Share. The tornado developed in the southwestern part of the county on the west side of the . 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. @NWSBirmingham @spann #alwx pic.twitter.com/0QhnzMfgRZ. Tornado warnings are in effect about 30 miles south of Tuscaloosa, Ala. until 5 p.m. and 15 miles east of Rome until 4:45 p.m. (5:45 p.m. local time). The greatest risk exists across portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, where the moderate and high-risk categories are drawn. 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. About Radar Damage at the beginning of the path ranged from EF1 to EF2. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. pic.twitter.com/CAk7Qq0afu. BE A HERO: You can really help us today. April 27, 2011 Tornado outbreak remembered. 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. The storm left more than 25 dead before crossing into Georgia. Severe Safety Rules The tornado continued northeastward out of the Concord area and into the Pleasant Grove community. 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. 6 on the list. The tornado weakened more as it neared Highway 77 and dissipated shortly after crossing County Road 114. 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. Therefore, it was given a final rating of high-end EF4, with winds estimated at 190mph (310km/h). The tornado entered the southern portion of Tuscaloosa as a low-end EF4 and crossed 35th Street, completely destroying a cell phone tower and several warehouses in an industrial area. At least five manufactured homes were blown away with their frames thrown considerable distances, the weather service said. WATCH: Drone footage shows Alabama tornado devastation in Selma. It continued through a dense forest towards Birmingham, this time downing thousands of trees and flattening more rural homes. The collected donations included toiletries, nonperishable food, bottled water, diapers, clean-up supplies and much more. 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. In fact, there were three just last year. [10] The nearby Cedar Crest subdivision was devastated as numerous block-foundation homes were leveled. Everyone in northeast Bibb County needs to be in a safe location NOW! (NASA) Recent images of the April 27 storm damage path have been captured by NASA's Terra satellite, part of NASA's Earth Observing Satellite system, or EOS. Satellite view of the long-track, tornadic supercell marching across Central Alabama. Tornado Warnings Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data [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]. #alwx pic.twitter.com/Kfgmey9oKW, 12:30 p.m.: "[C]onfirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado south of Tuscaloosa. Tornado Alley in the Plains is an outdated concept. [10][13][14][15] The tornado exited the Tuscaloosa area and weakened to low-end EF3 status while contracting back to .5 miles (0.80km) wide. One of the survivors, Kelly Dobbs, made it through the collapse of a Hackleburg pharmacy where she worked that day, summing up the fine line between devastation and survival. A line of thunderstorms, stretching from near Meridian, Miss. He checked on his family and is still going forward to help inform viewers. One home on a foundation was swept clean, with only floor joists remaining attached to the foundation. Forecast Discussion javascript is enabled. Every tree was snapped in this area, including those within deep ravines. Office History If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The tornado initially touched down in Marion County, Alabama about 5 miles (8.0 km) west-southwest of Hamilton around 3:05 pm CDT and tracked to the northeast, causing significant tree and roof damage. Previsin de 7 Das Video from Ohatchee, AL where multiple fatalities have occurred. The tornado hit several homes along Sandy Ridge Road, where some of the deaths occurred. The tornados damage path appeared to be about a half mile wide as it passed south of the two communities, a vast expanse of downed trees and wires visible. The storm cut an 80-mile path of destruction through the heart of. But weather forecasters were already warning of worse to come that afternoon. - A large supercell beginning in Mississippi dropped an EF-4 tornado packing winds of up to 190 m.p.h. 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. --> https://t.co/rfXDGIvRHe (Source: Matt Williams) pic.twitter.com/LNlh3fucvz, 2:35 p.m.: Significant tornado damage southeast of Birmingham. The National Weather Service has spent the past few days tracing the path of Alabamas deadliest tornado since 2019. Tornado Safety Rules, Awareness Weeks Light poles were damaged along Interstate 65, and a Days Inn and several other commercial buildings sustained major damage along US 31 before the tornado began to rapidly narrow and weaken. Linhares added that using that definition, 95 of 2,505 tornadoes, or 3.8 percent, qualify as long-track tornadoes. Late Thursday evening, a third long-track tornadic storm developed near Wadley, Ala., about 60 miles northwest of Montgomery, and raced east-northeast into north Georgia, south of Atlanta. Please Contact Us. 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. The tornado weakened slightly as it moved across County Road 57 but still damaged several homes. Severe Storms. 1:40 p.m.: Tornado emergency southeast of Birmingham for destructive twister with history of producing damage, The Weather Service in Birmingham declared a tornado emergency for Shelby County, which is just to the south and southeast of the city, for a confirmed large and destructive tornado, heading northeast at 45 mph. Current Hazards Hazardous Weather Outlook, Current Conditions 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. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Radar confirmed tornado, with a history of producing damage, is moving down the SR-119 corridor, toward Meadow Brook, Inverness. Updated severe weather graphic with expands the higher threats areas farther southeast. Numerous mobile homes and several cinder block homes were destroyed in this area, which resulted in several fatalities. I dont know what the crap came through here, but it was evil, said Daniel Berry as he stood by the pile of debris that was once his home on Marshall Road. According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, the Autauga tornado was on the ground for an hour and 20 minutes. 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. It then went on to impact parts of Birmingham at high-end EF4 intensity before dissipating. Cinder block construction homes in the surrounding neighborhood were completely destroyed, and in a few cases debris was swept away from the site. 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. Path of the F4 tornado that ravaged Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham, Alabama areas on April 27, 2011. A long-track, destructive tornado continues plowing east, south of Birmingham, where a tornado emergency, the most severe alert for twisters, is in effect until 6:30 p.m. A confirmed tornado, about 30 miles southwest of Birmingham, was sweeping to the northeast at 40 mph and headed in the direction of Birminghams southern suburbs. 