EF1 tornado in Calhoun County, Alabama

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in northwest Calhoun County and determined that the damage was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph. This tornado began in eastern St. Clair County and crossed through all of Etowah County before entering Calhoun County. The tornado entered Calhoun County near the intersection of Harrell Gap Road and Gilbert's Ferry Road. The tornado continued east for about one mile where several trees were snapped and uprooted before dissipating near Oak Grove Road.

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.