January 11-12, 2023 | Severe Weather/Tornado Outbreak

[ClicheVortex2014]

38 minutes ago, Iceresistance said:

How is this still going strong even when it's embedded like that?

 

35 minutes ago, Neoncyclone said:

The squall catching up to the supercell actually initially enhanced conditions hence why we had a strong tornado for so long, the most memorable example to me being the late night/ early morning of the easter sunday outbreak. That's an extreme example but the same thing is essentially happening.

I'd also like to add that the intense mid-level mesocyclone doesn't just go away as a squall consumes it. Sometimes when a supercell is taken by a squall, the excess vorticity can create a MCV within the squall or it can re-establish itself as a dominant supercell within the squall. The latter is clearly the case here as the same supercell has another tornado on the ground.

It's typically good news when a discrete/semi-discrete supercell is overtaken by a squall because it's likely the tornado will be disrupted at least for a bit... but it can re-emerge.

Edited January 12, 2023 by ClicheVortex2014

[Neoncyclone]

2 minutes ago, ClicheVortex2014 said:

 

I'd also like to add that the intense mid-level mesocyclone doesn't just go away as a squall consumes it. Sometimes when a supercell is taken by a squall, the excess vorticity can create a MCV within the squall or it can re-establish itself as a dominant supercell within the squall. The latter is clearly the case here as the same supercell has another tornado on the ground.

Sure did, incredible dynamics and kinematics at play today. There's an embedded supercell just to the south of the current PDS warning quickly organizing as well

[Iceresistance]

8 minutes ago, Neoncyclone said:

Sure did, incredible dynamics and kinematics at play today. There's an embedded supercell just to the south of the current PDS warning quickly organizing as well

It already has a more intense velocity couplet!

[Neoncyclone]

Seems like every time i check back on the radar there's a debris ball, this is the southern embedded supercell i just mentioned.

[Iceresistance]

2 minutes ago, Neoncyclone said:

Seems like every time i check back on the radar there's a debris ball, this is the southern embedded supercell i just mentioned.

NWS now has it on the ground in the new warning, that escalated very quickly!

Edited January 12, 2023 by Iceresistance

[Iceresistance]

All of the cameras in LaGrange, GA are not working.

[ClicheVortex2014]

I was already thinking that this reminds me of 2016-17 because of California getting drenched in a La Nina, now this is the second tornado outbreak of January... just like January 2017. 

2017 was extremely active through the first half of April, then died off. That was a transition year from Nina to Nino, just like this year, though 2017's Nina died earlier than usual. Gonna be interesting to see if we continue to follow 2017.

[ClicheVortex2014]

Beast of a rotation completely embedded. If there's a tornado there's no shot of seeing it.

[ElectricStorm]

Storm heading into Griffin upgraded to PDS, monster debris ball

[ClicheVortex2014]

Extremely complex situation. Outflow is roaring but there very well could be multiple tornadoes in this frame.

Even have a tornado southeast of the monster meso. Seems completely random.

Edited January 12, 2023 by ClicheVortex2014

[ElectricStorm]

Looks like another debris ball east of the other one now, wow

[Iceresistance]

 

[ClicheVortex2014]

Sounding for Atlanta before the tornadoes in the area. Very strong shear, especially if there was localized surface backing which I bet there was. That little layer of very steep lapse rates from 850mb to almost 700mb is key. I've seen that with other cool season soundings that preceded a strong tornado. That's important for getting robust updrafts in what seems like a profile with marginal cape.

The fact that the AL/GA supercell showed a persistent BWER must've helped offices feel confident about their warnings because we already knew the kind of shear present. The unknown variable in cool season outbreaks is how much instability is available for strong updrafts on a more local scale, but that BWER was telling viewers that there was a strong updraft ongoing. So that solved the instability question. You definitely don't see BWERs often in the cool season.

Edited January 12, 2023 by ClicheVortex2014

[snowlover2]

Confirmed tornado near Cedar Creek GA.

Quote

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
706 PM EST Thu Jan 12 2023

The National Weather Service in Peachtree City has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  West central Dodge County in central Georgia...
  Southeastern Pulaski County in central Georgia...
  North central Wilcox County in central Georgia...

* Until 730 PM EST.

* At 706 PM EST, a tornado producing storm was located over Cedar
  Creek, or 8 miles northwest of Abbeville, moving northeast at 25
  mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  SOURCE...Radar confirmed tornado.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Eastman, Union, Godwinsville and Cedar Creek.