5:17 a.m. - Tornadoes touched down from the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa to Lake Guntersville. The tornado then crossed the northern section of Lake Martin, damaging additional lakefront homes. pic.twitter.com/6yArwiZEz4. Rivers and Lakes Radar showed rotation associated with a confirmed large tornado about 20 miles east of Birmingham. This storm will track right along AL Highway 25 into Bibb County. 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. Initially over West and Southwest Alabama Monday, and statewide Monday night and Tuesday." The National Weather Service in Birmingham issues the following guidelines for our coverage area. Some additional EF0 to EF1 damage occurred before the tornado dissipated two miles north of Tarrant. The Bethel Baptist Church also sustained significant damage to its roof, though the main structure of the building was still intact. Eleven were killed and 144 injured. A marina on Holt Lake was significantly impacted, with numerous boats and a restaurant destroyed; some boats were tossed over 330 feet (100m) in this area. 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. 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. To the east of US-31, the damage quickly diminished from EF-2 intensity to EF-1 and EF-0. If a tornado warning is issued, that means a rotating storm has been detected or a tornado spotted on the ground, and that action should be taken immediately. Obama was quoted as saying that he had "never seen devastation like this." Also, to Gene Bussell and his crew with the AlabamaNational Guard for their cooperation with aerial surveys along this track. Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather Severe Safety w/ ASL Thursday morning and afternoon, a warm front was lifting north through Mississippi and Alabama, ushering in an unstable and dangerous air mass. It was right in my face, he said. A tornado killed at least five people in Calhoun County, Ala., located between Birmingham and the Georgia border. 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. The tornado crossed CR 99 and moved into western Jefferson County, 4 miles north of Abernant. The first was an EF-2 tornado that carved a 35.17-mile path through parts of Choctaw and Marengo counties. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Tornado Database Its the first time in three decades that two top-tier high-risk notices have been issued in the month of March, the category marking the highest tier on a five-step scale. NOAA Weather Radio The damage sustained in this area is consistent with EF-2 wind damage. It was a devastating F4 that pushed 18 miles through Tuscaloosa County. The storm travelled approximately 132 miles through six counties, killing 72 people and inflicting $1.2 billion in damage. On May 2, 2011, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASAs Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this natural-color image of the tornado track through Tuscaloosa. 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. Additional twister potential sets up into eastern Mississippi. #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/wyBjSkmRCp. The tornado killed 64 people, including six University of Alabama students. Probably the closest video to the storm your going to see.. Local first responders drill for these emergencies, but no amount of preparation can steel you for the real thing, he added. There have been reports of downed trees and damaged homes and businesses in Calhoun County and across the state, with some houses reduced to rubble. Local Climatology A well-anchored clubhouse on the property was mostly swept away and its remains were scattered into a pond, even though the structure had lacked interior walls. 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. He was thrown 100 yards into the field next to his home. 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. Winding and meandering road networks make it impossible to escape a tornado if youre caught on the roadways, too. The large tornado that passed south of Tuscaloosa is now roaring east into the zone about 40 miles south of Birmingham where a tornado emergency is in effect until 6 p.m. Not surprisingly, several of them happened during the superoutbreak of April 27, 2011. 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. Several suburbs in the area sustained catastrophic damage from the tornado as it tore through the west side of Birmingham, resulting in twenty fatalities. The storm was racing off to the northeast at 45 mph, in the general direction of Birminghams southern suburbs, which it may approach in about 45 minutes. 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 . #alwx #tornado @spann pic.twitter.com/qTVTJ1kHBe, 3:10 p.m.: Long-track tornado in Alabama nears border with Georgia. At least two homes were shifted from their foundation. It was here in Pleasant Grove where evidence of vehicles being moved by the winds become obvious, though most were only tossed 10 to 15 yards if they were picked up at all. The weather service noted that the damage here, rated high-end EF-2, could be partly due to the interaction of the tornado with the lake surface, as well as the exposed nature of these homes.. 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. Land Know how to get there quickly.. It is surrounded by a larger zone, which includes Memphis, Nashville, and Jackson, Miss.., where the threat is rated at level 4 out of 5, and there is also a serious risk for severe weather. Here is how the storms developed that day. Along 15th St E. and McFarland Blvd E., several small restaurants and stores were destroyed, with only a wall or two still standing. 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. [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). By the time the tornado reachedInterstate 65, it was evident that the storm was losing its energy. Alabama was hit the worst, with the first reported tornado hitting Marion and others hitting Tuscaloosa, Chilton County, and other locales. A pickup truck was thrown 120 yards to the northeast, and a shallow crater was formed where it landed. 1:05 p.m.: Tornado warning for south side of Birmingham. It was taken from the University Mall parking lot. The Old Kingston-Lake Martin tornado was one of 14 tornadoes that hit Alabama on Jan. 12. At 5:15, The tornado Entered Alabama, the tornado turned slightly to the north hitting double springs, the tornado ground scoured up to 6 feet, suggesting the windspeed to be 297 mph, Bare slabs were left with slightly cracked roads and slabs. 4:30 p.m.: New tornado warning south of Tuscaloosa and flash flood warnings through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. 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. 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