EF1 tornado in Greene County, Alabama

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in eastern Greene County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph. The tornado touched down in an inaccessible area west of Eutaw shortly before crossing Greene County Road 131 where it impacted the Sagewood Apartment complex. The most significant damage here was to the northernmost unit where the majority of the roof structure was peeled away and blown into the nearby tree line. Adjacent units only showed minor damage to shingles and to siding. Nearby timber damage was also not particularly intense, though there was a variety of sporadic uprooted and snapped tree trunks. Timber and powerline damage in this area was consistent with low-end EF-1. The tornado continued east-northeast toward Highway 14 where additional timber and power line damage was observed. Several homes sustained minor roof damage on Kirkwood Lane or were more significantly damaged by uprooted trees. The tornado crossed US Highway 11 causing additional tree damage. The tornado continued northeast towards the Black Warrior River where the path became inaccessible. The tornado crossed the Black Warrior and continued into Hale County.

A very dynamic and deepening low pressure system moved through the Ohio Valley states on November 29-30 with a trailing cold. The air mass across Central Alabama was initially stable during the day on November 29th with surface dewpoints in the 40s and 50s. Instability increased dramatically the evening of the 29th as 60 plus surface dewpoints advected northward into Central Alabama. A QLCS developed ahead of the approaching cold front in addition to discrete thunderstorms.