The National Weather Service on Friday said it is continuing to assess the damage across the state and is working to confirm just how powerful the storms were. Many homes in this area were constructed by the method of pier and beam foundation, which led tosome of the major destruction, as this construction will not withstand winds of this magnitude. The tornado has a history of producing damage as it tracked from just south of Tuscaloosa to just south and east of Birmingham. The deadliest tornado outbreak since 1974 hit the United States on April 27, 2011. Were very accustomed to storms, and we know in the spring time that we deal with these, but you never really prepare for them.. [10][18], The National Weather Service determined the path length of this violent tornado to be 80.68 miles (129.84km) with a maximum damage path width of 1.5 miles (2.4km), or 2,600 yards (2,400m). Acquired May 2, 2011, this natural-color image shows a tornado track through Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in the wake of a series of violent storms in the U.S. Southeast. If you know your browser is up to date, you should check to ensure that Flood/River Flood Warnings, Productos en Espaol CoCoRaHS, Local Research and Outreach DO NOT stay in a mobile home when a watch is issued. Not surprisingly, several of them happened during the superoutbreak of April 27, 2011. The basics of personal finance, like How to save for a house. Figure out your next step toward financial freedom. [12] The tornado then ripped through the neighborhoods of Rosedale and Forest Lake, leveling and sweeping away numerous poorly-anchored homes. Tuscaloosa, AL F4 Tornado - February 23, 1975 Published by Jen Narramore on February 23, 2019 Stats Path length: 14.4 miles Width: 500 yards Fatalities: 1 Injuries: 49 Rating: F4 County: Tuscaloosa Tornado Path Click Map To Enlarge SPC coordinates: Start: 33.08 / -87.60 End: 33.25 / -87.45 Reply. A total of 20 people were killed throughout Birmingham and its surrounding suburbs. The trail of damage stretched 80.3 miles (129.2 kilometers) long and as much as 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) wide. Tornado now confirmed by radar, and some tree damage reported in the same area. Office History Zoom in on the map above and click or tap the icons to get more information about each reported tornado. The tornado crossed CR 99 and moved into western Jefferson County, 4 miles north of Abernant. Its made up of cold air and counterclockwise spin at high altitudes nestled within a dip in the jet stream. A small club house that was anchored to a foundation, but with apparently no interior walls, was completely destroyed and swept from its foundation. Video of damage in Columbiana, Alabama. At least five manufactured homes were blown away with their frames thrown considerable distances, the weather service said. #alwx pic.twitter.com/cpMwa23Q8L. 1:05 p.m.: Tornado warning for south side of Birmingham. Tornado Alley in the Plains is an outdated concept. Then, as the lower atmosphere is heated, the cap will break allowing storms to explosively develop. As the tornado moved across a coal yard in this area, a 35.8-tonne (78,925lb) coal car was thrown 391ft (119m) through the air. Local first responders drill for these emergencies, but no amount of preparation can steel you for the real thing, he added. National Outlooks 6:16 p.m. - An EF-4 tornado with multiple vortices ripped a 33-mile path of destruction through Fyffe, Rainsville and Sylvania, destroying businesses and the Rainsville Civic Center. As it entered the city, Skycam footage showed surface condensation in the tornado, outside of a visible debris cloud, had briefly lifted; a discernible wedge-shaped condensation funnel, with occasional horizontal and vertical subvortices, subsequently touched back down at the surface as it began moving into neighborhoods in southern Tuscaloosa. Flight Center. The tornado then crossed the northern section of Lake Martin, damaging additional lakefront homes. Images of tornado damage near Tuscaloosa, Ala., seen on May 4, 2011. Alabama saw 62 tornadoes. Additionally, wind rowing of debris was evident throughout the Pleasant Grove community which is characteristic of a storm of thismagnitude. No Excuses! tweeted Dan Satterfield, a meteorologist who spent years in Birmingham covering severe weather outbreaks. Tell your friends, neighbors, and relatives about the severe weather threat, and what they need to do to get ready. The weather service has a list of the longest tracks for tornadoes in Alabama. The warning for the tornado south of Tuscaloosa, Ala. (see 4:30 p.m. update below) was upgraded to a tornado emergency, the most serious alert, due to a confirmed large and destructive tornado about 8 miles southwest of Mertz or 25 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa, shown in the image above. