Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, April 5, 1985

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, April 5, 1985
Start: 1985-04-05T11:35
End: 1985-04-05T21:30
Location: Alabama

April 5, 1985 · NWS AT · 78 events in 42 counties and zones

68 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 2 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 2
Injuries: 25
Property damage: $6.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 78

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

68 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lauderdale

When: April 5, 11:35 AM CST
Where: Lauderdale County
Coordinates: 34.900, -87.780

Thunderstorm Wind, Lauderdale

When: April 5, 11:35 AM CST
Where: Lauderdale County
Coordinates: 34.150, -85.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Colbert

When: April 5, 2:40 PM CST
Where: Colbert County
Coordinates: 34.880, -88.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Lauderdale

When: April 5, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Lauderdale County
Coordinates: 34.800, -87.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: April 5, 2:50 PM CST
Where: Franklin County
Coordinates: 34.520, -87.730

Thunderstorm Wind, Colbert

When: April 5, 2:59 PM CST
Where: Colbert County
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates: 34.750, -87.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: April 5, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County
Coordinates: 34.670, -87.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Marion

When: April 5, 3:15 PM CST
Where: Marion County
Coordinates: 34.120, -87.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Limestone

When: April 5, 3:27 PM CST
Where: Limestone County
Coordinates: 34.820, -86.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Limestone

When: April 5, 3:35 PM CST
Where: Limestone County
Coordinates: 34.930, -87.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: April 5, 3:41 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County
Coordinates: 34.480, -87.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 5, 3:48 PM CST
Where: Madison County
Coordinates: 34.730, -86.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickens

When: April 5, 3:49 PM CST
Where: Pickens County
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 33.130, -88.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 5, 3:54 PM CST
Where: Madison County
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 34.530, -86.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Morgan

When: April 5, 3:55 PM CST
Where: Morgan County
Coordinates: 34.430, -86.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 5, 4:04 PM CST
Where: Madison County
Coordinates: 34.730, -86.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Pickens

When: April 5, 4:05 PM CST
Where: Pickens County
Coordinates: 33.320, -87.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: April 5, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Greene County
Coordinates: 32.830, -87.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: April 5, 4:13 PM CST
Where: Madison County
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 34.530, -86.600

Hail, Tuscaloosa

When: April 5, 4:16 PM CST
Where: Tuscaloosa County
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 33.280, -87.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Tuscaloosa

When: April 5, 4:20 PM CST
Where: Tuscaloosa County
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 33.200, -87.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Cullman

When: April 5, 4:28 PM CST
Where: Cullman County
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 34.130, -86.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: April 5, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Hale County
Coordinates: 33.000, -87.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Walker

When: April 5, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Walker County
Coordinates: 33.830, -87.280

Tornado, Cullman

When: April 5, 4:34 PM CST
Where: Cullman County
Rating: F3
Path length: 3 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 34.270, -86.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: April 5, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Marshall County
Coordinates: 34.320, -86.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: April 5, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Jackson County
Coordinates: 34.620, -85.930

Tornado, Marshall

When: April 5, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Marshall County
Rating: F3
Path length: 8 mi
Path width: 277 yd
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.5 million
Coordinates: 34.200, -86.320

Thunderstorm Wind, Marengo

When: April 5, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Marengo County
Coordinates: 32.520, -87.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: April 5, 4:50 PM CST
Where: Jackson County
Coordinates: 34.800, -86.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Bibb

When: April 5, 4:58 PM CST
Where: Bibb County
Coordinates: 33.120, -87.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: April 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County
Coordinates: 34.670, -86.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Blount

When: April 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Blount County
Coordinates: 34.100, -86.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Hale

When: April 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hale County
Coordinates: 32.800, -87.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Blount

When: April 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Blount County
Coordinates: 33.950, -86.470

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: April 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County
Coordinates: 33.580, -86.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: April 5, 5:01 PM CST
Where: Shelby County
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 33.100, -86.870

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: April 5, 5:05 PM CST
Where: Jackson County
Coordinates: 34.930, -85.670

Tornado, Etowah

When: April 5, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Etowah County
Rating: F3
Path length: 8 mi
Path width: 500 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $2.5 million
Coordinates: 34.130, -86.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: April 5, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Marshall County
Coordinates: 34.200, -86.170

