National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

EF-1 Tornado & Damaging Winds
on January 25, 2026

Overview
 

A line of thunderstorms moved across southern Alabama during the morning and afternoon hours on Sunday, January 25, 2026 during a high shear/low instability setup. In the NWS Birmingham area of responsibility, these storms produced damaging, straight-line winds and a tornado, affecting portions of Lowndes and Montgomery counties.

 
 
 
 

**The data below are considered PRELIMINARY.**

Location/Summary
Damage Rating/Estimated Maximum Wind Speeds
Injuries/Fatalities
Damage Path Length/Width
Starting Point/Time
Ending Point/Time
Rolling Acres Tornado
(Lowndes/Montgomery Counties)
EF-1
90 mph
None 3.31 miles
65 yards
6 WNW Pintlala
32.2218/-86.4555
11:16 am CST
3 NW Pintlala
32.2191/-86.3995
11:20 am CST
Montgomery Metro Damaging Winds
(Montgomery County)
Straight-line Winds
60-70 mph

 
None N/A
11:20 am CST
 
 
Rolling Acres EF-1

Rolling Acres EF-1 Tornado (Lowndes & Montgomery Counties)
  January 25, 2026

 

Event Summary

EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:
90 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
None
Damage Path Length:
3.31 miles
Maximum Path Width:
65 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:
6 WNW Pintlala
32.2218/-86.4555
11:16 am CST
Approximate End Point/Time:
3 NW Pintlala
32.2191/-86.3995
11:20 am CST

 

The tornado began on the west side of Cruise Road, just north of Bibb Road, where a few snapped and uprooted trees were observed. The tornado then continued eastward to County Road 26 and Hargrove Lane, producing similar timber damage along the way. The tornado then struck a manufactured home (MH) as well as two site-built homes along Treat Road. The first site-built home sustained damage to an attached carport and associated roofing on the south side of the structure. The MH had its sheet metal roof completely removed, though the roof truss structure remained intact. Insulation from its roof was noted to have been blown southeastward while the metal roofing material was blown northward. Next door, the tornado removed from a site-built home a large section of its roof structure on the west side of the structure. A splattering of insulation was noted on the east side of the residence. This damage pattern suggest a cyclonic wind field (i.e., a tornado). Several trees were uprooted or snapped in the vicinity of the structures. The tornado then produced additional timber damage, fairly minor in nature, east to near the shoulder of Interstate 65. 99% of this tornado`s path was characterized by EF-0 damage, though a maximum rating of EF-1 is assigned due to the level of damage to the site-built home, making the worst of damage very, very short-lived.

Track Map
 

 

 

Radar Image
Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the weak circulation. Images are from KMXX at 11:17 am CST.

 

Damage Photo
 Site-built home damaged
Damage Photo
 Manufactured home damaged
 
Montgomery Damaging Winds

Montgomery Metro Damaging Winds (Montgomery County)
  January 25, 2026

 

Event Summary

Straight-line Winds
Estimated Maximum Wind:
60-70 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
None
Approximate Start Time:
11:20 am CST

 

The damage began in the vicinity of Interstate 65 and Fairview Avenue and continued eastward to near Taylor Road. Numerous crossroads along this axis were affected, with many trees and large limbs downed onto residences, other buildings, vehicles, and roadways. Some power lines were also taken down, including across Interstate 85 which required a temporary closing of the roadway. Many residences suffered minor to significant damage from fallen trees and tree limbs.

Sporadic straight-line wind damage was noted in the greater Montgomery Metro area, though the most concentrated and significant damage was noted along the aforementioned areas.

Tree fall was observed to have been in a easterly direction. Additionally, radar data from KMXX showed a concentrated surge of strong winds, in a uniform direction, on the southern side of the storm. Based on available evidence, straight-line winds is deemed the cause of these damages.

 

 

Radar Image
Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the bowing segment containing the straight-line winds.

Images are from KMXX at 11:23 am CST.

Damage Photo
Residential damage from fallen trees
 
Surface/Upper Air Charts & Reports
 

250mb Analysis
250mb Analysis
January 25 at 6 am

500mb Analysis
500mb Analysis
January 25 at 6 am

850mb Analysis
850mb Analysis
January 25 at 6 am

Surface Analysis
Surface Analysis
January 25 at 6am

Surface Analysis
Surface Analysis
January 25 at 9am

Surface Analysis
Surface Analysis
January 25 at 12pm

KBMX Sounding
Severe Weather Outlook
Morning of January 25

KBMX Sounding
KBMX Sounding
January 25 at 6 am

Storm Reports
Storm Reports
January 25