Tornadoes of May 22, 2026

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Tornadoes of May 22, 2026

Overview
Sparks Road EF-1
Exmoor EF-0
Bama Rock Road EF-1
Outlooks & Reports
Surface & Upper Air Charts

Overview

Numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred across Central Alabama during the late morning to early afternoon of May 22. Enough shear and instability were present to promote the development of small, low-topped supercells within a tropical environment. A few of these cells produced brief rotation, and three brief tornadoes occurred in Marengo and Tuscaloosa counties.

Location/Summary	Damage Rating/Estimated Maximum Wind Speeds	Injuries/Fatalities	Damage Path Length/Width	Starting Point/Time	Ending Point/Time
Sparks Road Tornado (Marengo/Hale Counties)	EF-1 95 mph	None	2.27 miles 150 yards	2 W Gallion 32.5001/-87.7464 10:43 am CDT	2 NNW Gallion 32.5260/-87.7238 10:50 am CDT
Exmoor Tornado (Marengo County)	EF-0 65 mph	None	0.23 miles 40 yards	3 S Sweet Water 32.0537/-87.8623 10:47 am CDT	3 SSE Sweet Water 32.0566/-87.8605 10:48 am CDT
Bama Rock Road Tornado (Tuscaloosa County)	EF-1 95 mph	None	2.65 miles 150 yards	3 N Vance 33.2105/-87.2211 12:13 pm CDT	3 S Abernant 33.2462/-87.2083 12:18 pm CDT

Sparks Road EF-1

Sparks Road EF-1 Tornado (Marengo/Hale Counties)
May 22, 2026

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	95 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	2.27 miles
Maximum Path Width:	150 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	2 W Gallion 32.5001/-87.7464 at 10:43 am CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	2 NNW Gallion 32.5260/-87.7238 at 10:50 am CDT

A tornado developed along Sparks Road, east of Demopolis, near the Marengo County/Hale County line, where several hardwood trees were snapped and uprooted, and a residence had siding damage either from wind or fallen trees. The tornado then moved northeast and impacted homes just off Highway 80 near Yellow Creek Road. Shingles and siding were removed from a couple of homes, a shed was destroyed, and general yard items were strewn. Perhaps the most eye-catching item was the displacement and flipping of a box truck and a pontoon boat. The tornado then crossed Highway 80 with minimal signs of damage and came to an end just past the Hale County line, along Mount Olive Road, where tree branches were broken.

Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) from KBMX at 10:45 am CDT.

Destroyed Garage	Overturned Truck
Timber Damage & Home Damage	Timber Damage

Exmoor EF-0

Exmoor EF-0 Tornado (Marengo County)
May 22, 2026

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-0
Estimated Maximum Wind:	65 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	0.23 miles
Maximum Path Width:	40 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	3 S Sweet Water 32.0537/-87.8623 at 10:47 am CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	3 SSE Sweet Water 32.0566/-87.8605 at 10:48 am CDT

A brief tornado occurred in the Exmoor community along County Road 6, between County Road 7 and Lewis Road. The tornado began along the back tree line of a property then moved northeast where it shifted a camper northward a few feet off of its cinder block supports. A manufactured home suffered damage to its porch and awning. Some trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado crossed County Road 6 before dissipating as it downed trees across the road.

Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) from KBMX at 10:47 am CDT.

Structure Damage	Timber Damage

Bama Rock Road EF-1

Bama Rock Road EF-1 Tornado (Tuscaloosa County)
May 22, 2026

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	95 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	2.65 miles
Maximum Path Width:	150 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	3 N Vance 33.2105/-87.2211 at 12:13 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	3 S Abernant 33.2462/-87.2083 at 12:18 pm CDT

The tornado touched down just north of Interstate 20/59 nearly 2 miles east of exit 89 in a largely open field with a few trees here and there, one of which was uprooted. Numerous video recordings on social media showed a lowering cloudbase and nebulous funnel cloud crossing the interstate, with what looked like a very narrow drill bit tornado finally touching down. From there, the tornado moved north, crossing Union Road, where minor damage occurred to a double wide manufactured home and the first hint of a debris signature appeared. The tornado then traversed inaccessible forests and fields and intensified before reaching K and R Road, where several hardwood and softwood trees were snapped or uprooted. Only minor damage occurred to any homes on the street. The tornado then turned more northeasterly, crossed Bama Rock Garden Road where a carport was tossed and a home sustained other minor damage and crossed Charles Brook Rd, snapping and uprooting several trees. The tornado dissipated over inaccessible forest somewhere beyond Charles Brook Rd.