 

 

[ClicheVortex2014]

Wikipedia page for today. 5 tornadoes confirmed in Kentucky, 1 in Mississippi, 1 in Alabama.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_January_12,_2023

[ClicheVortex2014]

45 end of the day tornado reports. Crazy outbreak for January

[Chinook]

What a nasty day. I was gone after 2:00PM, so I had been watching the tornado on radar, northeast of Selma, at Deatsville, when I had to go. I missed a few hours of tracking storms. Never would have thought that "a few hours of tracking storms" would apply to November, December, and January of the same winter.

 Here are some of the rotation tracks I missed

 

Edited January 13, 2023 by Chinook

[Iceresistance]

6 have died to the Selma-Alexander City, AL tornado

 

[ClicheVortex2014]

 

[Iceresistance]

The tornado that struck Selma and barely missed Alexander City may have been on the ground for over 165 miles!

[Iceresistance]

Griffin, GA Tornado currently EF-3

 

Alabama super-long tracker rated EF3+, Selma itself is EF2+, but likely will be part of that super long tracker.

Edited January 13, 2023 by Iceresistance

[ClicheVortex2014]

1 hour ago, Iceresistance said:

Griffin, GA Tornado currently EF-3

 

Alabama super-long tracker rated EF3+, Selma itself is EF2+, but likely will be part of that super long tracker.

I doubt they're gonna find that the Selma tornado didn't pick up after hitting town.

Here you can see a likely cycle beginning (1823z)... you can see the Selma tornado is likely still ongoing east of Selma. Just east of it is the new rotation

Cycling (1825z)... Selma tornado can still be barely made out, but it's dwarfed compared to the new rotation.

Still questionable as to whether a tornado was on the ground at 1838z. There's broad rotation but nothing tight.

It wasn't until 1844z that it became convincing a tornado was likely on the ground. This was prior to the rapid intensification.

 

A persistent tornado signature/debris signature stayed from 1844z to 1945z. They might find the tornado went past 1945z, perhaps until 1958z, but the tornado and debris signature went away after that. The forward speed of 45-55 mph, so it was long-tracked--probably the second one produced by the same supercell--but I think there was a cycle after Selma. We shall see

Edited January 13, 2023 by ClicheVortex2014

[Iceresistance]

I'm going to say a high-end EF-4, cars were TOSSED!

 

[ClicheVortex2014]

23 hours ago, ClicheVortex2014 said:

45 end of the day tornado reports. Crazy outbreak for January

24 hours post-outbreak... tornado reports jumped by 10. Probably gonna take BMX at least a couple more days to conclude.

[ClicheVortex2014]

BMX actually just posted an update 10 minutes ago. Selma tornado has been rated high-end EF2. They determined it weakened/lifted shortly after hitting Selma.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
944 PM CST Fri Jan 13 2023

...NWS Damage Survey for 01/12/2023 Tornado Event Update #5...

.Update...4 Additional Tornado Path Updates:

1. An EF2 tornado has been confirmed in Sumter County, near
Emelle.
2. An EF1 tornado has been confirmed in Green County,
near Eutaw. That survey will continue tomorrow as the tornado
could have continued into Hale, Tuscaloosa, and Bibb Counties.
We`ll determine if it was one continuous damage path, or separate
tornadoes.
3. An EF2 tornado has been confirmed in Hale and Perry
Counties, most notable damage was near Greensboro.
4. An EF1 tornado has been confirmed in Perry and Bibb Counties.
This is a separate tornado path downstream from the Greensboro
tornado.

Survey efforts will continue across many areas in Central Alabama
tomorrow. Areas include Hale, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Autauga, Elmore,
Tallapoosa, Coosa, and Chambers Counties. Any results or
information from those surveys will be shared as it becomes
available. These survey efforts will continue beyond tomorrow,
most likely.

.Overview...Numerous strong to severe thunderstorms impacted
Central Alabama during the morning and afternoon hours of
Thursday January 12th, 2023. Several supercell thunderstorms spawned
significant tornadoes which caused paths of damage over several
areas. Some damage paths contain significant damage.
Thunderstorms also produced damaging straight-line winds over
many areas, as well as hail up to golf ball size.

.Tornado #1 Delmar Tornado (Winston County)...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    125 mph
Path Length /statute/:  9.18 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   425 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             08:05 AM CST
Start Location:         1 E Delmar / Winston County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          34.1658 / -87.5864

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               08:18 AM CST
End Location:           3 SE Ashridge / Winston County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            34.204 / -87.4334

