EF3 Tornado — Coosa, Alabama

2023-01-12 · near Pentonville, Coosa, Alabama

Event narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southern Coosa County and determined that it was consistent with an EF3 tornado, with maximum winds near 140 mph. This long track tornado began in Autauga County and tracked across northwest Elmore County and into southern Coosa County just west of Highway 231. Structural damage across Coosa County continued to consist of roof uplift or removal and damage from wind-blown debris and fallen trees. A manufactured home was destroyed near Highway 231 along with numerous uprooted trees. Radar showed a debris ball in southern Coosa County which matched ground observations of a truly extensive area of snapped pine trees along McKissick Road, located between the communities of Speed and Equality. The volume of snapped trees was enough to assign an EF3 rating for this segment of the tornado path. Additional significant damage occurred along County Road 18 where vehicles were moved or flipped, numerous trees were snapped, and site-built homes were heavily damaged with one destroyed. This was another area assigned EF-3 intensity. The tornado continued northeastward toward the Coosa/Tallapoosa county line where additional, relatively less intense timber damage was noted. The tornado crossed into Tallapoosa County about one mile south of Newman Road.

Wider weather episode

Numerous strong to severe thunderstorms impacted Central Alabama during the morning and afternoon hours of Thursday, January 12th, 2023. Several supercell thunderstorms spawned multiple tornadoes which caused significant damage in many areas. The severe thunderstorms also produced damaging straight-line winds and hail up to golf ball size.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.7540, -86.2540)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1076650. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.