Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
Issued by NWS Huntsville, AL
454 NOUS44 KHUN 230033 PNSHUN ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-231245- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Huntsville AL 733 PM CDT Thu May 22 2025 ...NWS Damage Survey for 05/20/2025 Tornado Event Update #5... .Update...Update Killingsworth Cove Track (not rating) and addition of Trenton Tornado Track... .Madison Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 125 mph Path Length /statute/: 13.15 miles Path Width /maximum/: 380 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/20/2025 Start Time: 06:09 PM CDT Start Location: 5 SSE Athens / Limestone County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 34.7168 / -86.9489 End Date: 05/20/2025 End Time: 06:35 PM CDT End Location: 2 NE Madison / Madison County / AL End Lat/Lon: 34.724 / -86.7197 Survey Summary: The National Weather Service Huntsville, AL has conducted a damage assessment following a tornado that impacted areas of Limestone and Madison Counties. The survey team determined that the damage observed is consistent with an EF-2 tornado, with maximum estimated wind speeds of 125 mph. The tornado was initially observed and filmed by multiple storm chasers west of Interstate 65 near Tanner, Alabama. As it crossed I-65 in the vicinity of the Highway 31 intersection, numerous trees were uprooted or snapped.The tornado tracked eastward, passing south of Huntsville-Brownsferry Road and moving towards Greenbrier Parkway. Along Greenbrier Parkway, multiple trees were uprooted, and several structures sustained minor roof damage. Sporadic tree damage continued east of Greenbrier Parkway toward Powell Road and Burgreen Road. Upon entering Madison County near the County Line Road area, the tornado caused minor roof damage to several single-family homes and downed trees onto some residences. One home located west of County Line Road experienced significant damage to its west-facing facade. Further tree damage, predominantly uproots, was observed between County Line Road and Wall Triana Highway, with several instances of trees falling on homes.The tornado reached its maximum intensity as it approached Hughes Road, specifically near Downing Ridge and Millsford Road. In this area, two single-family homes suffered major roof damage, with most or all of the roofing material removed. Numerous trees were also uprooted at this location.Continuing eastward, the tornado crossed Hughes Road in the Dublin Circle area. Sporadic tree damage was noted north of Eastview Drive through the Kensington Drive vicinity. It is believed the tornado likely dissipated before reaching Slaughter Road. Further details and data from this event may be released as they become available. .South Athens Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Path Length /statute/: 2.76 miles Path Width /maximum/: 160 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/20/2025 Start Time: 06:11 PM CDT Start Location: 3 WSW Athens / Limestone County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 34.7749 / -87.0065 End Date: 05/20/2025 End Time: 06:13 PM CDT End Location: Athens / Limestone County / AL End Lat/Lon: 34.7824 / -86.9604 Survey Summary: A National Weather Service Huntsville, AL survey team has concluded that damage observed in the Athens area resulted from an EF-1 tornado. The tornado produced maximum estimated wind speeds of 105 mph. The tornado likely initiated south of Highway 72, between York Lane and Lucas Ferry Road. Significant impacts were observed near the intersection of Lucas Ferry Road and Sanderfer Road, where numerous wooden power poles were snapped, and cross members were broken. Uprooted trees and additional snapped power poles were documented along Sanderfer Road.The tornado tracked in an east- northeast direction, continuing through the Jefferson Road and Highway 72 vicinity. It is believed to have lifted shortly after crossing this area. Barron/Irwin .Killingsworth Cove Tornado... Rating: EF2 Estimated Peak Wind: 134 mph Path Length /statute/: 6.76 miles Path Width /maximum/: 175 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/19/2025 Start Time: 07:07 PM CDT Start Location: 4 N Gurley / Madison County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 34.765 / -86.376 End Date: 05/19/2025 End Time: 07:17 PM CDT End Location: 8 WSW Skyline / Jackson County / AL End Lat/Lon: 34.7815 / -86.2609 Survey Summary: The same supercell that marched across North Central Alabama and produced several tornadoes was responsible for tornado damage in the Killingsworth Cove area in Eastern Madison County. The tornado touched down on Acuff Road, downing a large swath of hardwood trees just east of Boulder Trail. A barn sustained roof damage here as well, with some uplifting of the roof and peeling back of a few pieces of tin. From here, the tornado snapped and uprooted numerous hardwood trees as it moved across the field toward structures on Killingworth Cove Road. Here, the tornado had its strongest winds and was at its widest point: 134 mph winds and 175 yards. A mobile home was completely destroyed at this location, hurling the mangled frame 150-200 yards from its original location. Thankfully, the family got the tornado warning and left the home to take shelter in the community shelter at the KCVFD less than a mile away. Debris from the destroyed mobile home was strewn about 225-250 yards across the street and into the field leading to JB Hawkins Road. Two other structures at this location sustained damage. The home next door was just outside the funnel and had significant roof damage, as well as projectiles that penetrated the side of the home in two locations. A resident was inside at the time and sheltered after receiving the warning, and thankfully was not injured. On the other side of the path on the corner of Killingsworth Cove Road and JB Hawkins Road, another home sustained major structural damage. Only portions of walls were left standing of the home, but survey teams discovered that no anchor bolts were used to attach the home to the foundation. All portions of the bases of walls that were investigated were toe nailed down, owing to the damage sustained at this location. From this location, the tornado climbed the elevation behind the homes on JB Hawkins, snapping and uprooting large swaths of hardwood trees. The track was extended thanks to NVDI Difference Imagery that shows changes in vegetation in hard-to-reach places such as those without ample road networks. Aerial imagery was also utilized