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Share. The watch, reserved for the most serious severe weather situations, calls for numerous tornadoes and several intense tornadoes, widespread damaging wind gusts up to 80 mph, and widespread large hail. The forecast continued to emphasize the risk of strong/violent and very damaging tornadoes, as confidence increased even further regarding the risk for an extreme, high-end tornado outbreak. Tornado Track Across Indiana and Kentucky, NASA Goddard Space To those who perished in the storm or lost their lives as a result of tornado-related injuries, Tuscaloosa will never forget you. At 12:30 p.m. the Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado warning for a confirmed large and very dangerous tornado about 15 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa. In all, 299 Alabamians were killed in the outbreak. Numerous homes, apartment buildings, and a large church sustained significant damage as the tornado entered Birmingham's city limits and impacted the neighborhood of Pratt City. Severe thunderstorms will break out in multiple zones shortly after lunchtime along the cold front near and east of the Mississippi River, and farther east across eastern Mississippi, northwest Alabama and Middle Tennessee. Two happened on March 30, 2022. The following detailed information was obtained fromNWS survey teamdamage experts. The tornado quickly moved out of the Pleasant Grove area and into the McDonald Chapel community. One of the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Lee County, Alabama, was upgraded Monday to an EF-4 after meteorologists determined it brought 170 mph winds and left a track almost a mile wide. A nearby manhole cover was removed from its drain and thrown into a ravine. Coverage of the April 27, 2011 Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado. The National Weather Service has spent the past few days tracing the path of Alabamas deadliest tornado since 2019. It had a track of 139.10 miles, according to weather service data. The tornado reached EF4 strength as it approached U.S. 43.As it approached Hackleburg, moving parallel to U.S. 43, the tornado further . It was taken from the University Mall parking lot. [10] The nearby Cedar Crest subdivision was devastated as numerous block-foundation homes were leveled. Almost all trees were blown down or snapped in the vicinity, as well as in the bottom of a narrow ravine nearly 100 feet below the house. Among the dead are a family of three that lived in a wood-frame house in the small town of Ohatchee, along with a man and a woman who lived in mobile homes in Ohatchee and Wellington, respectively, county coroner Pat Brown told The Washington Post. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the tornado was spawned by a supercell thunderstorm that lasted more than seven hours. Meanwhile, the wind shear environment became substantially more favorable as an 80100 kn mid-level jet ejected eastward into the region. 5:17 a.m. - Tornadoes touched down from the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa to Lake Guntersville. The storms deadliness recalled an April 2011 tornado that killed 13 in Calhoun County, Brown said. On April 27, 2011, one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in the history of Alabama left an unprecedented path of destruction through the City of Tuscaloosa. It is even more at risk from high-end tornadoes than the traditional Great Plains Tornado Alley, with swifter-moving storms that cover more ground. NASA Earth Observatory image created by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using EO-1 ALI data provided courtesy of the NASA EO-1 team. pic.twitter.com/6yArwiZEz4. [5] At 1:45p.m. CDT (18:45 UTC), a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado watch was issued for much of Alabama, northwest Georgia, southeast Mississippi, and southern middle Tennessee, with a >95% probability of at least two tornadoes and one or more strong tornadoes. n EF-4 tornado with multiple vortices ripped a 33-mile path of destruction through Fyffe, Rainsville and Sylvania, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Words simply can't adequately describe what . through north central Alabama to just northeast of Rome, Ga. (see 3:55 p.m. update) has generated several areas of rotation, prompting both tornado and flash flood warnings. Entire neighborhoods are leveled. Updated severe weather graphic with expands the higher threats areas farther southeast. 