Tornado Database Other Research Additionally, wind rowing of debris was evident throughout the Pleasant Grove community which is characteristic of a storm of thismagnitude. The tornado then moved toward Coven Abbett Road and then Elbert Road, damaging several homes and destroying several boat houses. Near Union at 4:50p.m. CDT, footage of the wedge tornado was captured by meteorologist John Oldshue during a storm chase for Birmingham ABC affiliate WBMA-LD/WCFT-TV/WJSU-TV (channels 58, 33, and 40 "ABC 33/40"), which broadcast Oldshue's live video of the tornado as he was tracking it outside of town. Its a call to prepare. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. 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. Image of the Day Some additional EF0 to EF1 damage occurred before the tornado dissipated two miles north of Tarrant. 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. 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. 4:30 p.m.: New tornado warning south of Tuscaloosa and flash flood warnings through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Multiple trailer homes destroyed as well this church and a large commercial building. LARGE tornado debris signature continues on storm in Hale County, northeast of Greensboro. Ryan Phillips, Patch Staff. Air Quality Heres a look at tornado reports from Thursday from the National Weather Service. The tornado continues to loft massive amounts of debris into the air, which is being detected by radar. It combines visible and infrared data to reveal damage unseen in conventional photographs. The tornado continued to Holt Lock and Dam Road near its intersection with Recreation Area Road. Entire neighborhoods are leveled. A single tornado may account for multiple reports along its path. Detailed damage inspection has revealed a maximum of EF-4 damage east of Holt, near Concord, and the Pleasant Grove areas. It crossed the highway and rolled a manufactured home along Autauga County Road 40. The tornadic storms occurred amid an intensifying storm system unleashing all modes of severe weather from Mississippi to Kentucky to western South Carolina. Average tornado warning lead time is around 10 minutes at best, meaning its vital to have a plan in place before you need it. 4.1K. The weather service will have to analyze all the storm tracks to say for sure, but it appears that one storm held together -- possibly dropping tornadoes periodically along the way -- from Mississippi all the way across Alabama and into Georgia. In addition, several cinder block homes were completely destroyed with debris swept away (EF-4). At least three manufactured homes were obliterated, the weather service said, with their frames thrown up to 100 yards along County Road 43. 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. However, the longest tornado track on record in Alabama happened on May 27, 1973. BE A HERO: You can really help us today. 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. Know how to get there quickly.. However, the same parent storm is responsible for both areas of damage. This tornado initially touched down in rural northern Greene County and moved northeast through southern Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson Counties, where it caused devastating damage consistent with a violent EF4 rating to portions of the city of Tuscaloosa and western suburbs of Birmingham, before it lifted northeast of downtown Birmingham. 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. Several apartment complexes were entirely destroyed in this area, and a few two-story apartment buildings were completely reduced to rubble. It then went on to impact parts of Birmingham at high-end EF4 intensity before dissipating. 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. 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. 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). The Storm Prediction Center said it would like issue a new tornado watch for the northern two-third of Alabama into the nighttime hours. He also recommended having multiple ways to receive storm warnings and not to rely on tornado sirens, which often cannot be heard indoors. Therefore, it was given a final rating of high-end EF4, with winds estimated at 190mph (310km/h). 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. 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. 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. By the time that tornado lifted just north of downtown Birmingham, it had covered 80.3 miles, reached up to about 1.5 miles wide, killed 64 people, injured over 1500, and caused . [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. East of Holt, the tornado path width widened from 0.5 mile to around 1 mile. Special Weather Statements pic.twitter.com/6yArwiZEz4. Severe Weather Preparedness 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. The tornado crossed Highway 63 South and neared the Wind Creek State Park area. 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. @NWSBirmingham @spann #alwx pic.twitter.com/0QhnzMfgRZ. 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. Questions? He checked on his family and is still going forward to help inform viewers. The Autauga tornado was a dreaded long-track tornado, with a path that was 82 miles long. 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. Updated severe weather graphic with expands the higher threats areas farther southeast. Outreach Activities Tell your friends, neighbors, and relatives about the severe weather threat, and what they need to do to get ready. 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. An hour later, the city of Newnan tweeted: The city experienced heavy damage in and around the historic downtown area due to tonights weather.. April 27, 2011. Then, as the lower atmosphere is heated, the cap will break allowing storms to explosively develop. Winter Weather, About Us 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. 