Early April Tornado Event
April 5, 2022
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) on April 5th, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event.
In total, storm survey teams have identified 8 tornado tracks:
2 in Clarke County: 1 EF-2 and 1 EF-1
1 in Monroe County: EF-1
2 in Crenshaw County: EF-2 and EF-unknown
3 in Wayne County: 1 EF-2 and 2 EF1
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. April 5, 2022 - Updated Tornado - Choctaw/Clarke County, AL: The width of the EF2 tornado just north of Coffeeville was widened near the starting point based on an additional area of snapped trees noted on Worldview satellite imagery.
Coffeeville Tornadoes (Clarke County, AL)
..Clarke County Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph Path Length /statute/: 9.46 miles Path Width /maximum/: 800.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 09:03 AM CDT Start Location: 3 NNE Bladon Springs / Choctaw County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.7731 / -88.1682 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 09:14 AM CDT End Location: 3 W Mcentyre / Clarke County / AL End Lat/Lon: 31.8147 / -88.0162 Survey Summary: A strong EF2 tornado touched down on the Choctaw County side of the Tombigbee River on 4/5/22 at 9:03 AM CDT. Aerial survey revealed the tornado rapidly widened and intensified as it crossed the river, reaching its peak intensity and width on the Clarke County side at 130 mph and 800 yards in width. The forest along and east of the river was mowed down with countless hardwood and softwood trees snapped/uprooted. The tornado continued towards West Bend Road where it produced EF1 damage over a wide swath around 550 yards wide. The tornado entered a very distinct multi vortex phase with three notable convergent damage patterns with snapped softwood/hardwood trees at this point. This continued east-northeast to Highway 69 where the tornado remained somewhere between 500 to 600 yards wide as a multi-vortex doing EF1 damage, snapping several hardwoods/softwoods and causing some minor to moderate roof damage to homes. As the tornado moved northeast towards Bethel Road, it weakened and narrowed in size considerably only doing a small swath of EF0 damage. The tornado then turned right towards the east and re-intensified into an EF1 at Friendship Road with winds upwards of 95 mph as it snapped several softwood trees. After this, the tornado weakened quickly coming to an end on Smyer Road where only a couple snapped softwood trees were noted. A special thanks to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Clarke County EMA for conducting the aerial survey to help ascertain the peak width and intensity of the tornado. .Clarke County Tornado 2... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.83 miles Path Width /maximum/: 100.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 09:10 AM CDT Start Location: 3 NNE Coffeeville / Clarke County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.797 / -88.0528 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 09:13 AM CDT End Location: 4 W Mcentyre / Clarke County / AL End Lat/Lon: 31.806 / -88.0281 Survey Summary: A unique, brief satellite tornado began south of the Clarke County EF2 tornado on 4/5/22 at approximately 9:10 AM CDT. This satellite tornado produced EF1 damage where several softwood trees were snapped/uprooted on Ice Plant Road. The tornado continued east- northeast impacting a barn where there was significant loss of roofing material and side covering. The tornado also uprooted a large oak tree at this location. The tornado then quickly turned east crossing Bethel Road and reaching Smyer Road as an EF0 snapping a couple softwood trees. The tornado completed its arc around the southern periphery of the EF2 tornado with the satellite tornado tracking due north along Smyer Road just before Friendship Road, lifting just shy of the primary tornado circulation. EF0 damage with a couple uprooted softwood trees were the last observable damage at this point.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey through Choctaw County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the EF-2 tornado (Tornado #1).
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey through Choctaw County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the satellite tornado (Tornado #2).
Petrey Tornado (Crenshaw County, AL)
..Petrey AL Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 125 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.34 miles Path Width /maximum/: 250.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 10:56 AM CDT Start Location: 1 NNW Petrey / Crenshaw County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.8712 / -86.2108 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 10:59 AM CDT End Location: 2 SE Helicon / Crenshaw County / AL End Lat/Lon: 31.8833 / -86.193 Survey Summary: A brief yet strong EF2 tornado occurred on 4/5/22 in Crenshaw County by Petrey, AL at 10:56 AM CDT. The tornado began just before Lapine Highway where it uprooted and snapped several softwood trees. The tornado crossed the Highway, gradually widening and causing some damage to the roof of a church while continuing to snap and uproot softwood trees. The tornado quickly impacted a chicken farm off of Shady Grove Road where one chicken house was completely destroyed supporting the initial EF2 damage location. As the tornado continued northeast, the radius of EF2 winds widened considerably. Winds peaked around 125 mph in the adjacent forest resulting in complete devastation of approximately 20 to 30 acres of trees where numerous snapped softwoods and snapped or uprooted hardwoods were observed. As the tornado approached Smith Chapel Road, it began to quickly shrink in size and weaken uprooting or snapping a handful of trees with no notable damage after it crossed the road.
