January Strong Wind + Tornado Event
January 8-9th, 2024
Summary of all Local Storm Reports (LSRs) on January 8-9, as well as all the LSRs across the region for this event.
Storm survey teams preliminarily concluded that there were 8 tornadoes in our forecast area. Additional areas of interest across Mobile, Baldwin, and Santa Rosa Counties will be surveyed via high-resolution satellite imagery as this becomes available. The tally of tornadoes in our forecast area currently stands at:
MISSISSIPPI: 3 tornadoes (1 EF-1 and 2 EF-0's in George County)
ALABAMA: 4 tornadoes (2 EF-0's in Mobile County, 1 EF-1 and 1 EF-0 in Baldwin County)
FLORIDA: 1 tornado (1 EF-1 in Santa Rosa County)
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.
Geiger Road Tornado (George County, MS)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Geiger Road Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.21 miles Path Width /maximum/: 30 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 03:24 AM CST Start Location: 2 NNW Shipman / George County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 30.9028 / -88.4892 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 03:25 AM CST End Location: 2 NNW Shipman / George County / MS End Lat/Lon: 30.9028 / -88.4857 Survey Summary: NWS Storm Survey found damage associated with an EF-1 tornado about 6.3 miles south-southeast of Lucedale, Mississippi where several large longleaf pines were snapped anywhere from 3 to 15 feet above the base. A wider swath of damaging wind likely extended south and southeast of the tornado where small branches were snapped. The tornado was likely discontinuous or intermittent as it proceeded toward the east across US Highway 98. Once high-resolution satellite imagery becomes available, the tornado path will be able to be refined.
Summerour Road Tornado (George County, MS)...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Summerour Road Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 70 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.19 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/08/2024 Start Time: 07:31 PM CST Start Location: 4 SSW Lucedale / George County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 30.8681 / -88.6267 End Date: 01/08/2024 End Time: 07:32 PM CST End Location: 4 SSW Lucedale / George County / MS End Lat/Lon: 30.8707 / -88.6278 Survey Summary: George County Emergency Manager reported minor damage to a residence and a mobile home about 4 miles south-southwest of Lucedale, Mississippi, and photos of the damage were shared with WFO Mobile. A tornado debris signature was noted on radar confirming a likely tornado. The weak EF-0 tornado occurred as an early evening thunderstorm crossed a warm frontal boundary further to the southeast but managed to produce a series of weak rotations to the northwest of the thunderstorm, with one managing to briefly touchdown.
Ward Tornado (George County, MS)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Ward Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.10 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/08/2024 Start Time: 07:25 PM CST Start Location: 3 WNW Agricola / George County / MS Start Lat/Lon: 30.8358 / -88.5724 End Date: 01/08/2024 End Time: 07:27 PM CST End Location: 2 W Vaughn / George County / MS End Lat/Lon: 30.8564 / -88.5465 Survey Summary: NWS Storm Survey found a weak EF-0 tornado as an early evening thunderstorm crossed a warm frontal boundary. The tornado began in a rural area about 3.7 miles northwest of Agricola, Mississippi where some small softwood trees were uprooted along Marshall Smith Road and very weak convergence was noted in this area. The tornado was likely discontinuous or intermittent as it proceeded toward the northeast across mainly open fields, although a few broken large softwood tree branches were noted as it crossed Cooks Corner Road. The tornado likely lifted near MS- 613 about 6.2 miles north-northwest of Agricola, where another large softwood tree branch was snapped.
Steelwood Tornado (Baldwin County, AL)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Steelwood Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.80 miles Path Width /maximum/: 50 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 04:33 AM CST Start Location: 2 SW Steelwood / Baldwin County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.6953 / -87.8193 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 04:36 AM CST End Location: 1 SE Steelwood / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.6977 / -87.7724 Survey Summary: An EF1 tornado touched down within a neighborhood off of US Highway 31 tracking eastward over a majority of Cambron Trail. The tornado likely started in a wooded area to the west of Cambron Trail and just east of Wildflower Trail. On Wildflower Trail, there were signs that low end wind damage was beginning to trees in the form of small tree limbs being knocked down and an old, rotted tree being snapped. However, this spot lacked convergent damage and was likely the rear inflow surge that occurred right before the tornado touched down. After touchdown, the tornado moved across Cambron Trail removing around 20% of roofing material off of multiple homes and uprooting/snapping multiple hardwood and softwood trees. Multiple fences in the neighborhood were also knocked down or damaged. The tornado crossed US Highway 31 by Cambron Trail, resulting in a couple uproots/snaps of softwood trees. Between US Highway 31 and State Highway 59, the tornado moved over primarily forested areas. Given this, we do not have any survey points in this area. However, once high-resolution satellite imagery becomes available, we can reassess this portion of the tornado track. At State Highway 59, the tornado crossed and resulted in numerous snaps of softwood trees and was likely at peak intensity based on the ground survey reaching winds of 100mph. It`s probable the tornado continued to the east, however there was no accessible road network for ground survey crew east of this point and the rest of the tornado will require high resolution satellite imagery to determine the final end point. The tornado tracked for at least 2.8 miles, with a peak width of around 50 yards.