Survey Summary:
The tornado touched down east of Delmar near County Rd 20 where
timber damage was observed in addition to minor structural damage.
The tornado continued northeast into a heavily wooded area near
Tanyard Creek then crossing County Rd 28 where trees were
uprooted. The width here was approximately 150 yards wide. The
tornado continued northeast into additional heavily wooded areas
near Clear Creek then impacting a residence on County Rd 432
uprooting and snapping trees, causing structural damage, and
overturning an RV. The tornado continued to grow in width as it
moved northeast, approximately 425 yards wide as it crossed
Macedonia Rd. The tornado continued to cause additional timber
damage in a heavily wooded area before it impacted a farm near
County Rd 55 and 3182. Here the highest degree of damage occurred
as two large chicken coops were completely destroyed in addition
to 3 other small farm buildings. Nearby structural damage occurred
to at least 4 residences. Adjacent timber damage also occurred.
The tornado continued east-northeast toward Highway 195 where it
dissipated before crossing County Rd 6. Around 25 structures were
damaged due to the tornado. NWS Birmingham would like to thank
Darone and Mike (NWS Memphis) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
(ALEA) for their assistance with this survey.

.Tornado #2 Emelle Tornado (Sumter County)...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    120 mph
Path Length /statute/:  12.87 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   440 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             09:24 AM CST
Start Location:         2 W Emelle / Sumter County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          32.7288 / -88.3463

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               09:40 AM CST
End Location:           3 SSE Gainesville / Sumter County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            32.7715 / -88.1314

Survey Summary:
This tornado began near Sumter 24 uprooting trees. The tornado
continued east-northeast along Sumter 24 where it destroyed a
grain bin near Ramsey Lane along with snapping and uprooting a few
more softwood trees. The tornado moved through Emelle where it
caused damage to roofs in the community along with uprooting and
snapping numerous trees. The tornado crossed Highway 74 and took
the roof off of a home and destroyed an outbuilding near the
intersection of Highway 74 and Sunlight Church Road. The tornado
was at it`s strongest intensity at this point with a max wind of
120 mph. The tornado crossed Highway 39 and destroyed a mobile
home on Hodges Place Road. The tornado ended just east of Sumter
21 uprooting and snapping a few more trees along the way. NWS
Birmingham would like to thank Dan (NWS Jackson) for the
assistance with this survey.

.Tornado #3 Eutaw Tornado (Greene County)...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    110 mph
Path Length /statute/:  TBD
Path Width /maximum/:   425 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             09:54 AM CST
Start Location:         1 W Eutaw / Greene County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          32.842 / -87.9158

End Date:               TBD
End Time:               TBD
End Location:           TBD
End Lat/Lon:            TBD

Survey Summary:
This tornado began just west of West End Avenue and moved across
West End Avenue where it destroyed a shed, caused roof damage,
snapped and uprooted trees. The tornado continued to move into the
northern portions of Eutaw where it snapped and uprooted numerous
trees along with minor roof damage to several homes. Trees also
fell on at least 2 homes causing significant damage to the homes.
A rooftop observation deck was taken off of one home and thrown
across the street off of Ashby Drive. The tornado continued east-
northeast toward Highway 11 snapping and uprooting several trees
along the way.

Additional survey work will continue on this track to determine
if the tornado continued into Hale, Tuscaloosa, and Bibb Counties
as a continuous or separate track.

.Tornado #4 Greensboro Tornado (Hale and Perry Counties)...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    115 mph
Path Length /statute/:  21.22 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   500 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             10:47 AM CST
Start Location:         2 S Duffys Bend / Hale County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          32.6221 / -87.7543

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               11:15 AM CST
End Location:           Morgan Springs / Perry County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            32.7394 / -87.4184

Survey Summary:
The tornado touched down in a remote area of Hale County, near
Clements Bend on the Black Warrior River. From there, it moved
east-northeast across CR-35, where downed numerous trees on a
farm near the State Cattle Ranch. From there, it continued to
snap and uproot numerous trees in a largely rural area, before
causing considerable damage to the roof of a house along AL-69.
The tornado grew to EF-2 strength as it approached the southern
part of the city Of Greensboro. At AL-25, it snapped and uprooted
numerous trees, rolled and destroyed a single-wide manufactured
home, and caused lighter damage to several other structures. The
remaining damage along the path was mostly to timber, including
along AL-61 just southeast of Greensboro, and AL-14 just east of
the city. The tornado then weakened to high EF-0 to low EF-
1 strength as it moved into Perry County near Griffin Cemetery
Road, and ultimately dissipated after snapping off its final few
trees on Morgan Springs Road.