...NWS Damage Survey for 04/05/2022 Crenshaw County Tornado Event... A second tornado has been confirmed from the Petrey, AL area on 4/5/2022. This tornado was associated with the line segment that followed the initial Petrey supercell that produced an EF2 tornado roughly 20 minutes earlier. .Petrey AL Tornado #2... Rating: EF-U Estimated Peak Wind: Unknown Path Length /statute/: Unknown Path Width /maximum/: Unknown Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 11:20 AM CDT Start Location: 1 NNW Petrey / Crenshaw County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.8712 / -86.2108 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: Unknown End Location: Unknown End Lat/Lon: Unknown After extensive analysis of data provided by PERiLs, sentinel sattelite imagery, and third-party pressure data in conjunction with multiple surrounding radars it has been determined that another tornado occurred 1 mile NNW of Petrey, AL on 4/5/2022. This tornado was associated with the line segment that was moving through the area roughly 25 minutes after the intial tornado producing supercell. During the initial storm survey there were several discrepancies noted in the overall damage path that did not quite line up with the initial tornado path including snapped/uprooted trees by a pond and the damage done to the southern portion of the chicken houses. Given the overlapping paths and likely similar start points, it is impossible to determine what the true intensity, path width, path length, and end point of this tornado was. The beginning time of the tornado is estimated by radar and third party pressure data. Special thanks to all parties involved for providing invaluable data that supported this determination.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in the Petrey community in Crenshaw County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornadoes.
Riley Tornado (Monroe County, AL)
..Riley AL Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.52 miles Path Width /maximum/: 75.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 10:10 AM CDT Start Location: 1 WNW Riley / Monroe County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 31.7302 / -87.1352 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 10:13 AM CDT End Location: 1 NNE Riley / Monroe County / AL End Lat/Lon: 31.7421 / -87.1135 Survey Summary: A brief EF1 tornado occurred on 4/5/22 at 10:10 AM CDT in northeast Monroe County just west northwest of Riley, AL. The tornado began along Highway 21 North where many hardwood trees were uprooted. The next observable damage point was north northeast of Riley once again on Highway 21 North at Flat Creek where there were multiple snapped softwood trees supporting a peak intensity of EF1 at 100 mph. The tornado may have continued northeast from here, however due to limited road access the end point is estimated just northeast of the prior observable damage point.
The photo below was taken during the tornado survey in the Riley community in Monroe County and shows the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Elbert Mozingo Road Tornado (Wayne County, MS)
..Elbert Mozingo Road Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 130 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.21 miles Path Width /maximum/: 250.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 08:14 AM CDT Start Location: 2 S Whistler / Wayne County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 31.6636 / -88.8118 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 08:18 AM CDT End Location: 2 SE Whistler / Wayne County / MS End Lat/Lon: 31.6732 / -88.7784 Survey Summary: The tornado began in a heavily forested area west of Elbert Mozingo Road and quickly traveled east across Elbert Mozingo Road causing extensive tree damage to a large pine tree stand. Almost all of the trees were snapped near the base suggesting upper bound damage indicator. The tornado then continued east into a forested area as it weakened briefly. The tornado then rapidly strengthen again to its peak intensity of 130 mph south of Jim Pitts Road. This damage was estimated by sentinel satellite data as an extensive damage scar was noted with almost complete deforestation occurring similar to other tornadoes that were rated at 130 mph. The tornado then weakened as it approached Jim Pitts Road from the south and lifted based off satellite data.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in Wayne County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Maynor Creek Road Tornado (Wayne County, MS)
..Maynor Creek Rd to Dick Sanderson Dr Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.56 miles Path Width /maximum/: 100.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 08:19 AM CDT Start Location: 2 SE Whistler / Wayne County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 31.6704 / -88.7757 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 08:22 AM CDT End Location: 4 WSW Woodwards / Wayne County / MS End Lat/Lon: 31.6709 / -88.7323 Survey Summary: Tornado began west of Maynor Creek Road and south of Jim Pitts Road estimated by sentinel satellite imagery. Damage was then noted along Maynor Creek Road where several trees were uprooted and snapped. A swath of trees snapped along the path that may have been associated with a secondary vortex south of the main damage swath. The tornado then continued east across Troy Sanderson Drive and Dick Sanderson drive where trees were uprooted and snapped. A couple homes had minor roof damage and a carport was lofted about 40 feet into a tree. The tornado appears to have weakened and lifted shortly after Dick Sanderson Drive.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in Wayne County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Duncan Hill Road Tornado (Wayne County, MS)
..Duncan Hill Road Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.29 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50.0 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 04/05/2022 Start Time: 08:36 AM CDT Start Location: 2 NNW Denham / Wayne County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 31.6856 / -88.531 End Date: 04/05/2022 End Time: 08:37 AM CDT End Location: 2 N Denham / Wayne County / MS End Lat/Lon: 31.6863 / -88.5261 Survey Summary: A brief but strong EF1 tornado began in the forested area west of Duncan Hill Road. The tornado then quickly crossed Duncan Hill Road snapping and uprooting numerous softwood trees. Several trees fell on a home causing damage to the home. The tornado then continued into the woods where the path was not able to be tracked; however, it appears to have lifted somewhere in the wooded areas east of Duncan Hill Road.
The photos below were taken during the tornado survey in Wayne County and show the extent of the damage along the path of the tornado.
Additional Information
NWS Local Write-Ups and Webpages:
NWS Birmingham
Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (Forecaster), Jason Beaman (WCM), and Christina Leach (Forecaster). Page updated by Caitlin Baldwin (Forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: March 2024
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