Local Tornado Reanalysis Project
Significant Updates to Past Tornado Tracks
Significant updates were recently made to several tornado tracks impacting the NWS Mobile/Pensacola area in the 2018 to 2023 timeframe. The majority of the updates involved adjustments to the track length, track width, and/or an upgrade to a higher EF rating as the introduction of high-resolution Sentinel, Worldview, and Planet satellite imagery has vastly improved meteorologists’ ability to view tornado tracks over the past few years.
While surveying the damage on the ground in the aftermath of a tornado is still the preferred method to assess what happened during the tornado, this high-resolution satellite imagery can, in many cases, help us fully resolve the tornado track. Oftentimes when surveying tornado damage, there will be areas that meteorologists cannot access for a variety of reasons - heavily wooded areas being the predominant reason. High-resolution satellite imagery allows meteorologists to view the damage in these inaccessible areas in the weeks to months following the tornado, which then allows us to reanalyze the full track of the tornado. If the resolution of the imagery is high enough like Planet and Worldview provides, we are able to differentiate between and assess different damage indicators for trees including snaps versus uproots and hardwoods versus softwoods which assisted in many of the intensity upgrades during this period.
This Local Tornado Reanalysis Project, led by Michael Mugrage at the NWS Mobile/Pensacola Office, is an ongoing effort that will continue into the future as the team looks into tornadoes prior to 2018. A list of updated tornado tracks sorted by year will be provided below along with information about future updates. All tornado tracks in the list below are now available on the DAT Viewer.
For general questions or media inquiries, please contact:
Meteorologist In Charge, Jason Beaman (251-633-6443 ext. 222)
Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Jessica Chace (251-633-6443 ext. 223)
- 2023 -
January 12, 2023 - Updated Tornado - Mobile County, AL
Update: Updated the first part of the EF2 tornado track to reflect the complete deforestation noted in Sentinel and Planet satellite imagery between Gulf Crest and Pineola communities (additional EF2 points were added to the track) and lengthened the track where the tornado lifted just east of Movico. Also made small cosmetic changes to the track to line up with the tree damage.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
January 12, 2023 - New Tornado - Covington County, AL
Update: A short lived new EFU tornado was found to the west-northwest of Gantt (east of Red Level) based on Planet satellite imagery. The tornado track is embedded in the long path of straight-line wind damage that started in Escambia County, AL and ended in Crenshaw County, AL. The tornado occurred primarily in densely forested areas in between roads, largely inaccessible to survey teams. This track is assigned EFU for now with unknown wind as there are limitations on determining tornado intensity below EF2.
Notes: There is ongoing research to determine tornado intensity thresholds via Planet imagery.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 26, 2023 - New Tornadoes - Wilcox County, AL
Update: The initial tornado that impacted the Estelle community (southeast of Camden) was found to be 3 separate tornadoes based on Worldview satellite imagery. These tornadoes occurred in heavily wooded areas that could not be accessed by survey teams. Each tornado is rated a high-end EF1.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
June 16, 2023 - Updated Tornado - Mobile/Baldwin Counties, AL
Update: 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 Worldview satellite imagery. The track of the tornado was also adjusted slightly, but the EF1 intensity remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
- 2022 -
January 9, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Butler County, AL
Update: Upgraded this tornado from an EF0 tornado to an EF1 tornado based on multiple uprooted trees noted on Worldview satellite imagery. This tornado occurred in a wooded area that could not be accessed by survey teams. The ending point was adjusted based on satellite imagery as the tornado occluded to the north prior to reaching Garden Rd.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
January 9, 2022 - Updated Wind Swath - Butler County, AL
Update: The swath of damaging straight-line winds that occurred to the southeast of the Ridgeville community was expanded based on Worldview satellite imagery. The peak wind remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 22, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: The length of the tornado that moved between the Cyril and Pushmataha communities in northwest Choctaw County, AL was extended further to the northeast based on Worldview satellite imagery. Numerous snapped and uprooted trees were also noted in satellite imagery in the first half of the track, thus the intensity increased to 128 mph (remaining an EF2 tornado). The new path length is 4.33 miles and the width was increased to 300 yards.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 22, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: The length of the tornado in southeastern Choctaw County, AL (northeast of the Toxey community) was extended based on Sentinel satellite imagery. The new path length is 3.05 miles.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 30, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: The length of the tornado that moved across the southeastern portion of Choctaw County, AL was extended based on notable tree damage and defoliation of vegetation noted on Sentinel satellite imagery. The starting point was moved to the southwest of the Panther/Conners Rd area. The new path length is 20.157 miles in our CWA - the tornado continued into NWS Birmingham’s CWA (Marengo County, AL). Storm Data has been updated to reflect these changes.
