Arctic Air Bringing Cold Temperatures to the Eastern Half of the U.S.; Strong Clipper System Wednesday and Thursday

Arctic air will continue below normal temperatures across the eastern half of the U.S. through today. A strengthening clipper storm will track north of the Great Lakes midweek with a widespread snow and gusty to strong winds through the region and into the Northeast U.S. followed by some lake effect snow. Read More >

Overview

A busy day of weather on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 brought widespread severe weather to the area with five tornadoes confirmed across the region. The strongest of these tornadoes was an EF-2 (when it was in Alabama) that started in Barbour county before it moved northeast into Quitman county Georgia and was rated an EF-1. Other tornadoes impacted parts of the Florida Panhandle, including one that crossed Interstate 10 in Madison county Florida and shutdown the interstate for several hours.


Region wide overview of the warnings issued by the office for this event. Red boxes are tornado warnings, yellow are severe thunderstorm warnings, and purple are special marine warnings. The icons are various types of local storm reports (LSRs).	Satellite Imagery of this storm system as it proceeded through the region on Tuesday afternoon of March 31.

Tornado
Photos & Video

Tornado Information

Tornado - Barbour Co. AL → Quitman/Randolph Co. GA
Alabama/Georgia

Date	March 31, 2020
Time	11:34 AM CDT
EF Rating (Max)	2 (in AL) 1 (in GA)
Est. Peak Winds	130 mph (in AL) 100 (in GA)
Path Length	30.11 miles
Max Width	350 yds (in AL) 200 (in GA)
Injuries/Deaths	1 injury in GA.
Summary: The tornado originated in Alabama about 3 miles ENE of Baker Hill. The tornado was at its strongest while in Barbour county AL as it moved across Highway 431. It crossed into Georgia across the Chattahoochee River at the Walter F. George Reservoir. The tornado weakened some as it continued into Quitman county GA. One injury occurred as the tornado cross highway 82 when trees were felled onto a mobile home. The tornado continued northeast towards Randolph county. The last accessible damage was along HWY 27 six miles north of Cuthbert where a few dozen pine trees were snapped and other trees were uprooted. The tornado continued into inaccessible areas further east at this point.

Track Map

Track Map EF-Scale

This tornado originated in the NWS Birmingham area of responsibility, and then moved into ours. Some data, including path length, has been combined; other's separated. To view more information on the damage that occurred in their area, please view their webpage here.

Tornado - Jefferson/Madison County #1
Florida

Date	March 31, 2020
Time	4:08 PM EDT
EF Rating (Max)	1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	9.16 miles
Max Width	150 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Initial damage was noted in far eastern Jefferson County along HWY 257 near its intersection with Walker Spring Rd. Damage consisting of many hundreds of snapped and uprooted trees continued east northeast into Madison County eventually crossing HWY 19. There was also at least one wooden power pole snapped.

Track Map

Tornado - Madison County #2
Florida

Date	March 31, 2020
Time	4:15 PM EDT
EF Rating (Max)	1
Est. Peak Winds	90 mph
Path Length	11.85 miles
Max Width	--
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Initial damage, consisting of a few dozen trees uprooted and snapped, was noted on a farm on the west side of HWY 221 just south of I-10. Damage continued to the east northeast crossing Sundown Creek Rd. and eventually I-10. After crossing I-10 it moved into inaccessible areas of the Hixton Swamp. Based on radar, the tornado remained on the ground continuously until damage became accessible again along HWY 360A just south of the intersection with CR 35. Damage to several trees at this location was the last damage evident from this tornado.

Track Map

Tornado - Madison County #3
Florida

Date	March 31, 2020
Time	4:33 PM EDT
EF Rating (Max)	0
Est. Peak Winds	75 mph
Path Length	0.11 miles
Max Width	50 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: A business suffered roof uplift and had a window blown in. There was significant water damage inside the business. There was an outbuilding damaged at the south Duval Street location as well. There was also scattered minor tree damage in the area.

Track Map

Tornado - Walton County
Florida

Date	March 31, 2020
Time	12:55 PM CDT
EF Rating (Max)	0
Est. Peak Winds	70 mph
Path Length	0.17
Max Width	25 yards
Injuries/Deaths	0
Summary: Apparent waterspout moved onshore, snapping a tree and causing minor roof damage to a home.

Track Map

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:

EF0 Weak 65-85 mph	EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph	EF2 Significant 111-135 mph	EF3 Severe 136-165 mph	EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph	EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph

Photos & Video

Barbour County, AL → Quitman/Randolph County, GA Tornado


Damage in Eufaula, AL just to the west of the NWS Tallahassee forecast area. This was in Birmingham's forecast region.	Aerial overview of damage that occurred just east of Eufaula, AL and the Walter F George Reservoir along Deer Point Rd	Additional tree and home damage near Deer Point Rd northeast of Georgetown, GA.	Mobile home damaged as a tornado felled a tree onto the home near US Highway 82. One injury (non-severe) occurred.

Aerial images here were provided courtesy Brad Taylor, Quitman County EMA.

Jefferson/Madison County #1, FL


Damage near Walker Springs Thomas City Rd and south Salt Rd at the beginning of the tornado.	Damage near Walker Springs Thomas City Rd and south Salt Rd at the beginning of the tornado.	Additional Tree Damage on Lanier Rd northeast of where the tornado originated.	Damage east of US Highway 19 near SW Overstreet Ave.

Madison County #2, FL


The tornado began about one mile SW of the intersection of US Highway 221 and I-10 in Madison County.	Additional damage near where the tornado begin near US Highway 221.	Damage along I-10 just east of the intersection of US Highway 221. The tornado also caused trees to fall onto the interstate, blocking traffic for some time	Tree Damage east-northeast of the Hixton Swap just southwest of the city of Madison, FL where the tornado is estimate to have lifted.

I-10 AT STANDSTILL:Traffic is at a standstill on I-10 near Greenville exit right now as the county's emergency management team reports downed trees in the area. Two possible tornadoes reportedly ripped through the area. (ðŸ“¸: Russell / @warrior7892) pic.twitter.com/finzIqOR8j
— ABC 27 (@abc27) March 31, 2020