Then they went outside to see home after home, destroyed. 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. It was here in McDonald Chapel where evidence of a slight weakening of the tornado became clear. made it through the collapse of a Hackleburg pharmacy. 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. Based on the damage scene and contextual evidence, it is plausible that winds were stronger, the weather service said. The storm cut an 80-mile path of destruction through the heart of Tuscaloosa, killing 44 people, including six University of Alabama students. Throughout the afternoon hours, in the wake of an earlier mesoscale convective system, the airmass across western and northern portions of Alabama began to quickly destabilize, with mixed layer convective available potential energy (CAPE) estimated in the 25004000 j/kg range and low-level dewpoints of 7072F surging northward from Louisiana. More than a dozen tornadoes were reported across Alabama on Thursday. Just downstream, several manufactured homes in a cluster were shredded and thrown considerable distances, the weather service said. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Show more. pic.twitter.com/ByAPwZ6JJK, 7:00 p.m.: Risk of tornadoes and severe weather lower but not eliminated into the evening. The storm packed winds of 190 miles (310 kilometers per hour) and left a path of debris running southwest to northeast. EF-3 damage in the Kingston area of Autauga County, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The suburbs of Concord, Pleasant Grove, and McDonald Chapel, along with residential areas in northern Birmingham itself, were devastated. #alwx pic.twitter.com/U6DpeZeXIq, 6:00 p.m.: Tornado emergency extended into Columbiana and Wilsonville, about 30 miles southeast of Birmingham. It turns out another tornado from Thursday would also qualify as a long-track storm: The EF-1 twister that left a 30.4-mile-long track through parts of Lawrence, Morgan and Limestone counties in northwest Alabama. This was the third tornado to strike the city of Tuscaloosa in the past decade, and the second in two weeks. The tornado rapidly strengthened as it approached the Old Kingston community and reached EF-3 intensity. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. But even the interlude between the two waves produced damage. (Patch.com) TUSCALOOSA, AL The National Weather Service has issued a . 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. Acquired May 7, 2011, this natural-color image shows part of a tornado track near the town of Berry, Alabama. BUT, the actual count will be far, far less. 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. Damage at the beginning of the path ranged from EF1 to EF2. Air Quality Fire Weather Please Contact Us. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings The ABC 33/40 feed was periodically disrupted due to power outages caused by wind damage to electrical transformers. The National Weather Service has spent the past few days tracing the path of Alabama's deadliest tornado since 2019. The South is an area known for systematic vulnerability to severe weather and tornadoes. It combines visible and infrared data to reveal damage unseen in conventional photographs. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In April 2011, one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in the history of Alabama left an unprecedented path of destruction through the City of Tuscaloosa. 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. Similar devastation to homes and businesses was noted along both sides of CR 45 near 1st St E. and locations to the northeastward. 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 storm left more than 25 dead before crossing into Georgia. The storm did regenerate itself and eventually put down the EF-4tornado in the Ohatchee area. Multiple trailer homes destroyed as well this church and a large commercial building. In fact, there were three just last year. [7] Shortly thereafter, at 3:09p.m. CDT (20:09 UTC), the National Weather Service office in Jackson, Mississippi issued the first tornado warning on the supercell that would eventually produce the TuscaloosaBirmingham tornado.[8]. Severe Weather Preparedness The storm that spawned that tornado had an even longer track. More than 50 million Americans are threatened by severe weather, including about 9 million within the two zones of highest risk. On May 2, 2011, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this natural-color image of the . Meteorologists have rated the tornado that took seven lives in Autauga. [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. In all, 299 Alabamians were killed in the outbreak. StormReady The Storm Prediction Centers language in its forecast discussion is even stronger compared with the high-risk event last week, signaling the significant potential for an extreme event. The weather service said numerous homes were damaged -- some significantly -- on River Run Road and the adjacent side streets. Storms will swarm during much of the day before winding down and exiting east late Thursday night. Residents across the Deep South NEED to prepare for significant weather today, including the very real potential for violent, long track tornadoes, wrote the Weather Service office in Jackson, Miss. [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. 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. Tornado Alley in the Plains is an outdated concept. Cinder block construction homes in the surrounding neighborhood were completely destroyed, and in a few cases debris was swept away from the site. The deadliest tornado outbreak since 1974 hit the United States on April 27, 2011. The 2 mile wide tornado raced across the landscape at a groundspeed of 82 mph. 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 weather service has a list of the longest tracks for tornadoes in Alabama. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. [24] It caused approximately $2.4 billion of property damage, surpassing the 1999 Bridge CreekMoore tornado as the costliest single tornado in United States history at that time. 5:17 a.m. - Tornadoes touched down from the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa to Lake Guntersville. 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. Several mobile homes were destroyed, cinder block homes received heavy damage, and significant tree damage was noted in this area. Storms ranged from momentary supercells that laid waste to trees and power lines, to mile-wide behemoths leaving paths of more than a hundred miles through several counties. We dug out, Dobbs said. Everyone in northeast Bibb County needs to be in a safe location NOW! Then, as the lower atmosphere is heated, the cap will break allowing storms to explosively develop. Twenty-four tornadoes were confirmed on December 16, 2000. Land Severe storms and flash flooding, somewhat less intense than those earlier in the day, continued Thursday night. Know how to get there quickly.. Winding and meandering road networks make it impossible to escape a tornado if youre caught on the roadways, too. 