Late March Alabama Tornadoes
March 22nd, 2022
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) on March 22nd, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event.
Storm survey teams preliminarily concluded that there was 1 EF-2 tornado and 2 EF-1 tornadoes that occurred in our forecast area - 2 tornadoes (1 EF-2 and 1 EF-1) in Choctaw County, AL and 1 EF-1 tornado in Baldwin County, AL.
The data provided on this page are considered preliminary as we continue to analyze all available data. We will add more information to this page and social media as it becomes available. We thank you in advance for your patience.
----- IMPORTANT 2023 UPDATE -----
Significant updates were made to several tornado tracks and wind swaths impacting the NWS Mobile/Pensacola area in the 2018 to 2023 timeframe thanks to the introduction of high-resolution Sentinel, Worldview, and Planet satellite imagery. One or multiple tornado tracks/wind swaths listed on this event webpage were updated in 2023.
An updated graphic and details surrounding these significant updates can be found further down on this webpage in the section for that specific tornado track or wind swath. More information on this Local Tornado Reanalysis Project and a list of all updates can be found on our webpage at weather.gov/mob/TornadoReanalysis or the National Damage Viewer.
Here is a list of the significant updates:
1. March 22, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL: 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 306 yards.
2. March 22, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw County, AL: 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.
Cyril Tornado (Choctaw County, AL)
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 243 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022 ...NWS Damage Survey for 03/22/2022 Tornado Event... .Update...After reviewing Sentinel satellite imagery for the March 22nd, 2022 tornado event, the Cyril, AL tornado has been upgraded to an EF2 with winds of 120mph. This is corroborated with previous upgrades we have done this season based on similar evidence of extensive swaths of tree damage via Sentinel satellite imagery. ..Cyril, AL Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 120 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.4582 miles Path Width /maximum/: 300.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/22/2022 Start Time: 04:58 PM CDT Start Location: 2 SE Cyril / Choctaw County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 32.1601 / -88.4028 End Date: 03/22/2022 End Time: 05:03 PM CDT End Location: 2 W Pushmataha / Choctaw County / AL End Lat/Lon: 32.1939 / -88.3901 Survey Summary: An EF-2 tornado began southwest of the community of Cyril, Alabama in a forested area. The tornadoes strongest point was in this area where a swath of extensive tree damage was noted based on Sentinel satellite imagery. Based on this data in corroboration with other upgrades done this season, we have raised the peak intensity of the tornado to EF-2 with wind speeds of 120mph. The tornado began to weaken some as it approached the community of Cyril, Alabama, where a manufactured home was lifted and rolled into Cyril Rd just west of Alabama SR-10. Debris from the home was scattered in the treeline across the street. The manufactured home located next door to the damaged home was intact with a couple of nearby large trees snapped half way up the trunk. A nearby power pole was uprooted as well. Numerous trees in the Cyril Rd area were uprooted and snapped. There was minor roof damage to another nearby home. The Cyril Rd area was the only area along the initial tornado path that was able to be surveyed due to lack of road access further southwest and the rest of the damage survey was determined based on Sentinel satellite imagery. Sentinel satellite data confirmed that the path of this tornado extended another 2+ miles to the southwest of the damage along Cyril Rd. A continuous track with a swath of tree damage was noted in the satellite data. Approximately 3 miles to the north-northeast of the damage along Cyril Rd was an area of straight-line wind damage along CR 32 and Gamma Rd. The survey team could not discern any notable convergent pattern in the tree damage along Gamma Rd, nor did the satellite imagery confirm a continuous track into this area. There was also minor damage to two manufactured homes along Gamma Rd. && 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 NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in the Cyril community and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Toxey/Pleasant Hill Tornado (Choctaw County, AL)
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Mobile AL
1048 PM CDT Wed Mar 23 2022
...NWS Damage Survey for 03/22/2022 Tornado Event...
..Toxey, AL Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.1872 miles Path Width /maximum/: 130.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/22/2022 Start Time: 06:33 PM CDT Start Location: 2 NW Lou / Choctaw County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.9457 / -88.2364 End Date: 03/22/2022 End Time: 06:33 PM CDT End Location: 2 NW Lou / Choctaw County / AL End Lat/Lon: 31.948 / -88.2347 Survey Summary: The storm produced likely straight line wind damage east of Alabama SR 17 in Gilbertown. Sporadic tree damage was noted along Clarke Road, Barrytown Road, and Mosley Bridge Road. The storm continued to progress to the northeast for six miles and eventually produced a high-end EF-1 tornado near Pleasant Hill Road. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped in the area. The roof of a manufactured home was damaged partially due to wind and snapped trees. The manufactured home was shifted off its foundation and the nearby carport and shed were heavily damaged. The tornado went on to lift the metal roof off the back end of a nearby home. This resulted in substantial loss of its roofing. In addition, the force of the wind moving through the home pushed the front walls outward and blew out the front windows and part of the roof frame. The debris from the home was lofted into the tops of the trees across the road, with metal wrapped around trees. While this was determined to be a short-lived tornado, its path could have extended farther northeast; however, the survey team could not assess any further damage due to the lack of road access. && 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 NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in the Toxey community and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Summerdale Tornado (Baldwin County, AL)
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mobile AL 511 PM CDT Wed Mar 23 2022 ...NWS Damage Survey for 03/22/22 Baldwin County AL Tornado... ..Summerdale to Robertsdale AL Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 90 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.7 miles Path Width /maximum/: 30.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 03/22/2022 Start Time: 11:07 PM CDT Start Location: 1 WSW Summerdale / Baldwin County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.4798 / -87.7198 End Date: 03/22/2022 End Time: 11:16 PM CDT End Location: 1 NNE Robertsdale / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.5613 / -87.7067 Survey Summary: A compact EF1 tornado touched down at approximately 11:07 PM CDT 3/22/22 on CR-34 S affecting a residence in Summerdale where a storage building experienced damage to its walls and roofing material removed. The tornado quickly moved north impacting a wooded area just past the residence where multiple hardwood trees were snapped/uprooted supporting its peak intensity around 90 mph. This tornado then crossed Wynn Road before overturning/mangling a couple irrigation systems. The tornado began to weaken after this and damage became sporadic as it tracked north-northeast with pockets of EF0 damage being done to residential structures and trees until it reached Robertsdale. Once in Robertsdale the tornado continued to produce EF0 damage peeling back roofing material of small retail buildings by 11:14 PM CDT. The tornado began to narrow considerably as it tracked into northeastern Robertsdale knocking down large tree limbs and overturning a shed. The tornado lifted in northeastern Robertsdale off of Baldwin Street at 11:16 PM CDT. && 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 NOTE: The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in the Summerdale community and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Additional Information
SPC Storm Report Archive
RAMMB-CIRA Satellite Library for the late March Severe Outbreak
NWS Local Write-Ups and Webpages:NWS New Orleans
NWS Birmingham
Acknowledgements: Page created by Christina Leach (Forecaster) and Morgan Barry (Forecaster). Page updated by Caitlin Baldwin (Forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: March 2024
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