ALABAMA — Three brief spin-up tornadoes are believed to have touched down across Alabama yesterday May 22, with one already confirmed as an EF-1 in eastern Tuscaloosa County between Vance and Abernant where debris was lofted and detected on radar along Bama Rock Garden Road, while NWS survey teams are heading out today to assess damage from the other two touchdowns at Gallion and Baileyton.
Thankfully no injuries were reported from any of the three tornado events across the state yesterday.
EF-1 Confirmed Between Vance and Abernant in Eastern Tuscaloosa County Around 12:15 PM
The most significant and already confirmed tornado touched down around 12:15 PM between Vance and Abernant in eastern Tuscaloosa County, with debris lofted high enough to be detected on radar making this tornado officially confirmed without requiring a ground survey.
NWS Birmingham radar at 12:14 PM CDT on May 22 shows a clear rotation signature circled on the velocity scan near North Bibb, confirming the tornadic circulation that produced damage along Bama Rock Garden Road during the midday hours.
Multiple videos captured from Interstate 59 and 20 documented the tornado on the ground, and NWS has officially rated it as an EF-1 based on the available evidence and damage indicators from the eastern Tuscaloosa County event.
Gallion and Baileyton Touchdowns Await NWS Survey Teams for Official Confirmation
The first tornado of the day touched down near Gallion east of Demopolis around 10:40 AM, with an NWS Birmingham survey team heading to the area today to assess damage and officially confirm or deny the tornado touchdown at that location.
The third and final event of the day occurred around 1:10 PM at Baileyton in Northeast Cullman County, where a severe thunderstorm warning rather than a tornado warning was in effect at the time, and an NWS Huntsville team will survey that damage today.
Forecasters noted that spin-up tornadoes like these are virtually impossible to warn for with adequate lead time given how briefly they are on the ground before lifting. Stay with GordonRamsayClub.com for the latest updates.
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