During the early morning hours of January 23, 2012, a large and intense tornado, commonly known as the Center Point Tornado, struck the northeastern part of the Birmingham, Alabama metropolitan area, particularly the cities of Center Point and Clay, Alabama, United States.National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Event Database The National Weather Service rated the most intense damage caused by the tornado EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale. During the tornado's 22-minute lifespan, it reached EF3 intensity three times, damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures, killed one person, and injured at least 75 others. In Center Point, the tornado damaged and destroyed buildings of the Center Point Elementary School, causing millions in damage. Residential insurance losses from Center Point and Clay were estimated at being up to $30 million.
Meteorological synopsis
An upper-level low pressure system developed across the Central United States and tracked eastward. This low pressure created a cold front in Arkansas, which turned into a squall line west of Alabama. As the cold front entered Alabama, several individual supercells developed ahead of it. These supercells produced several tornadoes across Alabama, including the Center Point–Clay EF3 tornado. At 2:45 AM CST, minutes before the tornado touched down, the Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch across Central Alabama, which included a high risk/80% chance for tornadoes and a moderate risk/50% chance for significant, EF2-EF5 intensity tornadoes.
Tornado summary The tornado touched down northeast of Tarrant, first causing damage to roofs and walls in several homes and businesses. Shortly after touching down, the tornado quickly intensified EF2 intensity, as a warehouse sustained severe roof damage and some exterior wall collapse. As the tornado traveled northeast toward Center Point, several businesses sustained heavy damage or were destroyed. The tornado entered Center Point at EF2 intensity as it grew to its peak width of . The most extreme damage in Center Point was to the Center Point Elementary School, which had portions of its roof completely ripped off. One building of the school was destroyed by the tornado. The National Centers for Environmental Information reported that the school buildings sustained $13 million (2012 USD) in structural damage and an additional $5 million (2012 USD) in damage for losses inside the buildings. The school buildings were later demolished due to the tornado's damage. Continuing northeast, the tornado damaged or destroyed numerous businesses along 24th Street and Center Point Parkway. The tornado weakened to EF1 intensity as it crossed Sweeney Valley Road, located to the east of Chalkville. Here, several homes sustained minor roof damage, with winds estimated to have been at .
To the northeast of Chalkville, the tornado rapidly intensified to mid-EF3 intensity as it struck the George Brook Neighborhood. Here, dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed, with the worst damage being rated EF3 with winds estimated at . Entering the city of Clay, the tornado to a width of , continuing at mid-EF3 intensity, as it crossed Old Springville Road and struck Harness Circle in the Northwoods neighborhood. Along Harness Circle, two homes were demolished at EF3 intensity and numerous other homes were damaged. In one of the destroyed homes, Christina Nicole Heichelbech, a 16-year-old girl was killed while in the process of trying to take cover. The National Weather Service rated both of the completely destroyed homes EF3 with winds estimated at . Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed a ridge, striking the Legacy neighborhood. Numerous homes in the neighborhood sustained moderate to minor damage. As the tornado crossed Plymouth Rock Drive, several homes were completely destroyed at EF3 intensity, with winds estimated to have been at . The tornado began to weaken as it crossed Interstate 59, where several homes sustained high-end EF1 damage and numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. The tornado lifted between Hidden Valley Drive and Country Living Circle, after having been on the ground for 22 minutes.
Aftermath Officially, the National Weather Service reported that the tornado killed one person, injured 75 others, and damaged or destroyed 231 structures, along a path of . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration did not list a damage total for this tornado's entire track, but the Alabama Forestry Commission estimated that the merchantable timber losses were at least $132,000 and damage to the Center Point Elementary School was at least $18 million (in 2012 USD). The Voss law firm estimated that residential insurance claims would be up to $30 million (2012 USD). A year after the tornado, the Clay City Council named January 23 as Christina Heichelbech Day to commemorate Heichelbech's life.
Other tornadoes The Center Point tornado was part of a larger outbreak of tornadoes that occurred across the Southeast. This included an EF2 tornado that killed one person near Rock Creek, Alabama.
