A potent storm system, which wreaked havoc across the eastern half of the United States on April 14-16, produced a significant and historic tornado outbreak across Central Alabama on April 15. Forty tornadoes, 30 of which touched down in Central Alabama, occurred in the state.
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.
A potent storm system, which wreaked havoc across the eastern half of the United States on April 14-16, produced a significant and historic tornado outbreak across Central Alabama on April 15. Forty tornadoes, 30 of which touched down in Central Alabama, occurred in the state. At the time, this set a new record for number of tornadoes within the state from one event. This record was broken on April 27, 2011.
A surface low developed across the Central Plains on Thursday, April 14, and strengthened as it moved into the mid-Mississippi River Valley. In response, surface dew points in the middle to upper 60s surged northward into Central Alabama and deep vertical wind shear increased, providing support for tornadic supercell development. A weakening line of thunderstorms moved into northwest Central Alabama early Friday morning. The southern end of this line intensified by mid day as it encountered a more unstable airmass. South of the line, supercells formed in Mississippi and tracked eastward into west Central Alabama. The entire system pushed east across the area over the course of about twelve hours, exiting east Central Alabama in the early morning hours on Saturday, April 16. In addition to the thirty tornadoes, the storm system produced widespread straight line wind damage and numerous large hail reports.
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 15, 3:56 AM CST, 6 hours 34 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 456 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 .SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK POSSIBLE TODAY... .DISCUSSION... FOR THE LAST WEEK ALL EYES HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON TODAY. THEREFORE WILL SPEND MOST OF MY TIME DISCUSSING THE SHORT-TERM. THINGS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO UNFOLD AS A WARM FRONT CONTINUES TO LIFT NE ACROSS THE WRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA SPARKING SHOWER/TSTORM DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE BOUNDARY. SFC DEW POINTS HAVE ALREADY RISEN INTO THE LOW 60S IN THE FAR SW AROUND DEMOPOLIS. EXPECT LOW TO MID 60S DEW POINTS TO SURGE NWD ACROSS THE MAJORITY OF THE CWA THRU THE DAY AS THE WARM FRONT PUSHES FARTHER N AND THE WARM SECTOR INCREASES IN SIZE. OCCLUDED UPPER LOW CURRENTLY IN CENTRAL KS WILL SHIFT EWD INTO THE OHIO VALLEY BY TMRW MRNG. ASSOCIATED SFC COLD FRONT WILL PUSH EWD ACROSS THE GULF COAST STATES TODAY AND TONIGHT. ALL MODES OF SVR WX WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SYSTEM AS IT TRAVERSES THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTN/EVNG. SPC HAS INCREASED THE SIZE OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA TO INCLUDE ALMOST ALL OF CENTRAL AL. THEREFORE A SVR WX OUTBREAK IS STILL POSSIBLE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. NOT MUCH HAS REALLY CHANGED IN REGARDS TO SVR THREATS...TIMING AND CONVECTIVE MODES. STILL ANTICIPATE DISCRETE CELLS TO DEVELOP ACROSS PARTS OF LA/MS BY LATE MRNG WHERE BEST INSTABILITIES WILL BE LOCATED AND THEN TRACK EWD INTO W AL...HOWEVER CANNOT RULE OUT CONVECTIVE INITIATION IN W AL AS WELL. THESE SUPERCELLS WILL PRESENT THE GREATEST RISK FOR TORNADOES AS 0-6KM BULK SHEAR VALUES ARE >50 KTS AND SOUNDINGS INDICATE VERY LARGE CURVED HODOGRAPHS. SCATTERED TSTORM DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA DURING THE AFTN HRS AS THE ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES WITHIN THE WARM SECTOR. A SQUALL LINE WILL THEN PUSH EWD ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE EVNG HRS AND WILL LIKELY NOT EXIT THE SE COUNTIES UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT...MAYBE AS LATE AS 09Z. AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED MANY TIMES BEFORE...THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT PRESENT JUST A SINGLE ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER LIKE THE LAST EVENT WE DEALT WITH ON MONDAY. RATHER WE WILL LIKELY BE FACED WITH MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING DISCRETE SUPERCELLS FIRST AND THEN A SQUALL LINE. ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO NOTE...WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN HIT HARD...IS THAT ALL MODES OF SVR WX WILL BE POSSIBLE. LARGE HAIL...TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...AND TO A LESSER DEGREE FLOODING WILL ALL PRESENT A THREAT. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIOS ARE TURNED ON AND WORKING PROPERLY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO RECEIVE WATCHES/WARNINGS THAT WILL BE ISSUED LATER TODAY. EXTENSIVE ONGOING SQUALL LINE CROSSING THE MS RIVER SHOULD TEND TO BREAK UP THRU THE MRNG HRS AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE COLD POOL BEHIND IT. WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE MESOSCALE CLOSELY FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM THRU THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY AS THE COLD POOL COULD PERHAPS ADD ANOTHER BOUNDARY FOR STORMS TO FIRE ALONG. DID NOT SPEND MUCH TIME TWEAKING LONG-TERM GRIDS AS THE MAIN FOCUS WAS ON TODAY. ONCE THE COLD FRONT EXITS SAT MRNG SFC HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA AND THINGS WILL COOL OFF SLIGHTLY. TEMPS WILL BE BACK TO NEAR NORMAL ON SAT AND THEN SLOWLY MODERATE THRU MID WEEK. RAIN CHANCES WILL CREEP BACK INTO THE FORECAST BY MON AS SRLY SFC FLOW PICKS BACK UP AND INCREASES MOISTURE/INSTABILITY LEVELS. TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK... A FRONTAL BOUNDARY SLIDES SWD AND HANGS UP NORTH OF THE AREA. MODEL DIFFERENCES ARE TOO GREAT AND CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO JUSTIFY GOING ANY HIGHER THAN CHANCE POPS IN THE EXTENDED. 19 && .AVIATION... 06Z TAF DISCUSSION. MID LEVEL CLOUDS ARE SPREADING RAPIDLY NORTHWARD ACROSS WEST ALABAMA AS MOISTURE AND LIFT INCREASE NORTH OF LOW LEVEL WARM FRONT. THE MODELS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY SHOWING CONVECTION DEVELOPING ACROSS WEST ALABAMA BETWEEN 09Z AND 12Z AS ELEVATED WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD. A MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE UPPER LEVEL THERMAL AND MOISTURE FIELDS INDICATE THERE IS ENOUGH INSTABILITY ALOFT FOR SOME ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS WEST OF I-65...AND ADDED VCTS TO TAF SITES KTCL...KBHM...AND KEET. THE FORECAST GETS MESSY AFTER 12Z AS WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF AREA AND LEAVES AREA IN MOIST AND CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS. A SHORT WAVE TROF WILL PASS THRU AREA DURING THE DAY FRIDAY SHOULD RESULT IN SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS. THE MAIN ACTION WILL OCCUR LATE IN THE PERIOD AS SURFACE FRONT AND BEST FORCING APPROACH WEST ALABAMA. CONVECTIVE LINE SEGMENTS WILL DEVELOP IN ZONE OF VERY STRONG SHEAR WITH ROTATING STORMS. TORNADO THREAT WILL INCREASE IN THE 22Z THRU 06Z TIME FRAME...MAINLY FOR NORTHERN TAF SITES. IN ADDITION TO THREAT FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS... NON-CONVECTIVE WIND SHEAR WILL BE PRESENT THRU 13Z DUE TO LIGHT WINDS AT THE SURFACE INCREASING TO 30 KNOTS AT 2000 FEET AGL. THE SPEED SHEAR SHOULD DECREASE AFTER 13Z AS STRONGER WINDS MIX DOWNWARD. 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. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... GADSDEN 75 53 68 39 73 / 80 100 10 0 0 ANNISTON 77 55 71 41 74 / 70 100 10 0 0 BIRMINGHAM 77 53 68 44 74 / 90 100 10 0 0 TUSCALOOSA 78 52 70 43 77 / 100 70 10 0 0 CALERA 77 54 70 46 75 / 80 100 10 0 0 AUBURN 77 58 72 46 75 / 50 90 20 0 0 MONTGOMERY 81 57 76 46 77 / 60 80 10 0 0 TROY 80 58 74 47 79 / 50 70 20 0 0 && .BMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 600 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 ALZ011>015-017>050-161130- 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- 600 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COUNTIES SERVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN BIRMINGHAM. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...INCLUDING THE THREAT OF STRONG TORNADOES...ARE EXPECTED ACROSS CENTRAL ALABAMA BETWEEN 10 AM TODAY AND 3 AM TONIGHT. ALL MODES OF SEVERE WEATHER ARE POSSIBLE...TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. BASED ON THE LATEST DATA...IT APPEARS THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THREAT MAY COVER A RATHER LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME AND EXTEND TO ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. BEGINNING IN THE WEST AS EARLY AS 10 AM TODAY AND LASTING UNTIL 2 OR 3 AM TONIGHT IN THE SOUTHEAST. ATMOSPHERIC PARAMETERS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS THAT MAY SPAWN STRONG AND LONG TRACKED TORNADOES. ALTHOUGH THE GREATEST THREAT TIMING APPEARS TO BE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING...DO NOT FOCUS ON ANY PARTICULAR HOUR...BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVITY AT ANY TIME. REVIEW YOUR PREPAREDNESS ACTION PLANS AND BE READY TO TAKE ACTION WHEN WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. STAY TUNED TO FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTBREAK. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TODAY AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT. SOUTHERLY WINDS BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 MPH POSSIBLE. THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO WESTERLY BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND A COLD FRONT ON SATURDAY. WESTERLY WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH ARE ANTICIPATED. A FEW WIND GUSTS MAY BE 25 MPH OR HIGHER. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS...EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL...AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS IS EXPECTED TODAY. 75
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
855 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
ALZ012-151445-
LAMAR AL-
855 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR LAMAR COUNTY UNTIL 945 AM CDT...
AT 854 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM TREMONT TO 25 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF COLUMBUS AFB...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
SULLIGENT...
MILLPORT...
VERNON...
DETROIT...
BEDFORD...
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 3405 8821 3406 8820 3406 8799 3403 8798
3402 8795 3353 8794 3354 8828
TIME...MOT...LOC 1354Z 249DEG 45KT 3420 8818 3349 8884
56SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
953 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
ALZ011-013-151530-
FAYETTE AL-MARION AL-
953 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARION AND FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL
1030 AM CDT...
AT 948 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BRINN TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF VERNON...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
WINFIELD...
FAYETTE...
GU-WIN...
LAKE BUTTAHATCHEE...
BRILLIANT...
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 3431 8764 3387 8764 3387 8753 3369 8753
3368 8742 3360 8743 3362 8763 3359 8763
3358 8767 3353 8768 3353 8794 3402 8795
3403 8798 3406 8799 3406 8820 3432 8816
TIME...MOT...LOC 1451Z 267DEG 30KT 3411 8779 3368 8815
56SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1037 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
ALZ012-013-022-151615-
FAYETTE AL-LAMAR AL-PICKENS AL-
1037 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN LAMAR...SOUTHWESTERN
FAYETTE AND NORTHERN PICKENS COUNTIES UNTIL 1115 AM CDT...
AT 1036 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR NEW HOPE MISSISSIPPI...OR 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
MILLPORT...
REFORM...
GORDO...
ETHELSVILLE...
KENNEDY...
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
&&
LAT...LON 3367 8826 3369 8775 3353 8777 3353 8784
3330 8784 3325 8831
TIME...MOT...LOC 1537Z 261DEG 54KT 3341 8827
56SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1051 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
ALZ024-026-151630-
JEFFERSON AL-ST. CLAIR AL-
1051 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN ST. CLAIR AND EASTERN
JEFFERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM CDT...
AT 1050 AM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A STRONG
THUNDERSTORM NEAR HOMEWOOD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
BIRMINGHAM...
MOUNTAIN BROOK...
IRONDALE...
LEEDS...
PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
&&
LAT...LON 3398 8629 3386 8614 3347 8663 3347 8668
3345 8668 3343 8675 3337 8680 3335 8684
3345 8697 3376 8664 3376 8659 3379 8658
3382 8643 3388 8635 3391 8635
TIME...MOT...LOC 1551Z 224DEG 45KT 3346 8680
08PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1107 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1100 AM HAIL 2 SSE BIRMINGHAM 33.50N 86.79W
04/15/2011 E0.88 INCH JEFFERSON AL BROADCAST MEDIA
DIME SIZED HAIL IN RED MOUNTIAN.