Future: We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
April 5, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw/Clarke County, AL
Update: The width of the EF2 tornado just north of Coffeeville was widened near the starting point based on an additional area of snapped trees noted on Worldview satellite imagery.
Future: We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
November 30, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Greene County, MS and Washington County, AL
Update: The overall track of the tornado that began in Greene County, MS and ended in Washington County, AL received cosmetic updates based on Planet satellite imagery. A deviation in the tornado motion was noted near the middle of the track (just west of Fruitdale) with several EF1 and EF2 points added based on Worldview satellite imagery. The maximum width was updated to approximately 700 yards, but the EF3 intensity remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
December 14, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Washington/Choctaw County, AL
Update: The overall track of the 1st tornado that occurred west of the Frankville community received cosmetic updates based on Worldview satellite imagery. The EF2 intensity remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
December 14, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: The starting point of the 2nd tornado that occurred northeast of the Frankville community was extended further to the southeast based on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The EF2 intensity remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
- 2021 -
March 17, 2021 - Updated Tornado - Wayne County, MS
Update: The overall track of the EF2 tornado that began to the northwest of the Strengthford community received cosmetic updates based on Worldview satellite imagery. The length and width remain the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 17, 2021 - Updated Tornado - Wayne County, MS and Choctaw/Clarke Counties, AL
Update: The overall track of the long track EF2 tornado that began in Wayne County, traveled across Choctaw and Clarke Counties, and ended in Marengo County (NWS Birmingham CWA) received cosmetic updates based on Planet satellite imagery.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 25, 2021 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: Upgraded this tornado from an EF1 tornado to a high-end EF2 tornado and lengthened the track based on the extent of widespread snapped and uprooted hardwood trees noted on Worldview satellite imagery. The tornado occurred primarily in densely forested areas, largely inaccessible to the survey team. The new path length is 2.54 miles and path width is 430 yards. The new maximum intensity is approximately 134 mph given the widespread tree damage.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
June 19, 2021 - Updated Tornado - Escambia/Conecuh Counties, AL
Update: The starting point of the EF2 tornado that impacted the East Brewton community was extended further to the south based on tree damage noted on high-resolution satellite imagery to the south of Jay Rd. Also made small cosmetic changes to the track to line up with the tree damage.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
June 19, 2021 - New Tornado - Conecuh County, AL
Update: A new EF1 tornado was found to the north of the Johnsonville community based on multiple uprooted trees and a notable scar visible on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The tornado length is 3.9 miles, width is 120 yards, and maximum intensity is 95 mph.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
August 30, 2021 - Updated Tornado - Mobile County, AL
Update: The length of the tornado that moved through parts of Saraland, Satsuma, and Creola was extended based on a narrow swath of uprooted and snapped trees noted on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The ending point was extended further to the northeast into the Mobile River Delta (just east of the Bucks community).
