Ahead of a cold front associated with a strong upper level storm system, a squall line moved across Central Alabama on Monday, April 11. This line of thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage, knocked down numerous trees and power lines and damaged many homes and buildings.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS BMX wrote it up.
Ahead of a cold front associated with a strong upper level storm system, a squall line moved across Central Alabama on Monday, April 11. This line of thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage, knocked down numerous trees and power lines and damaged many homes and buildings. In addition, embedded areas of rotation along the line produced one tornado, an EF1 in Jefferson County.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Birmingham, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 11, 1:49 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 249 PM CDT MON APR 11 2011 .DISCUSSION... ENVIRONMENT WILL SLOWLY DESTABILIZE ACROSS THE AREA THRU THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTN AS THE CAPE THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE ALL DAY FINALLY ERODES. SQUALL LINE HAS HAD A HARD TIME PROGRESSING EWD THUS FAR BUT IS EXPECTED TO PICK UP FORWARD SPEED AS THE DAY PROGRESSES AND THE SFC RIDGE BREAKS DOWN. PREVIOUS TIMING FOR THE WRN HALF OF THE CWA HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS SLOWER TREND. HOWEVER TIMING IN THE EAST IS STILL REPRESENTATIVE. STRONG SWRLY WINDS AND DRY AIR ALOFT WILL KEEP THE DAMAGING WIND THREAT HIGH. SOME LARGE HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE BUT TO A SMALLER DEGREE THAN THE WINDS. ISOLATED TORNADOES AND FLOODING WILL PRESENT THE LOWEST THREAT WITH THIS SYSTEM. THE LINE SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH THRU THE AREA TO PREVENT ANY WIDESPREAD FLOODING CONCERNS...BUT TRAINING CELLS COULD LEAD TO SOME BRIEF LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES IS RATHER LOW...THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A BRIEF SPIN-UP WITHIN THE LINE...ESPECIALLY W OF I-65. MORE PLEASANT WEATHER IS IN STORE ON TUE AS A SLIGHTLY DRIER AND COOLER AIR MASS FILTERS INTO THE REGION. TEMPS WILL NOT DROP SIGNIFICANTLY BUT THEY SHOULD AT LEAST FALL BACK TO NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S NORTH TO MID 70S SOUTH. SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL STICK AROUND THRU WED AND THEN BEGIN TO PUSH OFF TO THE E AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM TAKES SHAPE TO OUR W. THE SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SECOND SYSTEM WILL TRACK EWD DRAGGING ANOTHER COLD FRONT THRU THE AREA LATE IN THE WEEK. MODEL DIFFERENCES ARE STILL TOO GREAT FOR DETERMINING ANY DETAILS...BUT IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE FRONT AND ASSOCIATED SHOWERS/STORMS WILL MOST LIKELY MOVE THRU LATE FRI. THIS SCENARIO WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR A FAIRLY NICE AND QUIET WEEKEND ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA. THIS IS UNLESS MODELS BEGIN TO SLOW THE SYSTEM DOWN...WHICH THEY TEND TO DO. 19 && .AVIATION... 18Z TAF DISCUSSION. PRESSURE GRADIENT AHEAD OF DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL ALLOW BREEZY CONDITIONS TO DEVELOP. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE AS MIXING DEEPENS THIS AFTERNOON. LOOK FOR SUSTAINED WINDS 14 TO 18KTS...WITH GUSTS UP TO 28KTS OR SO LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WIND SHIFT WITH COLD FRONT WEST/NORTHWEST STARTING AROUND 02Z AT BHM/TCL AND PROGRESSING EASTWARD TO NEAR TOI BY 06Z. WINDS AROUND 10KTS. THUNDERSTORMS/BROKEN SQUALL LINE WILL BE CONFINED TO AREAS ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT. MENTIONED VCTS IN THE 21-00Z FRAME. GAVE ALL TERMINALS PREVAILING THUNDER DUE TO CONFIDENCE IN FORCING AND DEVELOPMENT RANGING FROM 22-03Z. MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED AS THE LINE GETS DEVELOPED BUT PUT IN BEST POTENTIAL. POST FRONTAL STRATOCUMULUS WILL INVADE CENTRAL ALABAMA AFTER 3 TO 6Z. MAY SEE CLEARING 15Z BUT LEFT OUT OF THE TAFS FOR NOW. LOOK FOR THIS ADDITION IN LATER TERMINAL RELEASES. NOTICE...KEET TAF WILL HAVE (AMD LTD TO VIS WIND AND WX) AMENDED TO THE END OF THE FORECAST UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE CEILOMETER DATA WILL BE GOING THROUGH NUMEROUS TESTS AND MONITORED FOR ACCURACY. 