January 22 event List of reported tornadoes – Sunday, January 22, 2012 EF# Location County Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Comments/DamageArkansas EF2WSW of Thornton to SW of RisonCalhoun, Cleveland, Dallas0114This tornado caused significant damage as it clipped the northwest side of Fordyce, where 11 homes and mobile homes were destroyed, 6 were severely damaged, and 5 had minor damage. The Fordyce Country Club clubhouse building was heavily damaged, and a bathhouse on the property was largely destroyed with much of the debris blown into a nearby swimming pool. Two metal truss towers were crumpled to the ground in the area as well, and several travel trailers were flipped. Near Kingsland, a church was destroyed, a mobile home had its roof torn off, and another mobile home was completely destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along the path. EF1SW of CoyLonoke0128An irrigation pivot was flipped and tree limbs were snapped. EF1Moscow Jefferson0206A shed was thrown over a farm shop in Moscow, which suffered roof damage. An empty fuel tank was thrown into a field and an irrigation pivot was destroyed. Several trees were downed and the foundation of a house was damaged. EF2ESE of Sweden to N of Eldridge CornerJefferson, Arkansas0215Near Sweden, a large metal building was severely damaged and had a radio tower collapsed onto it. Farm machinery, grain trucks, and a gas line were damaged. Two irrigation pivots were overturned, several large grain bins were destroyed, and an old house was crushed by a falling tree. Near Eldridge Corner, two mobile homes and a farm equipment building were damaged. Many trees and power poles were downed along the path. EF2WNW of De WittArkansas0236Four metal truss towers were toppled to the ground, and an elevator was blown off of some grain bins. A barn was badly damaged and a travel trailer was overturned. Many trees were downed along the path, and tin was removed from roofs and a tractor shed. EF1SW of De WittArkansas0251A mobile home, a carport, and two sheds were destroyed, while a tractor shed had much of its roof torn off. A house had its windows blown out, and pieces of wood were found wedged into the siding. A metal building was destroyed, and a second metal building had one of its exterior walls pushed in. Trees and power poles were downed along the path. EF1S of RagtownMonroe, Phillips0259A farm store had several large holes ripped into the sides of the building, and a nearby large shed was thrown over the structure. Irritation pivots were overturned, trees and power poles were downed, grain bins were dented, and tin was ripped off of farm sheds.Illinois EF2SSW of Enfield to ESE of Burnt PrairieWhite0418A large barn was destroyed with debris scattered up to away. Two combines were damaged, and a concrete block garage was destroyed. A communications tower was bent approximately halfway up, and a greenhouse was destroyed. Several other small barns and sheds were destroyed, and a house sustained minor damage. Many trees and power poles were snapped along the path. EF1SSW of AlbionEdwards0442Damage was mainly confined to trees, though a metal high-tension power pole was damaged.Mississippi EF2E of AlligatorBolivar0434Eight mobile homes were severely damaged, four of which were destroyed. Several other homes were heavily damaged, grain bins were blown away, and a 200-foot tall radio tower was blown over and mangled. Two metal frame buildings were destroyed, and many trees and power poles were snapped. EF0WNW of MarksQuitman0500Seven homes sustained minor damage, with shingles and roofing material blown off and windows broken. One home had its garage door blown in.Kentucky EF1HazelCalloway0503Homes sustained damage to their shingles, windows, and shutters. A business in town had its porch roof destroyed. Two garages were leveled, and a third had a section of roof ripped off. Three barns were destroyed, and hundreds of trees were downed, one of which landed on a truck. EF0SW of CliftyTodd0555Several trees were knocked down and some homes sustained shingle damage. A garage had its roof blown off, and a barn and several greenhouses were damaged. A camper trailer was overturned and destroyed, and a pool was damaged, along with a grain bin.Tennessee EF1S of LexingtonHenderson0558Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. A house lost part of its roof and a shed was destroyed.Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 01/22/12, NWS Little Rock, NWS Jackson, MS, NWS Paducah, KY, NWS Memphis, TN
January 23 event