EF1 Tornado — Pickens, Alabama

2025-01-05 · near Carrollton, Pickens, Alabama

Event narrative

NWS meteorologists conducted a storm survey on January 6 that

revealed an EF1 tornado that impacted parts of Pickens County the

previous evening. The tornado began over an inaccessible area

southeast of Zach Simon Road and moved east-northeastward for

nearly seven miles. Along County Road 7, a house had metal

roofing removed, and several pine and cedar trees were downed or

had limbs broken off. The tornado was at its widest and strongest

point along Pine Grove Road, where numerous trees were downed,

including a stand of pine trees along the road of which

approximately 15-20 trunks were snapped. Power lines were downed

by falling trees. A couple uprooted pine trees fell onto a garage

and the adjacent house sustained partial roof loss. More trees

were uprooted and limbs were snapped as the tornado moved across

a farm along McDaniel Road. The path became more narrow along

McShane Road/Phoenix Avenue, where several trees were downed on

both sides of the road in a 125 yard-wide swath. Along County

Road 12, a few more trees and limbs were downed, and a small

wooden power pole was snapped, causing the power lines to fall.

Along Highway 17 near Herbert Windle Road, a couple trees were

downed near a house and across the highway several cedar limbs

were downed near another house. The tornado is estimated to have

ended at this point.

Wider weather episode

A line of thunderstorms moved into western Alabama during the evening hours of January 5. Although instability values were limited and little lightning existed within the line, wind shear values were favorable for tornadoes. One storm within the line produced a low-end EF1 tornado that impacted parts of Pickens County around 9 PM.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.2937, -88.1714)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1222429. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.