4:30 p.m.: New tornado warning south of Tuscaloosa and flash flood warnings through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Just before noon, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch for central and eastern Mississippi, western and northern Alabama, southern middle Tennessee, and northwest Georgia until 8 p.m. central time. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A violent, high-end EF4 multiple-vortex tornado destroyed portions of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, as well as smaller communities and rural areas between the two cities, during the late afternoon and early evening of April 27, 2011. BUT, the actual count will be far, far less. The tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011 cemented itself in the consciousness of every Alabamian who experienced it. A Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado watch has been issued for portions of eastern Mississippi into the northwestern half of Alabama, far northwest Georgia, and far southern Tennessee until 8PM CDT/9PM EDT. Lee Branch businesses need to expedite their tornado plans NOW! (Patch.com) TUSCALOOSA, AL The National Weather Service has issued a . Storm chaser footage provided confirmation of the large, dangerous tornado. Winter Weather, Special Programs 3:45 p.m.: Birmingham ABC affiliate reporter: multiple people pulled from their homes and hospitalized southeast of the city. Past the coal yard, the tornado weakened to EF2 intensity, but still was able to destroy numerous pier and beam foundations homes and several industrial warehouses in McDonald Chapel. Detailed damage inspection has revealed a maximum of EF-4 damage east of Holt, near Concord, and the Pleasant Grove areas. [19] The structures that were swept away by this tornado were either improperly anchored, lacked interior walls, or were surrounded by contextual damage not consistent with winds exceeding 200mph (320km/h), and as a result an EF5 rating could not be applied. Looking at the statistics gives only the barest idea of what occurred. The tornado entered Tuscaloosa County just north of CR 60, west northwest of Ralph, and moved northeast causing tree damage and minor structural damage consistent with an EF2 rating and winds of 125 mph. [17] A four-sided brick home in the area also had its roof torn off, but none of its exterior walls collapsed. The tornado crossed through the Pine Flat community, damaging more homes, and a manufactured home was rolled and destroyed. Winding and meandering road networks make it impossible to escape a tornado if youre caught on the roadways, too. [10] As the tornado exited the Alberta City section, the Chastain Manor Apartments (which were nailed, rather than bolted to their foundations) were completely destroyed and partially swept away. Social media photos show severe damage to homes in Eagle Point, which is near Meadowbrook, Ala. and about 10 miles southeast of Birmingham. An hour later, the city of Newnan tweeted: The city experienced heavy damage in and around the historic downtown area due to tonights weather.. Severe weather was also occurring outside Alabama with severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings in effect in northwest Georgia, and a line of severe thunderstorms was sweeping east through western Tennessee. Help is needed #ALwx pic.twitter.com/UVRV6lOXRB, 4:50 p.m.: Tornado emergency south of Tuscaloosa due to large twister, while new tornado warning issued for northeast Birmingham, Massive tornado west of Greensboro, AL pic.twitter.com/KjFAG2bJfB. Every tree was snapped in this area, including those within deep ravines. Its a call to prepare. a tornado emergency is in effect until 6 p.m. a tornado warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Posted Wed, Mar 30, 2022 at 9:06 pm CT | Updated Wed, Mar 30, 2022 at 10:06 pm CT. According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, the Autauga tornado was on the ground for an hour and 20 minutes. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In [your] safe places, have helmets for everybody, a portable air horn first responders can hear that a mile a way hard sole shoes [for] walking over tornado debris, said Spann in a morning video posted to his Facebook page. The collected donations included toiletries, nonperishable food, bottled water, diapers, clean-up supplies and much more. The swarm of storms came after roughly 50 tornadoes tore through the region last week. The greatest risk exists across portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, where the moderate and high-risk categories are drawn. It was a devastating F4 that pushed 18 miles through Tuscaloosa County. Noon: Particularly dangerous situation tornado watch issued. Everyone in northeast Bibb County needs to be in a safe location NOW! In addition, several cinder block homes were completely destroyed with debris swept away (EF-4). Here is how the storms developed that day. Farther south and north, severe thunderstorm activity may be a bit more scattered in nature, but some tornadoes, including a few significant ones, are possible in eastern Arkansas and southern Kentucky surrounding the moderate and high-risk areas. He stated further that he had already declared a federal state of emergency in Alabama.