterior metal sheeting with 2x4 wooden studs, which were toe-nailed into the 4x4 posts, and accompanied by a metal truss system. The barn contained 10,500lb hay bales which were blown downstream. A very large, old oak tree was uprooted adjacent to the barn. The width at its base was estimated to be 5 feet. ||The tornado continued to track generally to the northeast, snapping and uprooting trees along Wilson Mountain Road, which continued along the northeast adjacent and along Blankenship Narrell Drive. On Cottonwood Lane, trees were uprooted and snapped. One tree fell on an RV at a residence. From there, the tornado moved into a largely inaccessible heavily wooded area.

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: 1086265

See Also

4.9 mi125 yd wide