EF2 Tornado — Pike, Alabama

2025-03-15 · near Little Oak, Pike, Alabama

Event narrative

The tornado first touched down on Pike County Road 2228 south of

Troy and west of AL Highway 87, where a few branches were broken

from several trees in the area. It travelled northeastward,

crossing Pike County Lake Road and then AL Highway 87. As it

approached Enzor Road, it caused significant roof damage to the

Troy Parks and Recreation building, as well as the softball

fields at Troy Sportsplex. The tornado began to intensify to

EF1 strength as it approached US Highway 231, causing significant

tree damage, with numerous trees snapped or uprooted, as well as

significant damage to a service station canopy. It continued to

intensify and cause widespread tree damage as it moved up the

Walnut Creek. The tornado gained its maximum strength at 130 MPH

as it approached Elm Street Road, where one home received major

damage and was rendered uninhabitable. Several other homes

received indirect damage from tree fall in the area, where barely

a single tree was left standing. The tornado remained intense as

it crossed Butter and Egg Road, causing widespread tree damage.

The tornado veered slightly eastward and moved into Banks, where

widespread tree damage continued, and a metal building received

significant damage as well. Continuing to the northeast, the

tornado began to gradually weaken in eastern Pike County,

primarily causing more sporadic, less intense tree damage and

minor damage to structures. The tornado continued into Bullock County.

Wider weather episode

A significant severe weather event unfolded across Central Alabama on March 15, with 15 tornadoes, several instances of straight-line wind damage, and isolated flooding. An initial round of storms during the early morning brought reports of large hail in Pickens and Walker counties, followed by an afternoon round with several strong, long-track tornadoes. Of the 15 tornadoes, five were rated EF-2 and two were EF-3. Nine of the 15 tornadoes tracked over 10 miles, with the longest path being an EF-2 tornado that traversed 39.48 miles across Tuscaloosa and Walker counties, striking the town of Sipsey. An EF-3 tornado in Plantersville in Dallas County resulted in two fatalities and two injuries, while an EF-2 tornado in Winterboro in Talladega County had one fatality and one injury. The second EF-3 tornado struck Tallapoosa County, reaching peak intensity in Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. Near the end of the event, an EF-2 tornado moved across southern and eastern parts of Troy, with three injuries being documented.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (31.7383, -85.9805)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1233344. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.