In the midday hours of January 12, 2023, a significant EF2-rated tornado moved through the southern portions of Selma, located in the state of Alabama. The tornado, known informally as the Selma Tornado, was part of a larger tornado outbreak in late-January 2023. The tornado injured two people in the Selma area and left 19,000 residents without power in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. In all, the tornado caused an estimated total of damages that totaled in excess of $9 million (2023 USD).[1]
The tornado first touched down at 12:04 p.m.[note 1] near Orrville, tracking to the east at low intensity. It would grow as it neared Selma, crossing the Cahaba River and reaching EF2 intensity as it entered into the city limits of Selma. The tornado would inflict heavy damage to southern portions of the town, damaging or destroying an estimated one-third of Selma and injuring two people. In Selma, the tornado destroyed multiple churched and struck a daycare that 70 children were sheltering in; only one child sustained minor injuries and the others were unharmed. The tornado dissipated 27 minutes after touching down, retaining wind speeds estimated to have been as high as 130 miles per hour (210 km/h).
On January 11, the Storm Prediction Center outlined a level 1/Marginal risk across the Mid-South valid for the overnight and early morning hours. Although the environment was initially capped, conditions were expected to become more conducive for severe weather given the approach of a mid-level trough and a gradually moistening airmass.[2] A more substantive threat for organized severe weather evolved on January 12 and the SPC outlined a level 3/Enhanced risk for 30% risk of damaging winds centered along central and eastern Alabama and northwestern portions of Georgia in their 0600 UTC outlook update. Here, numerical weather prediction models indicated the presence of 6.5 C/km mid-level lapse rates and 500-1000 J/kg convective available potential energy (CAPE) values supportive of transient supercells and bowing segments. However, it also depicted only modest low-level moisture. As such, a large 5% risk for tornadoes was introduced for most of the lower Tennessee Valley, including portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, southern Tennessee, and northwestern South Carolina for at least a conditional threat of brief tornadoes.[3]
As the day advanced, a more focused corridor for enhanced tornado potential became evident across central Alabama and northwestern Georgia, where effective storm-relative helicity – a measure of the potential for updrafts in supercells – topped 300 m2/s2 and CAPE values rose into the 1,000-1,500 J/kg range. The SPC upped the threat for tornadoes to 10% in their 1300 UTC outlook as a result, although the possibility for strong tornadoes, above EF2 intensity, was not included in this outlook as damaging winds were still seen as the primary hazard.[4]
Tornado summary
Formation and damage near Beloit
The tornado first touched just northeast of Orrville near the intersection of SR 22 and County Road 999 at 12:04 p.m. CST (18:04 UTC).[5][6] Moving northeastward along SR 22,[7] the tornado damaged several mobile homes and pushed them off their foundations. A frame home sustained minor damage, some trees and power poles were downed in this area as well, and damage along this initial segment of the path was rated EF1. The tornado uprooted several trees as it crossed County Road 163,[8] and retained EF1 intensity as it moved across SR 22 north of Beloit.[9] A church had its steeple and part of its roof blown off, homes sustained roof damage, and trees were snapped. The tornado would first reach EF2 intensity shortly prior to crossing the Cahaba River. Trees located along County Road 219 were snapped as the tornado moved into the city limits of Selma.[10]
After causing additional tree damage along SR 22, the tornado began to rapidly intensify as it approached the southwestern city limits of Selma, and many large hardwood and softwood trees were snapped at EF2 intensity in this area. The now strong tornado then crossed SR 219 as it entered the southwest side of Selma, causing significant damage along Old Orville Road.[11] Multiple houses were heavily damaged and had their roofs torn off along this corridor, and a few sustained some loss of exterior walls. Severe tree damage occurred as well, as many large trees were snapped or uprooted in residential areas.[10]
Damage in Selma
Track and intensity map of the tornado through downtown Selma.[note 2]
Key
EF0 65–85 mph EF1 86–110 mph EF2 111–135 mph
Reaching high-end EF2 strength,[12] the tornado struck the Crosspoint Christian Daycare along Cooper Drive,[13] inflicting severe structural damage to the building, which sustained collapse of its roof and several brick exterior walls. At the time of the tornado, 70 children were inside the daycare along with staff workers. One baby received a minor cut from the tornado, with no other injuries occurring at that location.[14] The nearby Crosspoint Christian Church had a substantial amount of metal roofing torn off, and debris was scattered throughout the area.[15][16][17] EF2 damage continued beyond this point as the tornado moved northeastward along West Dallas Avenue, inflicting significant structural damage to homes. An ophthalmologist's office near Office Park Circle was severely damaged and had much of its roof torn off, while many large trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which landed on houses.[10]
Further to the northeast, high-end EF2 damage occurred at the Selma Country Club,[18][19][20] where the clubhouse building suffered major damage to its roof and exterior walls, a few other buildings on the property also had extensive damage, several large hardwood trees were blown down, and many softwood trees were snapped. Maintaining high-end EF2 intensity, the tornado then struck the northern part of downtown Selma. Damage here mainly consisted of numerous of trees being snapped or uprooted, some of which fell on homes, and many homes and other buildings that had their roofs and some exterior walls removed. A couple of older residences that were built on brick piling foundations collapsed, cars were flipped, signs were destroyed and numerous power poles were snapped.[10]
The historic Reformed Presbyterian Church was badly damaged, and its adjacent church school was almost completely destroyed.[21][22][23] As the tornado crossed over Broad St (US 80/SR 22),[24][25][26] a strip mall had much of its roof torn off and a nearby metal warehouse building sustained major damage, with metal framing being twisted and failure of x-braces observed. Apartment buildings were also badly damaged and debris from structures was strewn across streets, or left tangled in power lines or wrapped around trees. Past the downtown area, the tornado weakened slightly to mid-range EF2 strength as it crossed Marie Foster Street and moved through neighborhoods in the northeastern part of Selma,[27][28] where many homes and apartment buildings had roofs and exterior walls torn off, and many trees and power lines were downed. Crossing SR 41, the tornado moved out of Selma and maintained EF2 intensity as it moved to the northeast, though damage in this area was limited to downed trees.[10]
The Crosspoint Christian Daycare, where seventy children sheltered from the tornado. An adjacent church was destroyed.
