Also, to Gene Bussell and his crew with the AlabamaNational Guard for their cooperation with aerial surveys along this track. However, this was revised to 64 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries. [3] By the morning of April 27, the SPC upgraded to a high risk of severe weather,[4] noting that a dangerous tornado outbreak capable of producing several violent EF4 tornado or stronger on the Enhanced Fujita scale and long-track tornadoes was expected. Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather Previsin de 7 Das April 27, 2011. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The storms deadliness recalled an April 2011 tornado that killed 13 in Calhoun County, Brown said. The weather service said that the damage intensified as the tornado neared the Autauga-Elmore county line, where several site-built homes lost most of their roofs along County Road 68 East near Poplar Springs Road. This is from Lake Purdy, AL of homes totaled by the storm #ALwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/mIs1MClZJI. Many stations, including WIAT, the WBMA trimulcast, CBS affiliate WTVY (channel 4) in Dothan and NBC affiliate WSFA (channel 12) in Montgomery, showed television cameras capturing the event as the tornado which appeared wider than its estimated width during that section of the path as the condensation funnel was partially obscured by a debris cloud and a dense rain shaft moved east-northeast across the western and northern suburbs of Birmingham at high-end EF4 strength around 6:00p.m. CDT (23:00 UTC). It passed within a half mile of the Tuscaloosa Police Department Headquarters, forcing the evacuation of the dispatch personnel from the third floor offices until the storm passed. LARGE tornado debris signature continues on storm in Hale County, northeast of Greensboro. It then went on to impact parts of Birmingham at high-end EF4 intensity before dissipating. Several flash flood warnings were also in effect in the north central and northeast portion of the state, including in Birmingham. The trail left by the EF5 tornado in Mississippi is much shorter than a similar trail that cuts across northwestern Alabama. The warning is in effect until 4:15 p.m. (or 5:15 p.m. local time). Here is how the storms developed that day. Daily Rainfall Plots Meteorologists found "at least" EF-3. Tornado Track Across Indiana and Kentucky, NASA Goddard Space The flash flood warnings cover both Birmingham and Tuscaloosa where 2 to 3 inches of rain have fallen and flooding is underway or expected to begin. In fact, there were three just last year. Randy Robbins, a survivor of the Tuscaloosa storm, made it through, with the storm ripping his jeans, watch, glasses, and shirt from his body, leaving only his boxers, a silver cross necklace and his iPhone remaining in his right hand. The tornado quickly moved out of the Pleasant Grove area and into the McDonald Chapel community. This is a terrifying image of debris on radar (blue dot on right), following the passage of a violent tornado right through Centreville, AL of the EF4-5 type #alwx pic.twitter.com/Aoeq3uZkpa. Weather service meteorologist Mark Linhares said a long-track tornado has a path that is typically 25 miles or longer. The tornado weakened slightly as it moved across County Road 57 but still damaged several homes. The South is an area known for systematic vulnerability to severe weather and tornadoes. If you cant do that in just three or four minutes, relocate to somewhere you can high-risk days are when you want to be close to a shelter at all times. Meteorologists have rated the tornado that took seven lives in Autauga County on Jan. 12 an EF-3, with top winds estimated at 150 mph in spots along its path. For example, from Thursday's storms, there are just over 30 tornado reports in Alabama. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Damage at the beginning of the path ranged from EF1 to EF2. The deadliest tornado outbreak since 1974 hit the United States on April 27, 2011. A massive tornado tears through the town of Tuscaloosa, destroying everything in its path (from Tornado Rampage 2011) Show more. The tornado then moved across the rest of Tallapoosa County causing EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage, including in the Sessions area. It also was similar to the path. 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. 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. It spawned a few tornadoes in Texas on Wednesday and is set to unleash vicious weather across the South. Please select one of the following: After the tornado moved through the McDonald Chapel area, it moved into the area of Smithfield Estates, with significant home damage along Cherry Avenue between Daniel Payne Drive and Veterans Memorial Drive. 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. in Greene County. Storm Spotters (SKYWARN) Long-track tornadoes are nothing new in Alabama. Images of tornado damage near Tuscaloosa, Ala., seen on May 4, 2011. Thursday morning and afternoon, a warm front was lifting north through Mississippi and Alabama, ushering in an unstable and dangerous air mass. WATCH: Drone footage shows Alabama tornado devastation in Selma. The tornado passed south of downtown Brent and Centreville, sparing the most heavily populated neighborhoods, but several structures were heavily damaged or destroyed on Belcher Road. [2] Two days before the event, on April 25, the SPC issued a moderate risk of severe weather encompassing portions of central and eastern Kentucky, middle and eastern Tennessee, northeast Mississippi, central and northern Alabama, and northwest Georgia. A tornado warning was in effect about 25 miles north of the border with Mississippi and Alabama. No one was home thank God. Other Research 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. The tornado continued northeastward and weakened to an EF3 rating with winds of 130 mph. That especially includes areas near and north of Interstate 22 and along and south of Interstate 40, where the most widespread severe weather can be expected. More than a dozen tornadoes were reported across Alabama on Thursday. December 16, 2012 Tony Lyza. 6:23 p.m. - The earlier supercell that devastated Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties, ignited back into an EF-4 tornado. 