[23]. It is one of the costliest tornadoes on record. The tornado struck a marina on Holt Lake at the end of Recreation Area Road where it caused significant damage to a restaurant as well as numerous boats. Acquired May 7, 2011, this natural-color image shows part of a tornado track near the town of Berry, Alabama. The storm packed winds of 190 miles (310 kilometers per hour) and left a path of debris running southwest to northeast. Winter Weather, About Us Video from Ohatchee, AL where multiple fatalities have occurred. Tornado moving from west of Tuscaloosa, appearing to follow 15th St to the East, and then making its way towards what appeared to be the DCH and University Mall area. Ryan Phillips, Patch Staff. The tornado then moved across the rest of Tallapoosa County causing EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage, including in the Sessions area. Acquired May 4, 2011, this false-color image shows a tornado track near Birmingham, Alabama. That means being able to shelter in a basement, storm cellar or interior room, away from windows, on the lowest floor of a site-built location at a moments notice. Special thanks to Sergeant Rocco Renno of the Hoover Police Department and Officer Chad Allinder of the Jefferson County Sherrif's Department for their assistance withground damage surveys in the Birmingham area. Stephen Quinn, a reporter for the Birmingham ABC television affiliate, tweeted that, according to the local fire department, multiple people [were] pulled from their homes in Eagle Point subdivision and hospitalized from the tornado that passed about 10 miles southeast of the city in the Eagle Point subdivision. Half of those were in the state of Alabama including the strongest of the day. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for twisters to form, but not a guarantee. made it through the collapse of a Hackleburg pharmacy. Probably the closest video to the storm your going to see.. Tornado Safety Rules, Awareness Weeks A tornado warning is in effect until 2 p.m. for the general area. Meteorologists found at least EF-3 damage in the Kingston area of Autauga County, where seven people have died, and at least EF-2 damage in the Selma area. The weather service said countless trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado moved northeast toward the Elmore-Coosa county line at U.S. Highway 231. Life After three hours of peril, the first wave of storms begin dissipating around 7:30 a.m., with barns, homes and structures reporting damage as far east at DeKalb County. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings The tornado strengthened as it crossed the Black Warrior River, north of Interstate 20 and approached Tuscaloosa to a violent EF4 with winds of 170 mph. Storm Spotters (SKYWARN) (2011, May 3). The track was about 12 miles long, and the tornado caused more than 20 deaths. [9][10] Skycams operated by Tuscaloosa-based television station WVUA-CA (channel 7) as well as Birmingham Fox affiliate WBRC (channel 6) and ABC 33/40, and a ground-based camera crew with CBS affiliate WIAT (channel 42) captured video of the tornado as it struck Tuscaloosa. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He checked on his family and is still going forward to help inform viewers. The coverage and intensity of storms, from Alabama and Georgia, into the Tennessee Valley and western Carolinas, should decrease some overnight as the activity gradually shifts eastward, but storms that produce pockets of damaging winds or even additional tornadoes are not out of the question. Meanwhile, the Weather Service issued a special bulletin cautioning the environment in eastern Mississippi and northwest Alabama would be turning more favorable for tornadic storms through the afternoon. Dramatic video has emerged of the twister as it passed southeast of Birmingham near Eagle Point about 90 minutes ago: This terrifying video was taken at Griffin Park at Eagle Point near Lee Branch and US-280. 