Satellite Images Reveal Scar on Earth from Deadly Long-Track Tornado in Alabama and Georgia

The tornado struck on March 3 and was on the ground for 76 minutes, covering a distance of 68.8 miles as it moved from east-central Alabama into west-central Georgia. It reached its maximum intensity as an EF4 in Lee County, Alabama, where it killed 23 people. Parts of Georgia saw damage up to EF3 intensity.

Intense tornadoes that remain on the ground for a long distance have a higher chance of producing a damage path that's visible on satellite. That is particularly true in regions of the country where dense forests exist, like the Southeast.

In the comparison of NASA Modis satellite images below, you can faintly see the scar from the March 3 tornado. The arrows on the image from March 23 point to a narrow path of lighter shadings where tree damage likely occurred in contrast to darker green shadings that were there before the tornado struck. We've also added the damage path surveyed by the National Weather Service in order to highlight where to look for other parts of the scar.

There are other instances of tornado damage paths being visible from satellite in past years.

One of the most notable examples is a tornado that struck northern Wisconsin more than a decade ago. Its path is still easy to spot, particularly in winter, when there is a contrast between snow on the ground and the surrounding forest that remains.