EF2 Tornado — Holmes, Florida

2025-05-10 · near Gritney, Holmes, Florida

Event narrative

This tornado began southwest of Bodie Lane and southeast of Tobe Retherford where it uprooted hardwood trees and snapped large limbs. This tornado increased in strength when it reached the intersection of Newberry Lane and Highway 177A as it caused numerous tree trunks to snap along with the tops of softwood trees; this was one of the areas indicative of damage consistent with low end EF-2 wind speeds. The tornado then moved parallel to Flowing Well Road while uprooting several hardwood trees, snapping large limbs, causing three electrical wooden power poles to snap, along with causing minor roof damage to a single-wide manufactured home. The tornado continued to move northeast across Old Ridge Road where several hardwood trees were uprooted and snapped. Once the tornado reached Highway 2 south of Esto, it caused several types of damage ranging from a tipped over Exxon Gas station covering, numerous snapped hardwood and softwood trees, an overturned SUV and trailer, and minor to moderate roof damage to a small business and a one-story home; this was another area indicative of damage consistent of low end EF-2 wind speeds. The Holmes County Sheriffs Office reported one minor injury in the vicinity of the intersection of Highways 2 and 79. As the tornado continued to track northeast to Noma, it continued to snap hardwood tree limbs, uproot trees and promote moderate roof damage of a single-wide manufactured home. The tornado then crossed northeast to the Florida and Alabama state line snapping hardwood limbs. Before it dissipated in Alabama just north of Highway 4, it snapped numerous softwood tree trunks and the tops of trees.

Wider weather episode

Steep mid level lapse rates along with sufficient instability and deep layer shear ahead of a cold front brought a couple of rounds of showers and thunderstorms to the region. Damaging wind gusts were reported across the Florida panhandle. In addition, a couple of tornadoes were reported in Walton county and Holmes county. Flash flooding also occurred in portions of Bay and Washington counties. Rainfall amounts of 3-9 inches were measured.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (30.8556, -85.7843)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1261644. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.