16 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 54 67 40 74 47 / 80 10 0 0 0 ANNISTON 55 69 44 77 49 / 80 10 0 0 0 BIRMINGHAM 54 71 44 77 51 / 70 10 0 0 0 TUSCALOOSA 53 74 45 78 51 / 50 0 0 0 0 CALERA 54 71 45 76 49 / 80 0 0 0 0 AUBURN 57 71 47 76 51 / 80 0 0 0 0 MONTGOMERY 56 76 48 80 50 / 80 0 0 0 0 TROY 57 74 46 79 51 / 80 0 0 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. && 19/16
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 455 PM CDT MON APR 11 2011 ALZ011>015-017>050-130000- AUTAUGA-BARBOUR-BIBB-BLOUNT-BULLOCK-CALHOUN-CHAMBERS-CHEROKEE- CHILTON-CLAY-CLEBURNE-COOSA-DALLAS-ELMORE-ETOWAH-FAYETTE-GREENE-HALE- JEFFERSON-LAMAR-LEE-LOWNDES-MACON-MARENGO-MARION-MONTGOMERY-PERRY- PICKENS-PIKE-RANDOLPH-RUSSELL-SHELBY-ST CLAIR-SUMTER-TALLADEGA- TALLAPOOSA-TUSCALOOSA-WALKER-WINSTON- 455 PM CDT MON APR 11 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT. THE HAZARDOUS THREATS WITH THESE STORMS INCLUDE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE IMPACTS LAST INTO THE EARLY EVENING ACROSS THE NORTHWEST...AND LAST UNTIL AROUND 1 AM OR LATER ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. THESE STORMS WILL FORM ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE WEST TO EAST THROUGH TONIGHT. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 MPH ARE ANTICIPATED AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED OUTSIDE THE THUNDERSTORM AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE BEHIND A STRONG COLD FRONT ON SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WILL CONTINUE TO BE NECESSARY TONIGHT DUE TO THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. 08/MNK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
512 PM CDT MON APR 11 2011
ALZ011>015-112300-
FAYETTE AL-LAMAR AL-MARION AL-WALKER AL-WINSTON AL-
512 PM CDT MON APR 11 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN MARION...WINSTON...
LAMAR...NORTHWESTERN WALKER AND NORTHERN FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 600
PM CDT...
AT 507 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM HAMILTON TO CALEDONIA...AND
MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
VERNON...
WINFIELD...
HALEYVILLE...
LYNN...
CARBON HILL...
&&
LAT...LON 3371 8826 3416 8801 3431 8726 3430 8711
3422 8710 3380 8734 3361 8827
TIME...MOT...LOC 2212Z 256DEG 50KT 3410 8795 3370 8816
GOGGINSThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:11 UTC.
58 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A tree was blown down onto a vehicle on Military Street.
A tree was blow down on to a house along Millican Street.
A couple of trees were blown down around Haleyville.
In addition to numerous trees down across Fayette county, a metal roof was partially blown off a factory building in the city of Fayette.
In addition to several trees being snapped off, a home and small outbuilding sustained roof damage.
Numerous trees were blown down in Aliceville, some of which fell on homes. In addition, multiple businesses sustained roof damage.
Trees and power lines were blown down in the community of Batch on Highway 195.
Trees were blown down and metal roofing was partially peeled back from one building.
Several trees were blown down and at least one structure along Highway 257 received damage.
Numerous trees were blown down around the city of Coker.
Power lines were blown down across County Roads 41 and 275, south of Arley.
Trees were blown down along County Road 41 and State Route 28.
Numerous trees were blown down around Lake Nicol.
Trees were blown down on Morris Drive.
A tree was blown down along Interstate 65 near mile marker 288.
Numerous trees were blown down across the county, including around the city of Greensboro.
A tree was blown down on Roswell Creek Road.
A light post was blown down along Interstate 59 near mile marker 107.
A large tree was blown down and it blocked Highway 269.