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. But weather forecasters were already warning of worse to come that afternoon. The storm will likely across Interstate 65 south of Birmingham a little before 1:30 p.m. Tornado debris signature has returned, near West Blocton. An hour later, the city of Newnan tweeted: The city experienced heavy damage in and around the historic downtown area due to tonights weather.. Here are the longest tornado tracks on record in Alabama. Land Meteorologists have rated the tornado that took seven lives in Autauga. Severe Storms, Image of the Day Tornado Warnings for counties in Central Alabamawere in effect from338 pm until800 pm with this supercell. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. (Patch.com) TUSCALOOSA, AL The National Weather Service has issued a . Drought Monitor By the time the tornado lifted northeast of Birmingham, it had left behind a path of destruction of 80.7 miles (129.9km) through Greene, Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties. It then crossed Interstate 65 and reached the Pine Level community, where several homes had roof damage and a manufactured home was rolled off its foundation and onto County Road 68 East. On one road after another, pieces of buildings, furniture, appliances and trees were strewn about and vehicles came to rest in awkward positions . Severe Storms. The watch indicates a near certainty (95 percent chance) of at least one strong tornado that produces EF2 or higher damage on the 0 to 5 Enhanced Fujita scale. 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. Early reports indicated 65 people were killed, with over 1,000 injured. "Just as cities and towns from all over Alabama came together to support Tuscaloosa in the aftermath of the devastating April 27, 2011 tornado, the City of Tuscaloosa will support the City of Selma on their road to recovery," Mayor Walt Maddox said when the drive was . 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. 0:38 Nearly a decade has passed since the deadliest tornado in Tuscaloosa's history carved a 5.9-mile path of destruction through the city, though for most people who lived through that storm. 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. 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 Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado was one of 14 tornadoes that hit Alabama on Jan. 12. It's hard to forget the gut-wrenching moments of 27 April 2011 when a massive EF4 tornado tore across the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Yall please stay safe and vigilant!. That was the F4 tornado that affected areas from Greensboro all the way to Mount Cheaha. Not surprisingly, several of them happened during the superoutbreak of April 27, 2011. Alabama was hit the worst, with the first reported tornado hitting Marion and others hitting Tuscaloosa, Chilton County, and other locales. The track passes south of Bryant Denny Stadium and just north of University Mall. Tree trunks were snapped relatively close to the ground, and the bark was ripped from them. The same tornadic thunderstorm which caused damage southeast of Birmingham had charged into northeast Alabama, near the border with Georgia where a tornado warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Hazardous Weather Outlook, Current Conditions Meanwhile, radar indicated a rotating thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado over northeastern Birmingham at 4:45 p.m., sprinting northeast at 55 mph. In all, 299 Alabamians were killed in the outbreak. An extremely volatile atmospheric setup prompted the National Weather Service to declare a rare level 5 out of 5 high risk for severe thunderstorms, focused in Alabama but touching several surrounding states. The tornado devastated the Cedar Crest neighborhood just north of 15th St, leveling many cinder block homes and causing at least 3 fatalities. 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. 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 storm cut an 80-mile path of destruction through the heart of Tuscaloosa, killing 44 people, including six University of Alabama students. 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. 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. About Radar The storm packed winds of 190 miles (310 kilometers per hour) and left a path of debris running southwest to northeast. 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. Tornadoes probably will not be readily visible because of heavy rain, fog and low overcast. In Florence, in the northwest corner of the state, a police officer was struck by lighting while setting up street barricades. 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. It combines visible and infrared data to reveal damage unseen in conventional photographs. A nearby manhole cover was removed from its drain and thrown into a ravine. A tornado warning is in effect until 2 p.m. for the general area. Local Storm Reports The storm packed winds of 190 miles (310 kilometers per hour) and left a path of debris running southwest to northeast. Looking at the statistics gives only the barest idea of what occurred. Although not a main damage indicator, there was also evidence of vehicles being moved, but only a couple of feet. 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