EF1 tornado in Walker County, Alabama

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southeast Walker County and determined that it was consistent with an EF1 tornado, with maximum winds near 110 mph.

The tornado developed just south of the Gorgas Power Plant along the Mulberry Fork near Copeland Bend. The most focused area of damage occurred along Rainwood Lodge Road where numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, some of which fell on homes. In addition, minor roof damage was observed at several residences along the road. The tornado continued northeastward, uprooting several more trees and breaking branches before crossing Interstate 22. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted near a convenience store on Sharon Blvd, with one tree falling on a nearby manufactured home just before the tornado dissipated.

An upper-level low over the southwest United States evolved into a negatively-tilted shortwave trough as it moved over the southeastern United States. A warm front steadily moved northward during the morning and afternoon hours on Sunday, April 12. This allowed an unstable air mass to move northward and overspread much of the region. At the same time, very strong wind shear developed over Alabama as the upper trough neared the state.

An initial wave of severe storms affected areas near and north of Interstate 20, involving tornadoes, damaging straight-line winds, and some hail. Through the evening, a second wave of thunderstorms affected the remaining areas of Central Alabama with tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds. Flooding also resulted from training rainfall near and north of Interstate 20. Some roads became impassible or were washed out. This weather event was large in scope and produced severe weather from Oklahoma and Texas, through the southeastern United States, then up the east coast to New York.