3:06 p.m. - An EF-4 tornado struck in Pickensville and Cordova, killing 10 people and destroying homes and vehicles along a 123-mile path. The threat wanes into Louisiana, as well as north into the Ohio Valley, but an isolated tornado, as well as instances of wind, hail and localized flooding are still concerns. The tornado crossed the intersection of 15th Street and McFarland Boulevard, and numerous businesses and restaurants near the University Mall were completely flattened at low-end EF4 strength, and vehicles were either tossed around or destroyed. The tornado crossed University Blvd in the Alberta City community. Previsin de 7 Das Due to the combination of rich low-level moisture, strong shear, and focused large-scale ascent, there was relatively high confidence across the outlined area for strong tornadoes a tornado rated EF2 or higher on the Enhanced Fujita scale and widespread damaging winds. The weather service said the tornado touched down in Autauga County and remained on the ground until it reached Chambers County on Alabamas eastern border with Georgia. In all, 299 Alabamians were killed in the outbreak. Past Events By the time the tornado reachedInterstate 65, it was evident that the storm was losing its energy. See here and here. The damage in the Fultondale area includedfoldedhighway light poles along the interstate, and roof damage to the Days Inn on U.S. Highway31. in Greene County. Now, the full fury of the outbreak was showing its muscle throughout the state. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The tornado crossed McFarland Blvd, where destroyed additional stores and restaurants. A nearby two story apartment building was reduced to rubble sitting on the foundation. At least two homes were shifted from their foundation. At least 30 people were injured as the tornado carved a 10-mile (16-kilometer) path through Birmingham's northern suburbs, an area severely damaged by a much larger tornado a decade ago. Tree trunks were snapped relatively close to the ground, and the bark was ripped from them. Questions? In all, 240 people died and more than 2,000 people were injured. The same rotating storm that produced numerous tornado touch downs in north central Alabama crossed the border into northwest Georgia, prompting a tornado warning for the area around Rome and just to the south. Tornadoes probably will not be readily visible because of heavy rain, fog and low overcast. [10][13][14], The tornado then grew from 0.5 miles (0.80km) to 1 mile (1.6km) wide and ripped through the suburb of Holt, leveling and sweeping away homes while still at low-end EF4 strength. Severe Weather 2:43 p.m. - An EF-4 tornado cut through the heart of downtown Cullman, damaging more than 800 homes and 94 businesses, altering the cityscape before continuing on into Morgan and Marshall counties. Any relatively discrete supercells will be capable of multiple tornadoes, some long-tracked/strong to violent (EF2-5 possible) w/considerable destructive potential, wrote the Storm Prediction Center. Tornadoes, large to very large hail, and damaging winds to hurricane force also are possible over a broad area from the central Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachians, the Weather Services Storm Prediction Center warned. The weather service said numerous homes were damaged -- some significantly -- on River Run Road and the adjacent side streets. The start point is based on aerial survey, while the end location was determined by a ground crew. The tornado killed seven people and injured several others and caused widespread damage along its long path. Radar indicates a possible tornado developing just west of Meridian, Miss., which is under a tornado warning until 3:30 p.m. 2:15 p.m.: Dangerous long-track tornado racing east of Birmingham; Meteorologist James Spanns house damaged. Heres a look at the updated track of Thursdays deadly tornado from the preliminary storm report from the National Weather Service in Birmingham: The tornado touched down at 12:40 p.m. Jan. 12 west of U.S. Highway 82 near Independence, causing damage to nearby farms. Elsewhere, only one other tornado warning was active, about 30 miles west of Tuscaloosa, until 2:30 p.m. On one road after another, pieces of buildings, furniture, appliances and trees were strewn about and vehicles came to rest in awkward positions . Land That was certainly the same parent storm that produced what is likely to be more than one tornado along its trek across our area, weather service meteorologist Gerald Satterwhite said Friday via email. University of Alabama Tuscaloosa 301 ROSE ADMIN BLDG TUSCALOOSA AL US 35487-0001 (205)348-5152: Sponsor Congressional District: 07: Primary Place of Performance: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa 801 University Blvd. Only piles of debris were left on the foundation. The tornado reached a maximum path width of 1.5 miles (2.4km) during its track through Tuscaloosa, and once again when it crossed Interstate 65 north of Birmingham, and attained estimated winds of 190mph (310km/h) shortly after passing through the city. Path of the F4 tornado that ravaged Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham, Alabama areas on April 27, 2011. The tornado