EF0 tornado in Calhoun County, Alabama

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in central Calhoun County and determined that it was consistent with an EF0 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph. The tornado damage began in a wooded area just southwest of the intersection of Alexandria Road and Saks Road where minor timber damage was observed. Damage was largely confined to timber damage until it entered a residential area just north of Finks Lake. The tornado caused notable roof damage on the west and south sides of a home near the north edge of the lake while a residence immediately to the east suffered the loss of a few shingles. A softwood tree was uprooted to the west of the residence that suffered the most roof damage as well. The tornado continued further southeast across Finks Lake where a few softwood trees were uprooted on both the north and south sides of the lake. A small boat dock on the southeast side of the lake suffered peel back of a portion of its roof, and a camper was flipped over just off of Cane Creek Road. The camper did not appear to have an awning or canopy extended and other than having stabilizers deployed had no anchoring. The tornado continued southeast across Cane Creek Road where a softwood tree was uprooted and a horse trailer was blown onto its side in an open field further southeast. The tornado then lifted in this field.

Six tornadoes and hail up to 3 inches in diameter affected the northern areas of Central Alabama on the afternoon and evening hours of March 19th, with a rare PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Tornado Watch issued for a large portion of Central Alabama. An environment favorable for significant severe thunderstorms developed as a low-amplitude upper-level trough moved into the region with a deepening surface low passing across far north Alabama. These two features resulted in a deep column of strong wind shear with 0-6km Bulk Shear values of 60-70 knots. Additionally, moist southerly flow, warm surface temperatures, and colder temperatures aloft yielded a moderately unstable air mass. Initially, thunderstorms were producing large to very large hail. However, the tornado threat increased in the late afternoon and evening hours as wind speeds at low levels increased with the arrival of a low-level jet.