Robertsdale Tornado (Baldwin County, AL)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Robertsdale Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 5.09 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 04:38 AM CST Start Location: 3 SSE Belforest / Baldwin County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.5537 / -87.8361 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 04:45 AM CST End Location: 1 N Silverhill / Baldwin County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.5601 / -87.751 Survey Summary: An EF0 tornado touched down near Dick Higbee Road on the south side of the St. Michael Catholic High School where multiple trees were uprooted in a convergent pattern. It is possible the tornado touched down sooner in the adjacent field, however the next surveyable location to the west on Highway 181 did not have any visible damage. The tornado continued east from the high school causing a discontinuous path of damage including large tree limbs broken off. Any semblance of a discontinuous path disappears to the east of County Road 55 near Woodpecker Road, and the tornado end point was set at this location. The tornado was small, only peaking at around 20 yards in width with a peak wind speed of 75mph and path length of 5.09 miles.
Cottage Hill Tornado (Mobile County, AL)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event... .Cottage Hill Rd Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 85 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.48 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 03:56 AM CST Start Location: 2 NNE Dawes / Mobile County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.6396 / -88.2435 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 03:58 AM CST End Location: 3 SSE Mobile Regional Airport / Mobile County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.6446 / -88.2193 Survey Summary: A brief EF-0 tornado began along Cottage Hill Road just east of Dawes road. The tornado quickly intensified knocking down fences and rippin branches off. Parts of the fence were blow across Cottage Hill rd to the north. The tornado peaked as it moved towards Leroy Stevens rd resulting in a low brick wall being destroyed. Uplift to the corner of the roof of a small retail building and the most impressive damage was rolling either a small trailer or small RV. The tornado then crossed leroy stevens before dissipating. The tornado may have continued further but no convergent path was able to be found after this point.
Tanner WIlliams Tornado (Mobile County, AL)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Tanner Williams Rd Tornado... Rating: EF0 Estimated Peak Wind: 75 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.99 miles Path Width /maximum/: 20 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 03:47 AM CST Start Location: 3 ESE Tanner Williams / Mobile County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 30.7035 / -88.3304 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 03:51 AM CST End Location: 3 WNW Mobile Regional Airport / Mobile County / AL End Lat/Lon: 30.7119 / -88.2811 Survey Summary: The tornado began likely just west of Novatan Rd south of Tanner Williams rd in the forest based off of TDS from KMOB. Exact location is difficult to find and may need satellite imagery at a later date. The tornado quickly moved east across Novatan Rd where it caused a few softwoods to loose large limbs. Sporadic nature of the damage supported lower bound wind estimates for the damage. A small shed was also tossed at this point. Tornado continued northeast where it produced light sporadic damage to trees. The tornado then crossed Tanner Williams road near Rigby Rd causing minor damage to trees and brought down a traffic light. Sporadic damage continue to the northeast towards Snow road where damage became too sporadic to determine a convergent path and the tornado likely lifted. A weak discontinuous path may be possible further east; however, damage was either too weak or too small to sporadic for ground surveys to determine a path after Snow road.
Escribano Point Tornado (Santa Rosa County, FL)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Escribano Point Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 0.39 miles Path Width /maximum/: 75 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 02:32 AM CST Start Location: 4 SSW Pine Bluff / Santa Rosa County / FL Start Lat/Lon: 30.51 / -87.0034 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 02:33 AM CST End Location: 3 SSW Pine Bluff / Santa Rosa County / FL End Lat/Lon: 30.5147 / -86.9996 Survey Summary: A supercell thunderstorm moved onshore the Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area producing an EF1 tornado along Choctaw Field Road and crossing Grassy Point Road. This tornado likely began earlier, however ground survey crew could only reach a point just south of Choctaw Field Road due to available road networks. Where ground survey crew was able to survey, mid to high end EF1 damage was observed along the entirety of the path with numerous softwood and hardwood uproots/snaps in a convergent damage pattern. It`s likely the tornado also continued to the northeast, but there was no road network available to the northeast to continue the survey from the ground. Once high- resolution satellite imagery becomes available, the tornado path will be able to be refined.
Whitfield Damaging Wind Swath (Santa Rosa County, FL)
...NWS Damage Survey for 01/08/24 through 01/09/24 Severe Weather and Tornado Event...
.Whitfield Damaging Wind Swath... Rating: TSTM/Wind Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 1.77 miles Path Width /maximum/: 250 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 01/09/2024 Start Time: 05:34 AM CST Start Location: 3 SW Berrydale / Santa Rosa County / FL Start Lat/Lon: 30.8763 / -87.0591 End Date: 01/09/2024 End Time: 05:37 AM CST End Location: 1 SSW Berrydale / Santa Rosa County / FL End Lat/Lon: 30.8817 / -87.03 Survey Summary: A significant swath of straight-line wind damage occurred with a line of thunderstorms moving across the Whitfield area just south of Berrydale. The swath began on Edna Lane where several trees were uprooted/snapped. As the winds moved across the open field to their east, they accelerated and impacted several power poles which were snapped midway up along Highway 87 North. Several tree snaps occurred to the adjacent tree stand on the east side of the Highway. A row of hay bales east of the highway had multiple bales roll in a divergent pattern across the field fanning out from northeast to southeast. The swath continued to the northeast, crossing Cedarview Road and then Whitfield Road. On Whitfield Road, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, with this location likely experiencing the strongest winds near 100mph. The damage becomes intermittent beyond this point and much weaker.
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.
Additional Information
Acknowledgements: Page created by Morgan Barry (Forecaster) and Michael Mugrage (Forecaster).
LAST UPDATED: January 2024
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