&&
JTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1115 AM CDT FRI APR 15 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1102 AM HAIL BIRMINGHAM 33.53N 86.80W
04/15/2011 E1.00 INCH JEFFERSON AL AMATEUR RADIO
QUARTER SIZED HAIL IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM.
&&
JTThe Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:30 UTC.
34 tornado, 12 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall led to flash flooding on several roadways in Vernon, including Aberdeen Road, Springfield Road, and Tower Road.
Highway 118 in Winfield had 12 inches of water over it.
A tornado initially touched down in Choctaw County (see Mobile Storm Data), and moved northeastward into Marengo County, where several trees were snapped or uprooted. The damage path for this tornado is based on eyewitness accounts. The area was impacted by stronger tornado in the afternoon hours that took roughly the same path. The tornado lifted just northeast of Nanafalia.
Up to 12 inches of water covered 25th Street in downtown Jasper.
The bridge over Hunter Creek Road in Northport was closed due to water flowing over it.
A tornado touched down in Neshoba County Mississippi. It tracked northeastward through Kemper County Mississippi before it crossed the Mississippi, Alabama state line approximately 1.5 miles north of Sumter County Road 30. As it entered Alabama, the tornado was an EF-3 with winds estimated between 140-150 mph. In Sumter County, numerous homes and businesses in the town of Geiger sustained extensive damage. As the tornado continued to move east, thousands of trees were either snapped or uprooted. The tornado lifted near the Tombigbee River at the Sumter, Greene County line.
Eight inches of water flowed across US Highway 31 in Hoover. Chace Lake Drive was also flooded.
Six inches of water covered Interstate 65 Northbound at Alford Avenue.
A tornado touched down in Sumter County along Dan Mitchell Road, south of State Route 116, six miles west southwest of Gainesville. As the tornado moved east, the tornado strengthened to an EF-2 rating, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. Dozens of hardwood trees were either snapped or uprooted and several homes sustained damage. One home sustained major roof damage along the path. The tornado lifted a half a mile west of State Route 39, one mile south of Gainesville.
The first segment in this tornado track initially touched down north of County Road 86 in Greene County. It then moved northeast into Tuscaloosa, where it eventually lifted. In Greene County, the tornado was rated an EF-1, with maximum winds of 90 mph. Dozens of hardwood and softwood trees were either snapped or uprooted.
The second segment of this tornado crossed into Tuscaloosa County, approximately one half mile west of Lock 9 Road. The tornado touched down in Greene County, 3 miles southeast of Ralph. The tornado strengthened to an EF-3 rating, with maximum winds of 140 mph. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted and a power transmission tower was severely damaged. As the tornado moved northeast into Taylorville, several homes and businesses received structural damage. The tornado lifted near Mayfair Drive, south of Veterans Memorial Parkway. The damage path in Tuscaloosa County had a maximum width of 500 yards.
A tornado touched down near State Highway 14 in Hale County. As it moved northeast, several hundred trees were snapped or uprooted. Several homes and businesses sustained moderate roof damage and a church sustained significant damage to the windows and one wall. Although no injuries were reported, one person remained trapped in their overturned mobile home for several hours. The tornado lifted near State Highway 69.
A tornado touched down in Sumter County, near US Highway 80, where several trees were snapped. The tornado strengthened to an EF-2 rating, with maximum wind speeds of 115 mph and continued to move northeast as it crossed Alabama Highway 17, where two homes sustained significant damage, and two outbuildings were completely destroyed. The tornado lifted near County Road 17, about 7 miles south of Livingston.
A tornado touched down in Bibb County, along State Highway 25. The tornado has been rated an EF-1, with maximum winds at 105 mph. As the tornado moved northeast, it crossed Highway 5 south of West Blocton where several homes sustained moderate roof damage. Along the path, hundreds of trees were either snapped or uprooted. The tornado lifted along County Road 24, 3 miles east of West Blocton.
The first segment in this tornado initially touched down in Greene County along County Road 20, 2.2 miles east of Forkland. The tornado then moved northeast into Hale County, where it lifted north of State Highway 25, 2.4 miles west of the Bibb County line. In Greene County, the tornado was rated an EF-1, with maximum winds of 105 mph. The tornado snapped hundreds of trees along its path.
