Summer 2023 Multi-Day Tornado/Severe Event
June 15-19, 2023
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) on June 16th, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event.
----- IMPORTANT 2023 UPDATE -----
Significant updates were made to several tornado tracks and wind swaths impacting the NWS Mobile/Pensacola area in the 2018 to 2023 timeframe thanks to the introduction of high-resolution Sentinel, Worldview, and Planet satellite imagery. One or multiple tornado tracks/wind swaths listed on this event webpage were updated in 2023.
An updated graphic and details surrounding these significant updates can be found further down on this webpage in the section for that specific tornado track or wind swath. More information on this Local Tornado Reanalysis Project and a list of all updates can be found on our webpage at weather.gov/mob/TornadoReanalysis or the National Damage Viewer.
Here is a list of the significant updates:
1. June 16, 2023 - Updated Tornado - Mobile/Baldwin Counties, AL: The starting point of the anticyclonic tornado that occurred in the Mobile River Delta, moving from Mobile County into Baldwin County, was updated based on high-resolution satellite imagery. The track of the tornado was also adjusted slightly, but the EF1 intensity remains the same.
JUNE 15 - Escambia County, FL
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 739 PM CDT Sat Jun 17 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 06/15/2023 Pensacola Tornado Event... .Pensacola Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph Path Length /statute/: 8.87 miles Path Width /maximum/: 450 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/15/2023 Start Time: 08:35 PM CDT Start Location: 1 SSE West Pensacola / Escambia County / FL Start Lat/Lon: 30.4132 / -87.2725 End Date: 06/15/2023 End Time: 09:08 PM CDT End Location: 1 SW Villa Sabine / / FL End Lat/Lon: 30.3241 / -87.1722 Survey Summary: Damage survey found a very broad area roughly a mile and a half wide of strong sporadic straight line winds beginning around Fairfield drive and 52nd Ave in West Pensacola. No visual convergence was noted until the area near N Old Corry Field Rd and W Gregory St. Several large limbs were noted and few uproots at this location in a loosely convergent pattern. This more concentrated damage continued south-southeast across US 98 to Barrancas Ave with a several mile wider swath of damaging winds. The path at this point seems discontinuous with several weak areas of convergence resulting in likely high end EF-0 damage embedded within a broader damaging wind swath. A more concentrated area of convergence appears around Fairway Drive on the north side of the Pensacola County Club. Several hardwoods had large 2 foot in diameter branches snapped and several softwood pines were snapped as a more continuous path extended across the country club and Bayshore Dr before moving out over Pensacola Bay. The tornado then likely continued as a waterspout traversing Pensacola Bay dodging the western tip of Gulf Breeze before wrapping back southeast towards Pensacola Beach. The tornado quickly strengthened as it crossed Fort Pickens Rd near Galvez CT. Significant damage to homes built to withstand significant hurricanes was noted and thus damage estimates from this location leaned on the higher side for given damage indicators. Several of the homes across a quarter mile swath had damage to siding including several sides beings completely removed. A few homes lost 20 to 60 percent of metal roofing material even with proper hurricane code anchors. Several bottom floor garages were completely gutted as garage doors were blown in and destroyed. Bottom exterior walls blew out leading to complete exposure of the bottom floors. Several palm trees across the area were snapped a few feet off the ground. The most notable damage was right along Fort Pickens Rd where a house under construction had the entire top floor and roof removed. This damage was put on the lower end of estimates as the house was under construction and an opening on the north side may have helped the failure of the upper walls and floors. However, a large dumpster likely weighing several hundred pounds was thrown roughly 50-70 yards due east and was deposited between two palm trees about 2 feet off the ground. The damage to the home, dumpster combined with a garage door that failed being wrapped around a concrete piling resulted in the peak wind estimate of 120 mph. The tornado likely crossed over Fort Pickens Rd and into the Gulf of Mexico where it likely dissipated. One other interesting damage note was that at least two boats were tossed on the Pensacola Bay side. One boat was found about 20-30 yards from the boat lift upside down in the water. The other boat was thrown off the lift and was reportedly found near Deer Point about a mile north across the bay. This boat likely floated over there but still impressive. There is no damage indicator for boats; however, the sheer impressiveness helped support the higher rating given the surrounding damage indicators.
