EF2 Tornado — Chilton, Alabama

2021-03-17 · near Pletcher, Chilton, Alabama

Event narrative

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in southwest Chilton County and determined that it was consistent with an EF2 tornado, with maximum winds near 130 mph. A tornado touched down in an inaccessible area near Little Mulberry Creek northwest of Billingsley. It continued north-northeastward, uprooting a few trees along County Road 361. The tornado intensified as it crossed County Road 37 near the intersection with County Road 24. Near this intersection, an unanchored home was shifted off of its foundation and a large anchored building was destroyed. In addition, a doublewide manufactured home was completely destroyed with debris blown downstream, some exterior walls of a brick residence were collapsed, and outbuildings were damaged. The occupants of the manufactured home reported getting the warning and taking shelter with additional family members in a storm shelter minutes before the storm hit. The resident of the brick structure also reported receiving the warning and taking cover in an interior closet with a friend. Both were uninjured. Also near this intersection, another residence suffered roof damage, two vehicles were moved 15 feet, and multiple trees were uprooted. The tornado continued northeastward through a wooded area, snapping numerous trees before dissipating as it crossed County Road 16 just east of Pools Crossroads.

Wider weather episode

An active southern jet stream set-up across the southern United States during the middle of March. Several short-wave troughs became negatively tilted as each one traversed across Texas and towards Alabama. This resulted in a single hail event one Monday, March 15, and significant tornado outbreak on Wednesday, March 17. Many supercells began to develop across Central Alabama by midday Wednesday and continued into the evening hours before a squall line moved through the state. Sufficient instability and strong wind shear produced conditions favorable for tornadoes to develop. The event consisted of twenty-one tornadoes in the NWS Birmingham forecast area.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.6746, -86.7364)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 945112. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.