Impact at the Dallas County Jail and dissipation
As it crossed SR 14, an outbuilding was completely destroyed and a metal free-standing pole was bent to the ground, with damage in this area being rated EF2. Some re-intensification was observed as the tornado then impacted a small residential area along Parkway Drive,[29][30] where a few houses had roofs torn off with some collapse of exterior walls noted. Another outbuilding in this area was completely destroyed, trees were downed, and damage was rated high-end EF2. Just past this area, the tornado weakened to EF1 strength as it impacted a FEMA trailer storage facility along Selfield Road, where multiple unanchored trailers were damaged, flipped, or destroyed. A final area of EF2 damage occurred nearby, where the Dallas County Jail suffered extensive damage to its roof and fencing.[10]
Weakening back to EF1 intensity, the tornado then crossed SR 14 again, snapping trees and damaging some outbuildings. The tornado weakened further as it passed south of Manila, causing minor EF0 tree damage along this segment of the path. It inflicted EF0 damage to a house and dissipated as it crossed SR 140 to the southeast of Burnsville at 12:31 p.m. CST (18:31 UTC), just before reaching the Autauga County line.[31] The tornado was on the ground for 23.22 miles (37.37 km), resulting in two injuries.[10]
Aftermath
The tornado inflicted heavy damage to Selma and surrounding areas.[32][33][34] A mandatory curfew was enacted within Selma after the tornado.[35]
Selma and surrounding areas immediately following the tornado, seen by Landsat 8 on January 14. The scar of the tornado is faintly visible, extending to the west of Selma.
Damage
Approximately one-third of Selma sustained heavy damage from the tornado,[36] which was determined by the National Weather Service to have produced EF2-rated damage following a tornado damage survey.[37] The city council of Selma declared a state of emergency following the tornado,[38][39][40] which left an estimated 19,000 people without power in the general vicinity of the city.[41] 32 public housing units were destroyed by the tornado,[42] and emergency management agencies determined that the tornado damaged or destroyed a total of 17,000 structures, including 470 businesses.[43] Roads in Selma were shut down due to concerns over downed power lines and trees falling on roads, creating blockages for vehicles attempting to pass.[44][45]James Perkins Jr., who was the mayor of Selma at the time of the tornado,[46] stated that power in the city was "shot".[47] Shortly after the tornado, at least one damaged building in Selma caught on fire.[48][49][50]
Recovery efforts
Recovery efforts were intensive,[51][52][53] and continued for over a year after the tornado.[54][55][56]U.S. RepresentativeTerri Sewell stated during initial recovery efforts after the tornado: "This will be a marathon, not a sprint, but rest assured we will come back stronger than before.";[57] she had also made a major disaster declaration immediately following the event.[58] Then-PresidentJoe Biden authorized federal funds to be directed at recovery efforts in Selma less than a month after the event.[59][60] A makeshift American Red Cross shelter was also set up inside of the Selma High School to provide residents with food and water.[61] In June 2023, the Black Belt Community Foundation gave $150,000 (2023 USD) to aid with recovery and rebuilding efforts in Selma.[62] By October 2023, debris was removed from all residential properties within the city limits of Selma.[63]
Through 2023, the City of Selma gave away homes to several people whose property was destroyed by the tornado.[64][65]
Information on damage intensity of the tornado over Cooper Drive sourced from "Damage Assessment Toolkit (event ID 'Selma Tornado')". NOAA. 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025. To access the DAT report, set both dates to January 12, 2023, reload, and zoom in to the affected region around 32.42 N -87.02 W. Information is then available by clicking on the highlighted marker(s).
Information on starting point of the tornado sourced from "Damage Assessment Toolkit (event ID 'Selma Tornado')". NOAA. 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025. To access the DAT report, set both dates to January 12, 2023, reload, and zoom in to the affected region around 32.32 N -87.23 W. Information is then available by clicking on the highlighted marker(s).
Information on ending point of the tornado sourced from "Damage Assessment Toolkit (event ID 'Selma Tornado')". NOAA. 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025. To access the DAT report, set both dates to January 12, 2023, reload, and zoom in to the affected region around 32.46 N -86.88 W. Information is then available by clicking on the highlighted marker(s).
Notes
^For consistency, all times in the article are displayed in Central Daylight Time (CDT) unless stated otherwise.
^The triangles indicate the degree of damage at a specific location.