...NWS Damage Survey for 06/15/2023 Pensacola Thunderstorm Wind Event... .Thunderstorm Wind... Peak Wind E: 65 to 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.36 miles Path Width /maximum/: 2500 yards Fatalities: 1 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/15/2023 Start Time: 08:33 PM CDT Start Location: 1 Mile Southeast of Myrtle Grove, FL Start Lat/Lon: 30.42/-87.28 End Date: 06/15/2023 End Time: 08:39 PM CDT End Location: 1 Mile east of Warrington, FL End Lat/Lon: 30.39/-87.26 Survey Summary: NWS survey concludes that a wide swath of damaging winds of 65 to 75 miles per hour impacted parts of West Pensacola. The first damage was noted near West Fairfield Dr near 52nd Ave. As the area of winds moved south, a wider swath near 2 miles wide developed. This wind damage was associated with a broader circulation and a couple small embedded tornadoes were noted. See survey notes on the tornadoes. At Coker Ave, a large limb/tree fell on a manufactured home resulting in one fatality. Sporadic wind damage continued in a rather wide swath resulting in numerous small and large tree branches being snapped and a few instances of minor roof damage. A few large signs were blown out along state road 295 and a few windows were blow out by flying debris. Wind damage continued to the west of a developing tornado near the Pensacola County Club along Barrancas Ave before moving over Pensacola Bay where a 64 mph wind gust was recorded over Pensacola Bay. The lack of convergence path, sporadic and widespread nature of the damage resulted in the thunderstorm wind damage classification.
JUNE 16 - Mobile County, AL Tornado
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 856 AM CDT Sat Jun 17 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 06/16/23 Tornado Event... ..Mobile River Delta Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 7.23 miles Path Width /maximum/: 30 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/16/2023 Start Time: 08:00 AM CDT Start Location: 3 E Bucks / Mobile County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.0091 / -87.9701 End Date: 06/16/2023 End Time: 08:07 AM CDT End Location: 1 NW I65 And Al 225 / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.958 / -87.8678 Survey Summary: An unusual anticyclonic tornado began just west of the Mobile River associated with the anticyclonic bookend vortex of a powerful Mesoscale Convective System moving across the area. The tornado likely began just west of the Mobile River based on a radar debris signature and continued to the southwest of Stockton near the Tensaw River. After completion of the storm survey, it was determined the tornado continued as an EF1 cutting across the Tensaw river where a narrow path of trees snapped exists. The tornado turned to the east moving across Live Oak Road snapping and uprooting multiple pines and oaks. Past this, a lack of convergent damage suggests the tornado likely lifted somewhere on Live Oak Road prior to reaching State Highway 225. Additional intense straight line wind damage was surveyed near the path associated with the bookends RFD just to the north where straight line wind speed estimates were upwards of 90mph.
...NWS Damage Survey for 6/16/23 and 6/19/23 Loxley and Magnolia Springs Tornadoes... ..Loxley Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.29 miles Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/16/2023 Start Time: 12:21 AM CDT Start Location: 2 W Loxley / Baldwin County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.6182 / -87.7945 End Date: 06/16/2023 End Time: 12:22 AM CDT End Location: 2 W Loxley / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.6169 / -87.7899 Survey Summary: A brief EF-0 tornado touched down on the south side of County Road 64, just west of the County Road 66 intersection. The tornado moved southeast and stayed to the south of County Road 64. The end point is estimated. Spotty tree damage was noted along the path, including two large hardwood trees that were uprooted and facing back toward the west.
JUNE 17 - Mobile and Baldwin County, AL Tornadoes
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 520 PM CDT Sun Jun 18 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 06/17/2023 Irvington Alabama Tornado Event... .Irvington Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.92 miles Path Width /maximum/: 80 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/17/2023 Start Time: 12:21 AM CDT Start Location: 1 S Irvington / Mobile County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.4897 / -88.2385 End Date: 06/17/2023 End Time: 12:28 AM CDT End Location: 3 NNW Irvington / Mobile County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.5459 / -88.2465 Survey Summary: NWS Storm Survey found a weak EF-0 tornado associated with a QLCS near Irvington. The tornado began just south of Old Pascagoula Rd where a couple large hardwood limbs were snapped and very weak convergence was noted through this area. A wider swath of damaging wind likely extended west where small branches were snapped laying due south. The tornado then crossed I10 where it produced minor damage to the underskirt to two manufactured homes. The tornado continued down Mcdonald road where a more noticeable concentration of hardwood tree damage was noted near Roush Rd. A few hardwoods were snapped but the trees appear to be rotted and un-healthy leading to a lower bound estimate more in line with large branches. Weak convergence was noted in the damage with a more divergence pattern further west towards the Walmart Facility where likely 60-75 mph straight line winds occurred. The tornado was likely discontinuous or intermittent as it traveled south/southeast towards Half Mile Rd where it produced minor tree damage in the form of small to medium limbs being snapped. A farm outbuilding had a section blow out near Half Mile Rd and Matlock Rd. An opening on the one side of the building suggests a lower bound estimate for this damage as wind likely got inside the building unimpeded. The metal from this building was deposited almost due east of the bar suggesting convergence along or near Matlock Rd. The tornado likely lifted near Cornelius Rd and One Mile Rd but not without uprooting a hardwood tree and couple more large branches being snapped. Light straight line wind damage was noted further south, but no convergence was able to be determined.
