PHOTOS: Golfball-sized hail, possible “gustnado” strikes eastern Jefferson County

Just when you think you have Alabama weather figured out, golfball-sized hail, powerful storms and even a possible “gustnado” tore through eastern Jefferson County on Thursday afternoon, leaving several neighborhoods from Trussville to Pinson picking up the pieces.

Did Jefferson County get hit by a “gustnado?”

On Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for several cities in eastern Jefferson County, including Trussville, Moody, Center Point, Clay and Pinson. Residents in the area (including Bham Now staffer Patience Itson) shared photos and videos of the wind gusts up to 60 mph, storms and even golfball-sized hail—big enough to damage cars and rooftops.

Below is a video of the hail seen in Trussville on Thursday, February 26.

Although unconfirmed by the National Weather Service, multiple residents reported spotting what appeared to be a tornado in the Trussville area. Famed ABC33/40 meteorologist James Spann shared a video of the suspected twister posted by Kayden Russel on X, dubbing it a “gustnado”—a blend of the terms “gust front” and “tornado.”

Gustnado in Trussville earlier when the storm passed through. A gustnado (a blend of the words “gust front” and “tornado”) is a brief, shallow, surface-based whirlwind that forms along the leading edge of a thunderstorm. They are not associated with storm scale rotation, and are… pic.twitter.com/GgULrs0tWx

— James Spann (@spann) February 26, 2026

The National Weather Service’s Birmingham office will determine whether or not the funnel qualifies as a tornado during their storm damage survey on Friday, February 27.

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