EF1 Tornado — St. Clair, Alabama

2024-12-29 · near Eden, St. Clair, Alabama

Event narrative

NWS Birmingham storm survey has determined an EF-1 tornado impacted and area southwest of Pell City, mainly on Roberts Mill Pond Road. Several areas of timber damage occurred, generally snapping and uprooting of hardwood trees, north of Highway 27. A chicken farm sustained significant damage, with at least five structures impacted. Debris was thrown at least 300 yards downstream. The tornado continued northeast toward Steward Road causing additional less significant timber damage dissipating thereafter. Maximum estimated winds were 110 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 → (33.5678, -86.3477)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1222522. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.