...NWS Damage Survey for 06/17/2023 Tornado Event... .Elsanor Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.56 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/17/2023 Start Time: 04:30 PM CDT Start Location: 4 NNE Elsanor / Baldwin County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.6037 / -87.555 End Date: 06/17/2023 End Time: 04:47 PM CDT End Location: 5 NE Elsanor / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.5979 / -87.5121 Survey Summary: A miniature supercell produced a weak tornado northeast of Elsanor on the evening of 6/17/2023. After analyzing storm chaser footage and radar data along with damage reports it was determined the tornado began around 430 PM CDT just north of I- 10 west of County Road 87 and tracked southeast across I-10 near the intersection of County Road 87. It was here where there were reports of some snapped off tree limbs. The rest of the evolution of the tornado is unique as it slowed and stalled for a brief period over forest to the north of Timber Company Road before occluding to the northeast, crossing I-10 near mile marker 59. This is where additional tree damage was observed and lines up well with the radar couplet. It is possible the tornado became stronger after crossing I-10 for the second time as the rotational velocity increased notably, however this area to the north of I- 10 is primarily forest and limited road access. Thus, the end point of the tornado is being estimated by the weakening of the radar velocity couplet and the reports from storm chasers.
JUNE 18 - Santa Rosa County, FL Wind Swath
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 921 PM CDT Wed Jun 21 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 06/18/23 Thunderstorm Wind Event... .Milton Area Damaging Wind Event... National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage near Milton and determined it to be associated with straight line winds. A wide and sporadic swath of damage began just inside the Santa Rosa County line as a very strong bowing segment developed and moved to the east-southeast. Trees were downed along the swath as it continued to the southeast and crossed Pine Blossom Road. The most concentrated damage occurred on the north side of Milton where several trees were uprooted. Damage was determined to be from straight line wind due to the lack of any convergence within the wider swath of damage. Although there may have been small vortices that developed on the apex of the bowing segment, there was no evidence to make a determination that a tornado occurred. Sporadic and broad tree damage continued to the southeast of Milton, across a wide portion of Santa Rosa County.
JUNE 19 - Baldwin County, AL Tornado
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 347 PM CDT Wed Jun 21 2023 ...NWS Damage Survey for 6/16/23 and 6/19/23 Loxley and Magnolia Springs Tornadoes... .Magnolia Springs Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.51 miles Path Width /maximum/: 230 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 06/19/2023 Start Time: 01:00 PM CDT Start Location: 4 WNW Bon Secour / Baldwin County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.341 / -87.791 End Date: 06/19/2023 End Time: 01:03 PM CDT End Location: 3 WNW Bon Secour / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.336 / -87.7849 Survey Summary: A tornado began just west of Benton Road in the trees prior to moving over a field and farmhouse. It was here that the first notable damage occurred. A farm building had its entire roof removed which was reinforced with hurricane straps. This would likely have required around 100mph wind gusts to accomplish. The roofing material was quickly wrapped around the tornadic circulation and thrown back and wrapped around the trees behind the building. In addition to this, inflow winds rapidly strengthened with a tree stand to the southwest having multiple trees snapped and uprooted facing towards the northeast, resulting in the tornadic circulation being approximately 230 yards here. A garage attached to the home just east of the farm building had 50% of its roofing material removed and likewise thrown towards the back. A small outbuilding at this location was destroyed with debris thrown across the field. The tornado continued across the field into an area of forest where drone footage revealed multiple snaps and uproots along a narrow corridor around 100 yards wide. The tornado appears to have shrunk in size as it approaches the next home southeast of the field where a single tree uproot occurred along with a small outbuilding being damaged. It is likely the tornado continued to the southeast and potentially strengthened, however the area is difficult to access and will likely need to be assessed via high resolution satellite imagery when available. Special thanks to Baldwin County EMA for providing drone footage of this part of the tornado path.
Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (Lead Forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: March 2024
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