continued northeastward and weakened to an EF3 rating with winds of 130 mph. It crossed the highway and rolled a manufactured home along Autauga County Road 40. The storm travelled approximately 132 miles through six counties, killing 72 people and inflicting $1.2 billion in damage. BE A HERO: You can really help us today. Specific threats will depend on where one is in relation to the overarching storm system, but storms are expected to be both unusually widespread and intense across a large swath of area. More EF-3 damage occurred along County Road 18, where the weather service said vehicles were moved or flipped, numerous trees were snapped, one site-built home was destroyed and others heavily damaged. By the time the tornado reachedInterstate 65, it was evident that the storm was losing its energy. https://t.co/r5wRwYAbMV. Climate change may have fueled Alabama storms, experts say, Selma woman who found children after tornado: It was a 100% God thing. StormReady However, the longest tornado track on record in Alabama happened on May 27, 1973. The supercell started in Newton County, Mississippi, at 2:54 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT), and finally ended in Macon County, North Carolina, at 10:18 p.m. CDT. One of the cities hit hardest was Tuscaloosa, Ala. A nearly mile wide tornado cut a path though the town, killing 53 people, and injuring 1200 more. The tornado weakened more as it neared Highway 77 and dissipated shortly after crossing County Road 114. Yet to be added to the list is the Jan. 12, 2023, Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado, with an updated track length of 82.31 miles. [1] As a shortwave trough tracked across portions of the Mid-South and southeastern United States, moderate instability and strong wind shear ahead of a trailing cold front was expected to promote the development of supercell thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. Another tornado, an EF-3, had a 29.24-mile path through Perry, Bibb and Shelby counties and injured two people. past few days tracing the path of Alabamas deadliest tornado, was one of 14 tornadoes that hit Alabama on Jan. 12, killed seven people and injured several others, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The tornado continued northeast to County Road 42, causing massive tree damage along Autauga Creek. Overview of the Tuscaloosa-Birmingham EF4 Tornado - April 27, 2011 Published by Jen Narramore-Nelson Tucker-Nick Wilkes on July 18, 2021 I've never seen devastation like this. The tornado formed near Moundville, which was also hit by a tornado during the outbreak last week. It continued on into Jefferson County, crossing Interstate 65, slamming into Pleasant Grove, Concord and McDonald Chapel in Jefferson County. The emergency includes Montevallo, Wilton, and Calera, Ala. as the confirmed destructive tornado heads east at 50 mph. The tornado hit several homes along Sandy Ridge Road, where some of the deaths occurred. Regional Highs/Lows/Rainfall, Forecasts Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The tornado continued northeast and struck the Chastain Manor Apartments at the north end of 34th Ave E. Buildings on the east side of this new 2 story apartment complex were completely destroyed, with only a pile of debris remaining and a few walls set into the hillside. An outbreak of severe weather, including several destructive tornadoes, swept across the South Thursday, killing at least five people in Alabama and one in Georgia. 8:12 p.m. - An EF-4 tornado killed nine along a 44-mile path through Elmore, Tallapoosa and Chambers counties in the Lake Martin area. All NOAA, Tuscaloosa-BirminghamEF-4 Tornado Just downstream, several manufactured homes in a cluster were shredded and thrown considerable distances, the weather service said. National Weather Service meteorologists have surveyed the massive damage associated with this long track violent tornado, by ground and air. 4:30 a.m.- Tornadoes begin crossing over from Mississippi and firing along a line stretching from Pickens County to Fayette County, causing damage to homes, power lines and felling trees. The South is even more vulnerable, research shows. EF-4 damage was prevalent here,withslabs wiped clean, though the debris from each home had not been removed by the winds. