EF1 tornado in Macon County, Alabama

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Macon

County and determined that an EF-1 tornado occurred to the north

of straight line wind damage within a bowing segment. The tornado

began just east of the Macon/Montgomery county line, where a

couple pines were snapped along Barganier Road. It continued

moving eastward, reaching its peak intensity along County Road

2 and Keys Court where numerous hardwoods were snapped and

uprooted a couple hundred yards south of the road. Several homes

and outbuildings suffered roof damage as it paralleled County

Road 20, before the tornado dissipated as it crossed County Road

13. Maximum winds were estimated at 110 mph.

A line of severe thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front entered northwest Central Alabama around 11 PM on February 15. Over the next five hours, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were issued for all 39 counties in Central Alabama as the line moved eastward across the area. Reports of damage were received from nearly all of the 39 counties, and five line-embedded tornadoes were confirmed after storm surveys. The most significant tornadoes, both rated EF1, tracked roughly 18 miles across Hale and Perry counties and approximately 7.5 across Macon County, both causing widespread timber damage and damage to several homes. Montgomery Regional Airport recorded a wind gust of 70 mph as the line passed through just prior to 2:30 AM.