Several trees were blown down in the neighborhood surrounding Avenue I in Bessemer. Minor roof and significant fencing damage was caused by fallen trees.
Several large hardwood trees were uprooted southeast of Roosevelt Park, along and near Clarendon Ave. At least one fallen tree took down power lines. Also, tin roofing on an outbuilding was peeled back.
Several trees were blown down along Bear Creek Road with minor roof damage to a home.
Wind gust of 96 knots, measured by equipment 70 ft high, caused damage to the tower. In addition, multiple trees were blown down.
Minor damage to homes and trees was noted along Shades Crest Road.
Trees and power lines were blown down across Hackberry Lane.
A tree was blown down on West Valley Ave.
To the south of a brief EF1 tornado path in Vestavia Hills, strong rear inflow notch winds up to 90 mph snapped or uprooted dozens of hardwood and softwood trees, some causing damage to homes as they fell. This damage began near Old Creek Trail, just west of Highway 31, crossed Highway 31 just north of Georgia Ave, and continued east across the southern portion of Vestavia Hills Country Club.
A quasi linear convective system produced an EF1 tornado, with winds estimated at 100 mph, in the city of Vestavia Hills. The path was 0.4 miles long and 100 yards wide. The brief tornado touched down near the Vestavia Hills Police Department along Highway 31, traveled northeast crossing Bird Park and lifted just to the north of the Vestavia Hills Country Club, near Glenwood Road. Numerous hardwood trees were uprooted and thirty pine trees in Bird Park were snapped. An automobile sustained damage when its windows were blown out. Several buildings, homes and fencing were damaged; most due to fallen trees. One home sustained significant damage as the drywall fasteners on the ceiling were loosened by the force of the winds.
Numerous trees were blown down in and around Centreville.
A tree was blown down onto a house along Meadowlawn Drive, near Dolly Ridge Road.
A large tree was blown down and it blocked Chandafern Drive.
A tree fell on a Brierfield fire truck along Highway 25. One fireman sustained minor injuries. Extent of damage to the fire truck is unknown.
Numerous trees were blown down across Etowah County, including the Mountainboro community.
Strong winds damaged a store front along Main Street. In addition, a tree was blown down onto a house on Nabors Drive. The extent of damage to the store front and home are unknown.
A tree was blown down onto a vehicle along Brook Highland Lane.
A tree was blown down across County Road 73, northwest of Jemison.
A tree was blown down onto a house. Extent of damage to the home is unknown.
A large tree was blown down.
Trees and power lines were blown down along County Road 336 and Sunset Lake Drive near Chelsea.
A tree was blown down across Walnut Street, near 11th Street South.
Multiple trees were blown down in and around Sand Rock, one of which fell onto a vehicle. In addition, shingles were blown off a barn on County Line Street.
Several trees were blown down in the Tuckers Chapel Community.
A large tree was blown down and blocked the road in Summerfield.
A tree was blown down and resulted in a vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 273 and County Road 48.
Trees were blown down at Highway 273 and County Road 82. The fallen trees trapped a vehicle on the roadway. No injuries were reported.
Trees were blown down along Shelton Shores Road.
A tree was blown down across Highway 68.
A tree was blown down across Airport Road.
Trees were blown down along Old Montgomery Road, south southeast of Selma.
Several trees and power lines were blown down near Eastaboga, and a roof was blown off a barn.
Trees were blown down along Garrison Lane and Oak Grove Lane, southwest of Munford.
Trees were blown down along County Road 21 near Swift Creek.
A tree was blown down and it blocked Highway 9.
Several trees and power lines were blown down. Some of the fallen trees damaged a vehicle.
A large tree was blown down along Upper Kingston Road.
Several trees were blown down in the Coosada community.
In addition to approximately half a dozen trees down across the county, a roof was blown off an outbuilding at the intersection of County Road 10 and County Road 96.
Trees were knocked down just to the northwest of Dadeville.
Trees were blown down.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Alabama in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Alabama, 2011Warnings in Alabama, April 2011
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: 299654, 299655, 299670, 299664, 299665, 299671, 299972, 299674, 299682, 300137, 300042, 300129, 300149, 300162, 300185, 300189, 300197, 301433, 301395, 301393, 305687, 301412, 301452, 305732, 305700, 305733, 305675, 305660, 305734, 305736, 305743, 305749, 305751, 305763, 305767, 305806, 305836, 305775, 305785, 305827, and more.