Late April Tornado Event
April 22, 2018
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) of other storm damage across the area on April 22nd, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event (regional map may take a minute to load).
----- 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 in the list below. 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. April 22, 2018 - Updated Tornado - Crenshaw County, AL: The length of the tornado that moved through the Centenary community in Crenshaw County, AL was extended significantly based on a narrow path of uprooted trees noted on Planet satellite imagery. The EF1 intensity remains the same. The tornado length was extended from 3.63 miles to 6.39 miles.
Baldwin County (Alabama) EF0 & EF1 Tornadoes
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 1042 PM CDT Sun Apr 22 2018 ...NWS Damage Survey For The 04/22/2018 Baldwin County Tornado Events... .Foley, AL Tornado... Rating: EF-0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.6 miles Path Width /maximum/: 100 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 3 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 3:25 pm CDT Start Location: 3 miles south of Foley, AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.3607, -87.6872 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 3:28 pm CDT End Location: 1.9 miles southeast of Foley, AL End Lat/Lon: 30.3808, -87.6741 Survey summary: The tornado first touched down at the Anchors Aweigh RV Resort where it overturned 5 RVs. 3 people who were in the RVs were injured. The tornado continued northeast to just east of the intersection of Highway 59 and County Road 20. Minor damage to a convenience store canopy and to the Lowe`s were observed. The tornado lifted near the intersection of Pride Drive and Juniper Street. Spotty minor tree damage was noted along the path. .Vicinity of Elberta, AL Tornado... Rating: EF-0 Estimated Peak Wind: 80 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.04 miles Path Width /maximum/: 100 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 3:38 pm CDT Start Location: 2.6 miles north-northeast of Elberta, AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.4483, -87.5808 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 3:41 pm CDT End Location: 3.6 miles north-northeast of Elberta, AL End Lat/Lon: 30.4633, -87.5807 Survey summary: The tornado first touched down near the intersection of County Road 87 and Chatelaine Drive. A few homes experienced shingle damage. Some trees were also uprooted. The tornado continued moving almost due north, paralleling just east of County Road 87, lifting south of the Dixie Road intersection. Minor tree damage was noted along the path along with isolated instances of very minor structural damage to a few residences. Note: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 146 PM CDT Tue Apr 24 2018 ...NWS Damage Survey For The Gulf Shores, AL Tornado Event... .Gulf Shores, AL Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.16 miles Path Width /maximum/: 25 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 3:05 pm CDT Start Location: 3.4 miles west of Gulf Shores, AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.2376, -87.7571 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 3:06 pm CDT End Location: 3.4 miles west of Gulf Shores, AL End Lat/Lon: 30.2399, -87.7567 Survey summary: A strong waterspout moved onshore at the 2200 block of West Beach Boulevard. The tornado produced roof and siding damage to two homes. Several windows were also blown out. Note: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Northwest Florida Panhandle EF0 & EF1 Tornadoes
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 708 PM CDT Mon Apr 23 2018 ...NWS Damage Survey For 04/22/2018 Florida Panhandle Tornado Events... .Fort Walton Beach, FL Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100-105 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.24 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 2 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 4:13 pm CDT Start Location: Okaloosa Island Start Lat/Lon: 30.3963, -86.6230 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 4:18 pm CDT End Location: Fort Walton Beach End Lat/Lon: 30.4136, -86.6174 Survey summary: The tornado moved ashore on Okaloosa Island and produced significant damage to a home on Sailfish Drive. The tornado then moved across Santa Rosa Sound and into Fort Walton Beach, producing tree damage and broken windows at St Mary Catholic Church and School. The tornado continued northeast across Robinwood Drive and damaged the roofs of several units in an apartment complex, before finally weakening and lifting just north of Jet Drive. .Molino, FL Tornado... Rating: EF-0 Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.13 miles Path Width /maximum/: 25 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 1:02 pm CDT Start Location: 4.5 miles west of Molino Start Lat/Lon: 30.7319, -87.3892 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 1:03 pm CDT End Location: 4.5 miles west of Molino End Lat/Lon: 30.7338, -87.3889 Survey summary: There was a brief EF-0 track on Crabtree Church Road. One home suffered shingle damage and a broken window and a mobile home was shifted on its foundation. There were also several uprooted small trees and numerous large branches broken. Note: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Crenshaw County (Alabama) EF1 Tornadoes
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 1143 PM CDT Mon Apr 23 2018 ...NWS Damage Survey For The Crenshaw County, AL Tornado Events... .Rural Western Crenshaw County Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 95 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.9 miles Path Width /maximum/: 150 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 1:43 pm CDT Start Location: 8.4 miles west-northwest of Luverne, AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.7537, -86.4005 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 1:50 pm CDT End Location: 9.4 miles northwest of Luverne, AL End Lat/Lon: 31.8056, -86.3837 Survey summary: The EF-1 tornado touched down just prior to crossing Jeffcoast Road, and then moved north-northeast destroying a manufactured home, causing moderate damage to a second manufactured home, destroyed a shed, and uprooted and snapped large trees, one of which fell on a vehicle. The tornado was at its widest as it then cut through a grove of trees, and open fields before crossing Chapel Hill Road. A metal roof was then torn off a barn and thrown one-third of a mile back to the south. The tornado then caused sporadic damage as it passed through mainly wooded areas uprooting and snapping large trees, with one falling on a house causing minor damage, before lifting lifting near Center Ridge Road. .Rural Northeast Crenshaw County Tornado... Rating: EF-1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.1 miles Path Width /maximum/: 175 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 2:11 pm CDT Start Location: 3.3 miles south-southeast of Highland Home, AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.9085, -86.3063 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 2:15 pm CDT End Location: 2.0 miles southeast of Highland Home, AL End Lat/Lon: 31.9362, -86.2883 Survey summary: The tornado touched near Daniel Mill Road causing minor tree damage and then passed through mainly wooded areas as it moved north-northeast. The tornado strengthened to an EF-1 before reaching Oliver Myers Road, passing through mainly wooded areas uprooting and snapping large trees as it approached a small lake in the Magnolia Shores area. The tornado caused minor to moderate damage to several homes around the lake, mainly to roofs and siding. The tornado then proceeded through more woods before dissipating. Note: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
Rural Southeast Escambia County (Alabama) Thunderstorm Wind Event
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 1042 PM CDT Mon Apr 23 2018 ...NWS Damage Survey For 04/22/2018 Southeast Alabama Thunderstorm Wind Event... .Southeast Escambia County AL Thunderstorm Wind Event... Peak Wind /E/: 75-80 mph Path Length /statute/: Sporadic damage along roughly 1.2 miles Path Width /maximum/: 0.25 mile Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: April 22, 2018 Start Time: 1:49 pm CDT Start Location: 6.5 miles east-northeast of Dixonville Start Lat/Lon: 31.0124, -86.9281 End Date: April 22, 2018 End Time: 1:51 pm CDT End Location: 7.1 miles northeast of Dixonville End Lat/Lon: 31.0278, -86.9217 Survey summary: A severe thunderstorm moved across the Florida state line into rural southeastern Escambia County in Alabama and produced areas of sporadic straight line wind damage. Several large trees were uprooted along Raintree Rd. More trees were uprooted along Yellow Creek Rd with several trees snapped in half and laying in the adjacent field between Raintree and Yellow Creek Rds. There was minor damage to a shed and an awning/roof of a manufactured home along Yellow Creek Rd. Sporadic tree damage was also noted further north on Yellow Creek Rd near Fuqua Rd.
Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (Forecaster) and Joe Maniscalco (Forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: March 2024
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