EF0 Tornado — Macon, Alabama

2024-12-29 · near Tysonville, Macon, Alabama

Event narrative

A tornado began south of U.S. 80 in a wooded area and moved northeast. Several trees and tree limbs were downed across Jackson Rd. Further northeast, along Old Federal Rd, numerous trees were uprooted behind the Shorter Post Office and Town Hall. Minor roof damage occurred to the post office building. A couple fences and signs were blown down as well. Tree damage continued across U.S. 80, where the Shorter Lodge building sustained minor roof damage and had a tree fall onto a ramp and porch overhang. An adjacent church had minor roof and siding damage as well. Minor tree damage continued into a wooded area east of County Road 40. A tornado debris signature was observed on KMXX (Maxwell Air Force Base) radar. Maximum winds were estimated at 80 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 → (32.3856, -85.9815)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1222528. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.