EF3 Tornado — Perry, Alabama

2022-03-30 · near Bethlehem, Perry, Alabama

Event narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern Perry County and determined that it was consistent with an EF3 tornado, with maximum winds near 145 mph. The tornado touched down near the intersection of county road 183 and 219.

Tree damage was observed, of which became quite significant along Barnette Road and Whitetail Road, where a wide swath of large pine trees were snapped. The tornado continued to increase in intensity and reached EF3 strength as it approached the Bibb County line. An aerial survey was conducted and significant timber damage was observed and photographed in northeast Perry County. This area is in the Oakmulgee District of the Talladega National Forest. Though it was hard to assess how many trees were blown down, it was clear that tens of thousands of hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted along the tornadoes path during max intensity. Some trunks were left at least partially debarked. Due to the widespread nature of the timber damage, including some 300-400 yard wide sections of complete blow-down, the rating of this tornado was upgraded to EF3 with estimated peak winds of 145 mph. The tornado crossed into Bibb Count about one mile west of Beaverdam Creek.

Wider weather episode

A strong storm system approached Central Alabama on the afternoon of March 30th. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved west to east across the area during the evening and into the overnight hours. A few discrete supercell storms developed ahead of the main convective line as well. Damage from tornadoes, straight-line winds, and gradient winds ahead of the convective line was reported across numerous counties.

A total of 12 tornadoes occurred across Central Alabama. This included 3 EF2 tornadoes, 7 EF1 tornadoes, and 2 EF0 tornadoes. Widespread, significant tree damage and destruction of some residences occurred along the paths of the most intense tornadoes. There were no fatalities, but 2 injuries were reported in Bibb and Shelby Counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.7471, -87.1201)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1018990. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.