East Clanton-Cooper Tornado - March 17, 2021

East Clanton-Cooper EF-1 Tornado (Chilton County)
March 17, 2021

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	95 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	3.04 miles
Maximum Path Width:	500 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	3 NNW Cooper 32.8165/-86.5539 at 1:56 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	5 W Higgins Ferry Park 32.8573/-86.5363 at 2:03 pm CDT

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage in Eastern Chilton County and determined it was the result of an EF-1 tornado.

A tornado touched down early Wednesday afternoon just north of the Cooper community in Chilton County. The tornado touchdown was observed by off duty NWS personnel along County Road 484, where video was captured. The tornado quickly developed a cone like appearance and moved north-northeast producing mainly tree damage along County Roads 491 and 97. Hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted along County Roads 486 and 491. Some minor structural damage was also noted with damage to farm buildings and an outbuilding. The tornado widened to about 500 yards in this area. As the tornado continued to move to the northeast toward County Road 28 it began to weaken with more minor tree damage noted. This is the same storm that produced the Billingsley Tornado. The tornado occluded/dissipated quickly to the north of County Road 28. The tornado damage path was 3.04 miles long and was 500 yards wide at its widest point. The maximum winds were estimated around 95 mph.

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Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the circulation during the time of the tornado.
Images are from KBMX at 1:59 pm CDT.

Damage to Outbuilding

Trees Uprooted

Tree Uprooted

Tornado Picture Courtesy of NWS Employee

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