EF2 Tornado — Mobile, Alabama

2012-12-25 · near Mertz, Mobile, Alabama

$1.4M

Property damage

5.2 mi

Path length

200 yds

Path width

Event narrative

The initial tornado touchdown was located near

Dauphin Island Parkway...Duval Street and Halls Mill Road...where it

initially moved northwestward. The tornado continued northward to

near the intersections of Holcomb Avenue...Government Street and

Dauphin Island Parkway where it produced damage consistent with an

EF-1 tornado...damaging several commercial retailers. The tornado

continued northward...damaging homes and producing roof damage to

numerous homes. It then reached Murphy High School...where it

destroyed several out-buildings...blew out windows and produced

significant roof damage to the high school. From here...The tornado

tracked northward to Dauphin Street where it strengthened and widened

to 200 yards producing damage consistent with an EF-2 tornado to

several homes. Also significantly damaged was the Trinity Episcopal

Church on Dauphin Street. The tornado then moved into the Silverwood

Street area where it produced EF-1 damage and sporadic EF-2 damage to

several homes. The tornado next tracked north northeast across the

Mobile Infirmary Hospital ...where it blew out several windows and

damaged several automobiles...as well as flipping one automobile. The

tornado continued tracking northeastward across interstate 165 moving

into the Prichard area where it produced damage to the roofs of

several homes...as well as snapping several trees. The tornado

continued across Telegraph Road where it tossed several large

shipping containers and damaged a warehouse facility before

dissipating on Jakes Lane in Prichard.

A powerful storm system moved out of the plains on

Christmas, producing numerous strong storms across southeast

Mississippi, southwest Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle

out ahead of a strong cold front and accompanying squall line. Multiple

tornadoes, some long track, were observed along the central gulf coast

region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 422348. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.