Thunderstorm Wind, Dekalb

When: April 5, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County
Coordinates: 34.470, -85.780

Tornado, Blount

When: April 5, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Blount County
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 33.870, -86.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Blount

When: April 5, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Blount County
Coordinates: 33.870, -86.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: April 5, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Shelby County
Coordinates: 33.280, -86.820

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: April 5, 5:15 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County
Coordinates: 33.580, -86.280

Tornado, St. Clair

When: April 5, 5:20 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County
Rating: F1
Path length: 1.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 33.480, -86.300

Tornado, Talladega

When: April 5, 5:22 PM CST
Where: Talladega County
Rating: F1
Path length: 1.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 33.470, -86.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: April 5, 5:25 PM CST
Where: Dallas County
Coordinates: 32.670, -86.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Dekalb

When: April 5, 5:30 PM CST
Where: Dekalb County
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 34.270, -85.870

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Clair

When: April 5, 5:30 PM CST
Where: St. Clair County
Coordinates: 33.830, -86.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Chilton

When: April 5, 5:30 PM CST
Where: Chilton County
Coordinates: 32.950, -86.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Etowah

When: April 5, 5:33 PM CST
Where: Etowah County
Measured: 72 kt (83 mph)
Coordinates: 34.020, -86.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Wilcox

When: April 5, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Wilcox County
Coordinates: 31.980, -87.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: April 5, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Clay County
Coordinates: 33.120, -86.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: April 5, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Dallas County
Coordinates: 32.400, -87.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: April 5, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Clay County
Coordinates: 33.320, -85.750

Tornado, Talladega

When: April 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Talladega County
Rating: F2
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 33.570, -85.880

Hail, Henry

When: April 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Henry County
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 31.570, -85.100

Thunderstorm Wind, Talladega

When: April 5, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Talladega County
Coordinates: 33.530, -85.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: April 5, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County
Coordinates: 33.780, -86.000

Tornado, Calhoun

When: April 5, 5:52 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County
Rating: F2
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 33.580, -85.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Chilton

When: April 5, 5:55 PM CST
Where: Chilton County
Coordinates: 32.830, -86.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Cherokee

When: April 5, 5:56 PM CST
Where: Cherokee County
Coordinates: 34.070, -85.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Calhoun

When: April 5, 5:57 PM CST
Where: Calhoun County
Measured: 74 kt (85 mph)
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 33.650, -85.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Autauga

When: April 5, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Autauga County
Coordinates: 32.470, -86.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Cleburne

When: April 5, 6:05 PM CST
Where: Cleburne County
Coordinates: 33.650, -85.580

Thunderstorm Wind, Coosa

When: April 5, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Coosa County
Coordinates: 32.930, -86.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Autauga

When: April 5, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Autauga County
Coordinates: 32.670, -86.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: April 5, 6:21 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 32.300, -86.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Autauga

When: April 5, 6:25 PM CST
Where: Autauga County
Coordinates: 32.470, -86.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Randolph

When: April 5, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Randolph County
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 33.150, -85.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: April 5, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County
Coordinates: 32.380, -86.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Macon

When: April 5, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Macon County
Coordinates: 32.430, -85.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Lee

When: April 5, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Lee County
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates: 32.620, -85.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Russell

When: April 5, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Russell County
Coordinates: 32.280, -85.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Barbour

When: April 5, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Barbour County
Coordinates: 31.880, -85.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Baldwin

When: April 5, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Baldwin County
Coordinates: 30.620, -87.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: April 5, 9:30 PM CST
Where: Houston County
Coordinates: 31.230, -85.370

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Alabama in 1985 Every state in 1985 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Alabama, 1985

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 9976856, 9976857, 9976858, 9976859, 9976860, 9976861, 9976862, 9976863, 9976864, 9976865, 9976866, 9976867, 9976868, 9976869, 9976870, 9976871, 9976872, 9976873, 9976874, 9976875, 9976876, 9976877, 9976878, 9976879, 9976880, 9976881, 9976882, 9976883, 9976884, 9976885, 9976886, 9976887, 9976888, 9976889, 9976890, 9976891, 9976892, 9976893, 9976894, 9976895, and more.