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
August 30, 2021 - New Tornado - Baldwin/Clarke Counties, AL
Update: A new EF1 tornado was found along the Alabama River at the Baldwin/Clarke County line based on a narrow swath of tree damage noted on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The tornado length is 3.53 miles, width is 175 yards, and maximum intensity is 90 mph.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
- 2020 -
April 12, 2020 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: The width of the EF1 tornado just west of the Collumburg community in southern Choctaw County, AL was widened from 75 yards to 450 yards based on the extent of deforestation noted in high-resolution Planet satellite imagery.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
April 19, 2020 - Updated Tornado - Covington County, AL
Update: The starting point of the EF2 tornado that occurred to the northeast of the Sanford community in Covington County, AL was extended further to the northwest based on widespread tree deforestation noted on Planet satellite imagery. The ending point was also extended further to the east based on notable tree damage in satellite imagery.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
April 19, 2020 - New Wind Swath - Covington County, AL
Update: A swath of extensive straight-line wind damage was found to the south of the EF2 tornado near the Babbie community based on widespread deforestation (separate from the tornado path) noted on Planet satellite imagery. Peak winds likely exceeded 90-100 mph.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
April 20, 2020 - New Wind Swath - Santa Rosa County, FL
Update: A swath of straight-line wind damage was found surrounding an EF0 tornado in the Pace community based on numerous uprooted and snapped trees (across a broad swath) noted on Planet satellite imagery. Peak winds likely 80-90 mph.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
- 2019 -
March 3, 2019 - Updated Tornado - Washington County, AL
Update: The length of the tornado near the Chatom community was extended significantly based on a narrow swath of tree damage noted on high-resolution Planet satellite imagery. The EF1 tornado occurred primarily in densely forested areas (only crossing one road), largely inaccessible to the survey team. The starting and ending points of the tornado were extended well to the west and east of Highway 17 in Washington County, AL. The path length increased from 0.17 miles to 3.18 miles. The EF1 intensity remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
March 3, 2019 - Combined Tornadoes - Butler/Crenshaw Counties, AL
Update: The initial two tornadoes that impacted Butler and Crenshaw Counties, AL between the Daisy and Danielsville communities were discovered to be the same tornado track based on Planet satellite imagery. The EF1 tornado moved across densely forested areas, largely inaccessible to the survey team. Planet satellite imagery revealed that the tornado continued across this forested area, connecting the first and second tornado tracks into one singular EF1 tornado track. The tornado starting point was also adjusted slightly west of the initial point. The tornado length is 5.03 miles, width is 50 yards, and maximum intensity is 90 mph.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
October 25, 2019 - New Tornado - Washington County, AL
Update: A new, brief EF1 tornado was found north of the Hawthorn community in Washington County, AL based on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The tornado length is 0.19 miles, width is 95 yards and maximum intensity is 90 mph based on multiple trees uprooted in a convergent pattern on Worldview satellite imagery.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
October 25, 2019 - Updated Tornado - Clarke County, AL
Update: The length of the tornado that moved between the Midway and Thomasville communities in Clarke County, AL was extended further north based on a small path of uprooted trees noted on Planet satellite imagery. The EF1 intensity remains the same.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
December 16, 2019 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: Upgraded this tornado from an EF1 tornado to a high-end EF2 tornado and lengthened the track based on extensive deforestation (widespread leveling of the forest in a few spots) noted on Planet and Worldview satellite imagery. The EF2 points occurred primarily in densely forested areas, largely inaccessible to the survey team. The tornado length in the NWS Mobile CWA is 10.3 miles, width is 850 yards, and maximum intensity is 128 mph.
Notes: This long-track tornado began near Laurel, MS (NWS Jackson CWA) and was rated higher in their CWA due to the damage along the track west of our area, thus the entire tornado is rated EF3.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
- 2018 -
April 22, 2018 - Updated Tornado - Crenshaw County, AL
Update: 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.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
November 1, 2018 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL
Update: Upgraded this tornado from an EF0 tornado to an EF1 tornado and lengthened the track slightly based on a narrow path of numerous snapped and uprooted trees noted on Planet satellite imagery. The EF1 points occurred primarily in densely forested areas, largely inaccessible to the survey team.
Future: Storm Data will be updated next. We aim to update the event webpage and Tornado Museum to reflect these changes in the near future.
LAST UPDATED: November 2023
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