to confirm these findings, therefore extending the track by just over 5 miles in distance into Western Jackson County, AL (path length total of 6.76 miles). This tornado was a separate track from the Trenton tornado that survey teams also confirmed in the area this afternoon. Special thanks to Madison County EMA, Jackson County EMA, Alabama State EMA (ALEA) for flight imagery, linemen from Huntsville Utilities, and members of the Madison County Sheriffs Office for their assistance on the storm survey yesterday and today. Amin/Saari .Allens Crossroads Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 100 mph Path Length /statute/: 3.39 miles Path Width /maximum/: 150 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/20/2025 Start Time: 08:46 PM CDT Start Location: 7 W Union Grove / Marshall County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 34.4243 / -86.5686 End Date: 05/20/2025 End Time: 08:50 PM CDT End Location: 4 WNW Union Grove / Marshall County / AL End Lat/Lon: 34.44 / -86.513 Survey Summary: An NWS Huntsville, AL survey team confirmed an EF-1 tornado in western Marshall County, near the Allens Crossroads area. Maximum estimated winds reached 100 mph.The tornado likely first touched down east of the Morgan County/Marshall County border, on the northern portion of the Cherokee Ridge Golf Course. Multiple uprooted hardwood trees were observed on several holes in this area. The tornado then progressed eastward, crossing Highway 431 and uprooting numerous trees along Allens Cross Road. Similar tree damage was documented further to the northeast along Quarry Road. The survey indicates the tornado lifted before reaching the community of Union Grove. Barron/Guillet/Pankratz .Ford City, Red Bank, and Lake Wheeler Survey... Assessment: Straight-line wind damage Estimated Peak Wind: 105 mph Average Wind Speeds: 70-90 mph Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 2 Survey Summary: A storm survey team from the NWS Huntsville office traveled across far western Limestone, southeastern Lauderdale, northern Lawrence, and northern Colbert county to assess reported damage from storms on May 20th, 2025. An initial area of damage was sporadic uprooted trees in Sheffield. Additional trees were uprooted in the TVA Reservation northeast of Muscle Shoals, where one tree fell on a moving vehicle and injured the driver. No consistent track was present before additional uprooted trees were found along E 2nd Street in Nitrate City. Continued sporadic tree damage was found north and east going up County Line Road toward Ford City, at which point a concentrated area of uprooted trees all facing eastward was identified along River Road. North of River Road, a large swath of uprooted trees was noted along Gargis Hollow and Sprout Springs Hollow Roads. The peak wind intensity of 105 mph occurred on Sprout Springs Hollow Road where two silos collapsed. One injury occurred along Gargis Hollow road when a tree fell on a home, causing sheet rock to fall on an 8-year-old girl, resulting in minor injuries that did not require hospitalization. Farther east, a large swath of uprooted trees and snapped limbs was identified along Mount Stanley Road, a much larger north to south spread than damage identified elsewhere. All tree damage was pointing eastward. Sporadic tree damage continued to the east south of Wheeler Lake Dam and into the Red Bank community with no consistent path easily identifiable. Other pockets of damage were noted in Limestone County along Snake and Elk River Roads, and then in Lauderdale County near Elgin. Again, no identifiable track was noted. Comparing this damage to radar imagery, the hook echoes of the supercells and potential tornadic circulations passed south of these aforementioned damage areas. As a result, the conclusion is that all of this damage is the result of an enhanced forward flank downdraft from the multiple supercells that tracked across the region on Tuesday evening. This remains preliminary and subsequent drone and satellite imagery will supplement additional ground survey efforts to identify if any tornado tracks are embedded within the broader thunderstorm wind damage. Darish/Magee .Trenton Tornado... Rating: EF1 Estimated Peak Wind: 110 mph Path Length /statute/: 10.46 miles Path Width /maximum/: 275 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries: 0 Start Date: 05/20/2025 Start Time: 07:14 PM CDT Start Location: 7 WSW Skyline / Jackson County / AL Start Lat/Lon: 34.7522 / -86.2435 End Date: 05/20/2025 End Time: 07:28 PM CDT End Location: 3 ESE Skyline / Jackson County / AL End Lat/Lon: 34.7814 / -86.0666 Survey Summary: The tornado touched down just southeast of Hwy 65 in Trenton in Jackson County, AL, producing large limb damage on County Road 20. The tornado continued and strengthened along CR20, producing sporadic hardwood/softwood tree damage just north of Little Nashville. Trees were snapped and uprooted along the path, with several broken power poles observed about 2-2.5 miles down CR20. Tree damage and power pole damage here was the highest wind speed, 110 mph, at this location, concurrent with an EF1 tornado. Further northeast along the path, the tornado widened near an old community center near Guess Creek, maintaining the 110 mph wind speeds here. Several projectiles were noted impaled into the ground at this location, some of which were 2-3 feet into the ground. Large swaths of hardwood and softwood trees were also downed here, with a width estimated at 275 yards. Minor roof damage was also noted here, as well as an older outbuilding with the roof removed at this location. The tornado produced additional tree damage at a cemetery at the end of CR20 before traversing more terrain, producing additional damage at a farm downstream on County Road 17. Sporadic tree damage was found along CR 17 on Sleepy Lane, Wilkins Drive, and Pace Drive before crossing Hwy 79. Beyond Hwy 79, the tornado snapped and uprooted a few more isolated trees south of Maynard Cove before dissipating by County Road 28. Special thanks to Jackson County EMA, AL State EMA (ALEA) for flight imagery, and NVDI Difference Satellite imagery for confirmation of trees downed in hard-to-access locations without ample road networks. This aided survey teams tremendously this afternoon and was much appreciated. Amin/Saari && EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: EF0.....65 to 85 mph EF1.....86 to 110 mph EF2.....111 to 135 mph EF3.....136 to 165 mph EF4.....166 to 200 mph EF5.....>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. $$