EF2 tornado in Etowah County, Alabama

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northern southern Etowah County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 120 mph. This tornado began in St. Clair County and crossed into Etowah County at Neely Henry Lake. The tornado crossed Highway 77 near Leota Road where numerous trees were either snapped off or uprooted and several structures were damaged by falling trees. The tornado continued east where it narrowed and further intensified as it approached Green Valley Road. The most intense damage was observed along Green Valley Road and Matt Smith Road where several homes suffered complete loss of roofing material and exterior walls. The tornado continued eastward several miles and weakened as it entered Calhoun County.

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.