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 hit several homes along Sandy Ridge Road, where some of the deaths occurred. Multiple locations were found. The tornado that passed through Tuscaloosa caused more than 1,000 injuries and at least 65 deaths across several towns and cities, the highest number of fatalities from a single tornado in the United States since May 25, 1955. Although not a main damage indicator, there was also evidence of vehicles being moved, but only a couple of feet. 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. NWS Birmingham, Alabama465 Weathervane RoadCalera, AL 35040205-664-3010Comments? pic.twitter.com/kcS53FPPkX. The Storm Prediction Center even took an unusual step in mentioning potentially violent, long-track tornadoes, the term violent corresponding to twisters of EF4 to EF5 strength, the most extreme levels on the scale. The effects of the tornado arguably contributed to a decrease in affordable housing in what has been called "an uneven recovery" for Tuscaloosa.[25]. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Coverage of the April 27, 2011 Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado. 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. He was hospitalized and is conscious and responsive, the department said. Alabama was hit the worst, with the first reported tornado hitting Marion and others hitting Tuscaloosa, Chilton County, and other locales. Six dead as destructive tornadoes cut across Alabama, Georgia. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the tornado was spawned by a supercell thunderstorm that lasted more than seven hours. The tornado crossed through the Pine Flat community, damaging more homes, and a manufactured home was rolled and destroyed. pic.twitter.com/CAk7Qq0afu. #alwx #tornado @spann pic.twitter.com/qTVTJ1kHBe, 3:10 p.m.: Long-track tornado in Alabama nears border with Georgia. Path of the F4 tornado that ravaged Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham, Alabama areas on April 27, 2011. Twenty-nine of them left storm tracks covering more than 690 miles. The tornado continued to Holt Lock and Dam Road near its intersection with Recreation Area Road. Rivers and Lakes Its just destruction in those areas, Brown said. It continued through a dense forest towards Birmingham, this time downing thousands of trees and flattening more rural homes. 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. The damage in the Fultondale area includedfoldedhighway light poles along the interstate, and roof damage to the Days Inn on U.S. Highway31. Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As the tornado approached Interstate 359, several buildings were destroyed including the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Operations Center. Here are the longest tornado tracks on record in Alabama. All-Hazards Awareness Booklet It crossed the highway and rolled a manufactured home along Autauga County Road 40. Davis ran inside and sheltered with his family until the storm passed. 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. A tornado warning is in effect until 2 p.m. for the general area. Multiple rounds of intense supercell thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and early evening, with the potential for long-track strong to violent tornadoes, the Storm Prediction Center wrote. Incredibly sad looking at this radar data and seeing the debris signature triple in size after passing over/near #Columbiana Alabama #tornadooutbreak pic.twitter.com/ge7gY5iLWE, 5:30 p.m.: Tornado emergency for areas about 40 miles south of Birmingham. Now, the full fury of the outbreak was showing its muscle throughout the state. The track was about 12 miles long, and the tornado caused more than 20 deaths. The warning is in effect until 6 p.m. as the radar-confirmed tornado potentially tracks just north of the twister earlier in the afternoon that passed near Pell City and Ohatchee. A four-sided brick home in the same areaonly lost a roof and no exterior walls, which is indicative of EF-2 damage. Along 15th St E. and McFarland Blvd E., several small restaurants and stores were destroyed, with only a wall or two still standing. 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. Tornado: Where: highest chances west of I65 When: Monday and Tuesday Wind: What: Winds up to 40 mph Where: highest chances west of I65 Tropical 4:01 p.m. - An EF-4 tornado killed 11 people along a 28-mile path in Jackson and DeKalb counties, leveling Flat Rock and Shiloh before crossing over into Georgia. 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). On one road after another, pieces of buildings, furniture, appliances and trees were strewn about and vehicles came to rest in awkward positions . A warning is in effect for the storm until 2:45 p.m. The tornado then moved toward Coven Abbett Road and then Elbert Road, damaging several homes and destroying several boat houses. Updated severe weather graphic with expands the higher threats areas farther southeast. About Radar On April 27, 2011, a devastating tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The tornado lifted just to the west of Alabama Highway 79, about 2 miles north of the city of Tarrant, though the storm was not done. Microbursts The start point is based on aerial survey, while the end location was determined by a ground crew. On December 16, 2000, a destructive tornado outbreak hit the Southeastern United States, from Mississippi to North Carolina.The most significant tornado of the outbreak occurred in communities south and east of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.The F4 tornado killed 11 people and injured more than 125 others; it was the strongest tornado to hit the state of Alabama in the month of December since 1950. 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. Contact Us To those who perished in the storm or lost their lives as a result of tornado-related injuries, Tuscaloosa will never forget you. Special Weather Statements 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. Tornado Safety Rules, Awareness Weeks Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather 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. Numerous other homes in the area were destroyed with only a few interior walls left standing. The supercell that produced the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham tornado may have had potentially record-breaking longevity as that particular storm traveled more than 280 miles across five states from Mississippi to North Carolina, with damage reported . 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