.Tornado #5 Fire Tower Road Tornado (Perry and Bibb Counties)...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    104 mph
Path Length /statute/:  9.66 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   500 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             11:30 AM CST
Start Location:         1 E Ellards / Perry County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          32.8096 / -87.2363

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               11:41 AM CST
End Location:           4 SW Trio / Bibb County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            32.8668 / -87.085

Survey Summary:
The tornado began near the Cahaba River west of National Forest
Road 401D (NF-401D) and Barton Road based on radar estimation of
a TDS.  It developed quickly into a high end EF-0 by the time it
brushed Double Branch Rd as it moved east-northeasterly over the
forest.  As it crossed Fire Tower Road, it reached maximum EF-
1 intensity of 104 mph based on scores of snapped and uprooted
pine trees right on the ridge.  The tornado continued over
forested land before crossing Pawtucky Road, where several pines
and hardwoods were snapped.  The tornado then began to weaken as
it approached and crossed Alabama Highway 219 north of the
Bibb/Perry county line.  The tornado weakened rapidly as it
crossed Roy Martin Rd, and dissipated shortly thereafter.

.Tornado #6 Selma Tornado (Dallas County)...

Rating:                 EF2
Estimated Peak Wind:    130 mph
Path Length /statute/:  23.60 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   800 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               2

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             12:02 PM CST
Start Location:         Orrville / Dallas County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          32.3074 / -87.2384

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               12:30 PM CST
End Location:           1 SE Burnsville / Dallas County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            32.4553 / -86.8788

Survey Summary:
National Weather Surveys have concluded that the damage across
Dallas County was consistent with a high-end EF-2 tornado.  The
tornado began just east of Orrville near the intersection of Hwy
22 and Cahaba Rd.  As it moved northeast, it intensified as the
damage path was nearly parallel with Hwy 22.  The damage
consisted of mainly uprooted trees with trunks that were snapped.
 There were also several manufactured homes that sustained roof
and some foundation damage.  As the tornado continued down Hwy
22, additional tree damage was observed as it neared the
southwestern sections of Selma. The tornado quickly intensified
as it entered the city limits of Selma, nearly parallel to Hwy
22/W Dallas Ave. the main damage indicators used were the
uprooted hardwood trees and the snapped softwood trees.  Most of
the softwood trees were snapped about halfway up on the trunks.
The daycare on W Dallas Ave and Cooper Dr sustained heavy
exterior wall damage and was consistent with the higher-end
EF2 wind speeds.  Some debris rowing was also noted in the
downstream vicinity.  The second area of higher-end EF2 damage
was noted downstream at the Selma Country Club where buildings
had significant roof and exterior wall damage and there was a
complete blow down of extremely large hardwood trees.  Additional
softwood trees were also snapped in and around adjacent streets.
As the tornado continued further north and east, it entered the
northern sections of downtown Selma.  Nearly all of the damage
continued to consist of mainly trees, with hard and softwood
trees uprooted.  The homes that sustained damage were observed to
have roof material missing or fallen trees that impacted the
structure.  Very little damage observed to homes was directly
wind related likely due to the sheltering nature of the very
large and older trees that were embedded within the historic
neighborhoods. However, the tree fall damage remained consistent
with high-end EF-1 or low end EF-2.     As the tornado exited
downtown, it crossed Hwy 14, east of Selma, crossing Parkway Dr.
Additional structure damage was noted with exterior walls the
were collapsed consistent once again with higher EF-2 wind
speeds.  The tornado finally began to weaken and lift just east
near the Brantley community near River Rd, but not before some
significant damage was observed at the Dallas County Jail on
Selfield Rd.

In the coming days, additional UAS and aerial imagery will be
analyzed as numerous roads in the Selma area were inaccessible.
This could result in changes to the path length, width and/or EF
rating.

.Tornado #7 Teals Crossroads Tornado (Barbour County)...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    105 mph
Path Length /statute/:  10.96 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   900 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             01/12/2023
Start Time:             03:25 PM CST
Start Location:         1 S Doster / Barbour County / AL
Start Lat/Lon:          31.6251 / -85.6726

End Date:               01/12/2023
End Time:               03:38 PM CST
End Location:           1 E Blue Springs State Park / Barbour County / AL
End Lat/Lon:            31.6616 / -85.4934

Survey Summary:
The tornado initially touched down near Bethel on Sutton Dairy Rd
Causing timber damage near Buck Branch. The tornado continued
northeast into a heavily wooded area and caused continued timber
damage near Dewey Ivey Rd, snapping numerous pines. Additional
damage downstream occurred near farm structures near Huey Faulk
Rd. A home sustained damage due to a fallen tree on County Rd 15.
The tornado continued northeast towards Teals Crossroads where
additional timber damage occurred near Roberts Rd. Some minor
structural damage was observed. The tornado continued east-
northeast crossing County Rd 33 and Turner Rd before dissipating
near Highway 10. NWS Birmingham would like to thank Molly and
Karleisa (NWS Tallahassee) for their assistance with this damage
survey.

&&

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

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

 

Edited January 14, 2023 by ClicheVortex2014