EF0 Tornado — Lowndes, Alabama

2024-12-29 · near Lum, Lowndes, Alabama

Event narrative

A tornado began along Knight Place Rd and moved northeastward. Numerous trees were downed along or just west of the road, mainly limbs broken or uprooted trunks. A few small trees were snapped as well, along with downed power lines. A few structures sustained damage, including minor roof damage to a double-wide manufactured home, a single-wide manufactured home that was rolled over onto its roof, and a large open air shed that lost roof panels. Two people were injured in the overturned single-wide. The tree damage continued across County Road 45 into a large inaccessible area. Radar and satellite data were conclusive in showing that the tornado continued for a few more miles to the northeast, with significant tree damage on satellite imagery. Radar data and satellite show an east-southeast bend in the path before the tornado dissipated just west of Salem Church Rd. The ground survey resumed along Salem Church Rd and noted no discernible area of tornado damage. However, there was a large area of wind damage southeast of Salem Church Rd apparent from satellite, and tree debris from the residual tornado debris signature was noted along the road. After satellite analysis, roughly 4 miles was added to the existing track. Maximum winds were estimated at 85 mph.

Wider weather episode

A quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) entered western Alabama from Mississippi just after 9 PM on December 28. With ample wind shear and adequate instability with the line as it passed through Central Alabama, 18 confirmed tornadoes were spawned within different line segments as the QLCS pushed eastward. Of the 18 tornadoes, 6 were rated EF1, including one that had a mile-wide path in Hale County near Sawyerville and two tornadoes that struck areas of central Montgomery County. An EF0 in Lowndes County resulted in two injuries. In addition, strong gusts associated with the QLCS resulted in scattered areas of non-tornadic wind damage.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.0072, -86.6616)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1222518. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.