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. [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). Everyone in northeast Bibb County needs to be in a safe location NOW! The tornado is one of the 10 longest tornado tracks on record in Alabama, coming in at No. 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 large tornado that was on the ground about 30 to 40 miles south of both Tuscaloosa and Birmingham lifted and the warning for the storm discontinued around 6:15 p.m. And just like that -- it's gone! Clarence Davis, 73, was standing outside his house on Closhire Drive after debris was dumped in his yard. [8:05 PM]: An EF-1 tornado was confirmed by @NWSHuntsville meteorologists today across portions of Lawrence, Morgan, And Limestone counties. The storm left more than 25 dead before crossing into Georgia. 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 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 . The ABC 33/40 feed was periodically disrupted due to power outages caused by wind damage to electrical transformers. Tornadoes probably will not be readily visible because of heavy rain, fog and low overcast. At least five people were killed as destructive tornadoes slammed north central Alabama on March 25. 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. On the street corners and in the neighborhoods, thousands of citizens transformed into heroes by aiding the injured, searching for the missing, clearing debris, and volunteering from dawn to dusk. 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. Our Office, Education He's covering tornadoes in Alabama and his house just got hit. Severe Safety w/ ASL 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. The tornado's 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. 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). The emergency includes Montevallo, Wilton, and Calera, Ala. as the confirmed destructive tornado heads east at 50 mph. It touched down near Argo, and cleared at 72-mile path, rolling through Shoal Creek Valley in St. Clair County, packing winds of more than 180 mph and killing 22 people all the way to the Georgia line, obliterating homes along the way. Winding and meandering road networks make it impossible to escape a tornado if youre caught on the roadways, too. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The greatest risk exists across portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, where the moderate and high-risk categories are drawn. December 16, 2012 Tony Lyza. One home on a foundation was swept clean, with only floor joists remaining attached to the foundation. 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. 5:54 a.m. - An EF-2 tornado cut a swath of damages for almost eight miles in the Cahaba Heights area near U.S. 280 in Jefferson County, wrecking trees, homes and businesses, crossing Interstate 459 near Liberty Park. Tornado Track Across Indiana and Kentucky, NASA Goddard Space It had a track of 139.10 miles, according to weather service data. 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 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. #alwx pic.twitter.com/U6DpeZeXIq, 6:00 p.m.: Tornado emergency extended into Columbiana and Wilsonville, about 30 miles southeast of Birmingham. Land 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. They call this tornado alley, you know? Brown said. DO NOT stay in a mobile home when a watch is issued. Life The monster tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama, (see map) on April 27 was spawned by unusual "perfect storm . Tuscaloosa 2011 Tornado Path Google Earth - Then and now Posted on 1/14/23 at 6:41 pm 16 5 The yellow drawn off area in the second set was Alabama long snapper Carson Tinker's Home. On one road after another, pieces of buildings, furniture, appliances and trees were strewn about and vehicles came to rest in awkward positions . The tan-toned, debris-filled path passes through the center of town, affecting both commercial and residential properties. The storm injured more than 1,000 people as it tracked through three counties. The start point is based on aerial survey, while the end location was determined by a ground crew. He was hospitalized and is conscious and responsive, the department said. Land All rights reserved (About Us). The zone most threatened by dangerous storms includes Birmingham and Huntsville, Ala., and Tupelo, Miss. The tornado occurred between 8:09 AM to 8:45 AM this morning and had a path length of just over 30 miles! 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. No vehicles were tossed, only pushed slightly from their original position. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The tornado maintained its strength as it continued through the neighborhood of Alberta City, leveling and sweeping away numerous block-foundation homes, and completely flattening two more apartment buildings and a shopping center along University Boulevard. The National Weather Service rated this tornado at EF4, with winds around 175 miles per hour, said local news reports. To get the best experience possible, please download a compatible browser. --> https://t.co/rfXDGIvRHe (Source: Matt Williams) pic.twitter.com/LNlh3fucvz, 2:35 p.m.: Significant tornado damage southeast of Birmingham. Severe storms and flash flooding, somewhat less intense than those earlier in the day, continued Thursday night. NOAA Weather Radio Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Latest update on Tuscaloosa from Mayor Maddox. 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). It spawned a few tornadoes in Texas on Wednesday and is set to unleash vicious weather across the South. 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. On March 1932, 33 tornadoes ripped through the southeastern United States and killed 359 people in six states over the course of two days. 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