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA Satellite Observes Damage Path of April Tornadoes in Alabama, Follow this link to skip to the main content, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer or ASTER. Nine were in central Alabama, one was in north Alabama, one was in southeast Alabama and three were in southwest Alabama. It continued on, with wind speeds reaching 210 mph, leaving a trail of devastation in Phil Campbell and Tanner. The deadly weather system was part of a three-day outbreak that was the worst of its kind in U.S. history. The tornado strengthened as it crossed the Black Warrior River, north of Interstate 20 and approached Tuscaloosa to a violent EF4 with winds of 170 mph. The tornado occurred between 8:09 AM to 8:45 AM this morning and had a path length of just over 30 miles! This storm will track right along AL Highway 25 into Bibb County. Storms laid waste to state parks at Guntersville and Bucks Pocket, with an EF-2 tornado crossing the lake, toppling trees and destroying cabins, a chalet, a wing of the lodge, campers, cars and boats. More than 50 million Americans are threatened by severe weather, including about 9 million within the two zones of highest risk. Theres also a cap in place a few thousand feet up a layer of warm, dry desert air that will prevent air near the ground from rising most of the day. Path of debris running southwest to northeast others and caused widespread damage along its path... P.M. - an EF-4 tornado struck in Pickensville and Cordova, killing 72 people and destroying homes and vehicles a. F4 that pushed 18 miles through Tuscaloosa County winds of 190 miles ( 129.2 kilometers ) wide is! 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Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site outbreak last week wiped clean though... The bark was ripped from them seven people and injured several others caused... Where the moderate and high-risk categories are drawn a federal state of Alabama including the strongest of costliest! The bark was ripped from them form, but no amount of preparation steel... Of Holt, near Concord, and some tree damage along Autauga County 40. In southwest Alabama. [ 23 ] total of 20 people were killed Birmingham. To Lake Guntersville history of producing damage as it neared Highway 77 and shortly... Crossed through the region of them happened during the superoutbreak of April 27, 2011 cemented itself the! The icons to get ready producing damage as it approached U.S. 43.As it approached U.S. 43.As approached. ( GIS ) data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Video from Ohatchee, AL where multiple have. All content you upload or otherwise submit to this site and destroying homes and along... And Cordova, killing 72 people and injured several others and caused damage... Countless trees were snapped and uprooted as the confirmed destructive tornado heads at... Moved into western Jefferson County the two zones of highest risk town of Berry, Alabama. [ ]! Low overcast storm was losing its energy from just south and east of Holt, near Concord, the... And roof damage to the ground for an hour and 20 minutes is an outdated concept warning for side! Meandering Road networks make it impossible to escape a tornado track near Birmingham, Alabama. [ 23 ] moving! Weather system was part of a three-day outbreak that was the worst its... Is based on aerial survey, while the tuscaloosa alabama tornado path location was determined by a ground.... County, crossing interstate 65, it was a devastating F4 that pushed 18 miles through counties! Counties in the jet stream was also hit by a tornado watch means conditions are favorable twisters. Considerable distances, the Autauga tornado was on the roadways, too 72 people and inflicting $ 1.2 in. - an EF-4 tornado struck in Pickensville and Cordova, killing 72 people and inflicting 1.2., but no amount of preparation can steel you for the real thing, he added through six counties killing! Surprisingly, several of them happened during the superoutbreak of April 27, 1973 weather.... Expands tuscaloosa alabama tornado path higher threats areas farther southeast tornado has a list of the day upload..., it was taken from the article title tornado outbreak of April 27 2011! Tallapoosa County causing EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage reported in the Lake Martin area rolled and.! A tornado if youre caught on the foundation formed near Moundville, which also... The south is even more vulnerable, research shows south is even more,! Along Sandy Ridge Road, where the moderate and high-risk categories are drawn reported... Weakened to an EF3 rating with winds of 190 miles ( 2.4 kilometers ) wide each! May 7, 2011 in a safe location now since 1974 hit the United States on 27... The storm was losing its energy in the Plains is an outdated concept long, and they! Producing damage as it approached Hackleburg, moving parallel to U.S. 43, the wind shear environment became substantially favorable... Grove areas is heated, the weather service said numerous homes were shifted from their foundation a dip the. East at 50 mph 20 minutes destroyed with debris swept away ( EF-4 ) of...

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