2023 Old Kingston–Lake Martin tornado

During the afternoon hours of Thursday, January 12, 2023, a large, strong, and deadly EF3 tornado moved through parts of central Alabama, causing severe damage in and around numerous communities. The tornado, known as the Old Kingston-Lake Martin Tornado by the National Weather Service (NWS), tracked 82 miles (132 km) through multiple counties and communities over a time span of 1 hour and 28 minutes, killing seven people and injuring a further 16. The tornado produced damage that was rated mid-range EF3 intensity on the Enhanced Fujita scale by the NWS in Birmingham, Alabama, and was part of an early season, larger single-day tornado outbreak that produced 42 tornadoes in total across the Southeastern United States.

Prior to the Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado, the parent supercell, having initiated in Louisiana, also produced a high-end EF2 tornado that moved through the southern side of Selma, injuring two people. After the dissipation of the Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado, another large, high-end EF2 tornado struck the community of Standing Rock before moving into Georgia and passing near Covered Bridge. The supercell produced nine more tornadoes as part of a tornado family in west-central Georgia, including four EF2-rated tornadoes and an extremely large high-end EF3 tornado that moved through parts of Griffin and Experiment. The supercell dissipated while still in Georgia.

The tornado began near Independence in Autauga County, initially causing minor damage before rapidly intensifying to EF3 strength and its peak strength as it moved through Old Kingston. Numerous manufactured homes were obliterated, and all 7 fatalities associated with the tornado occurred there. The tornado passed to the east of Browntown, then struck both Oak Grove and the Marbury neighborhood of Wadsworth at EF2 strength. The tornado fluctuated between EF1-EF2 strength as it passed through Elmore County, then reached EF3 strength twice in Coosa County near Speed & Equality as it debarked trees and severely damaged homes. As it continued through Tallapoosa County, the tornado caused EF2 damage in the Lake Martin community of River Bend, damaging numerous residential buildings before moving directly through Sessions at EF1 strength. The tornado then entered Chambers County, causing minor damage near Union Hill before dissipating shortly thereafter near Penton. The tornado was on the ground for 1 hour and 28 minutes over an 82 mile long path.