By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
An apparent tornado moved through parts of Houston and Henry counties Monday evening, leaving behind damaged homes, downed trees, power lines, blocked roadways, and scattered debris east of Dothan. Officials continued assessing the damage late into the night as crews worked to clear roads and restore power.
According to reports from local authorities, the storm reportedly first touched down near the small town of Webb, several miles east of Dothan, where homes sustained damage and debris was scattered across the area. Numerous trees and power lines were also reported down near Alabama Highway 52.
One resident of Webb, Mikayla H., described the suddenness of the tornado’s arrival, pointing out that her family was sitting on their porch and suddenly had to seek shelter as the tornado came through and knocked trees down in their yard and around their neighborhood.
The storm later tracked northward into parts of Henry County, where significant damage was reported along Henry County Highway 15. Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship said at least one home was destroyed, although no one was inside at the time. Emergency officials continued checking for injuries and evaluating structural damage Monday night. Reports indicate this area of the Wiregrass sustained the heaviest damage from the tornado.
Additional damage was reported along Henry County Highway 56 near County Road 103, where fallen trees blocked both lanes of traffic. Utility outages were also widespread in eastern portions of Houston and Henry counties as strong storms moved through the Wiregrass region.
The National Weather Service had not yet released an official storm survey or tornado rating as of Monday night. Meteorologists typically conduct damage assessments following severe weather events to determine whether a tornado occurred and, if confirmed, assign an Enhanced Fujita scale rating based on the level of destruction.
Residents across southeast Alabama experienced severe thunderstorm activity throughout the evening as weather alerts remained in effect across portions of the region. Officials urged motorists to avoid areas with downed trees and power lines while cleanup efforts continue.
Another image of the tornado shared on social media by a resident of Houston County. Photo taken along Hwy 134 near Headland.