The second segment of this tornado crossed into Hale County, just north of Creehill Creek. This tornado began in Greene County 2.2 miles east of Forkland. The tornado moved northeast into Hale County where it snapped and uprooted hundreds of trees. As the tornado crossed State Highway 14, it strengthened to an EF-2 rating, with maximum winds of 130 mph. Three mobile homes were severely damaged just north of Greensboro. The tornado lifted north of State Highway 25, 2.4 miles west of the Bibb County line.
Quarter size hail was observed in Rock Ridge at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 58.
A large magnolia tree was blown down on Highway 150, near Regions Park in Hoover.
A tornado touched down in Alabaster, at the Evangel Church on Thompson Road. The Evangel Church had some minor roof damage on its property. The tornado moved northeastward where it uprooted several trees along 8th Street SW and 6th Street SW. Several of those trees landed on homes. The tornado was rated an EF-0, with maximum winds of 70 mph. The tornado lifted near Highway 31 at the Alabaster City Hall.
A tornado touched down in Marengo County just west of County Road 90 in a rural setting. The tornado moved northeastand snapped or uprooted dozens of trees. As the tornado crossed State Highway 69 just south of Myrtlewood, it strengthened to an EF-3 rating, with maximum winds of 150 mph. Several dozen mobile homes were heavily damage or destroyed, resulting in 1 fatality. In the community of Hilltop, several more mobile homes were destroyed, resulting in 4 injuries. The tornado continued to move northeast where it snapped and uprooted many more trees. It lifted after it crossed State Highway 28, northwest of Linden. The tornado had a slight left turn to its path.
Quarter size hail was reported at the Alabaster City Hall.
A tornado touched down in Marengo County, 7 miles west of Linden. The tornado moved northeast where it snapped and uprooted numerous trees along its path. As the tornado moved into the community of Pin Hook, it strengthened to an EF-2 rating, with maximum winds of 130 mph. Several homes received significant damage. One home had its entire roof removed and damage to several exterior walls. The tornado lifted near State Highway 28.
Quarter size hail fell in the Dearing Downs Subdivision off of County Road 52 in Helena.
A fire station received damage to the siding on the building.
A tornado touched down in Marengo County, just west of County Road 39, southwest of the community of Half Chance. The tornado moved northeast where it snapped and uprooted dozens of trees along its path. As the tornado moved into Dayton, it strengthened to an EF-2, with maximum winds of 125 mph. Several homes sustained significant roof damage. The tornado lifted 1 mile northeast of Dayton along State Highway 25.
Water over the roadway caused an 18 wheeler to hydroplane and run off of the road on Interstate 65 Southbound at mile marker 258 in Downtown Birmingham.
A tornado touched down 2.5 miles northwest of Wilsonville on Largin Road. The tornado moved northeastward where it snapped or uprooted several trees. As the tornado crossed County Road 441, it strengthened to an EF-1 rating, with maximum winds of 90 mph. One home sustained roof damage, and a horse trailer was thrown at least 100 yards. The tornado lifted just north of Highway 25 near the Lay Lake inlet.
A tornado touched down just north of Cooper Road off Highway 65 in Perry County. The tornado moved east-northeast where it snapped and uprooted numerous trees. Two outbuildings sustained significant damage. The tornado lifted just south of Highway 80 off of Tayloe Road.
Trees were blown down across Renfroe Road in Alpine.
A tornado touched down 2.7 miles north of Hamburg, just west of County Road 45. The tornado moved northeast where it snapped or uprooted several trees. As the tornado crossed County Road 45, it strenghtend to and EF-2 rating, with maximum winds of 115 mph. A barn sustained roof damage and a significant number of trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado lifted about 0.5 miles west of County Road 45.
The roof of a mobile home was removed and trees and powerlines were blown down.
A tree was blown down and it blocked a road in Marion County.
A spotter observed 75 mph winds on a hand held anemometer. Several trees were also blown down.
A tornado initially touched down in Choctaw County Alabama and moved northeast. It crossed into Marengo County several miles southwest of Nanafalia. The tornado continued to move northeast where it snapped or uprooted numerous trees. As it moved into Nanafalia, the tornado straightened to an EF-2 with maximum winds of 135 mph. Several homes sustained moderate damage due to falling trees. A couple of homes lost parts of their roofs. The tornado lifted just northeast of County Road 33.
A tornado briefly touched down along County Road 272 where it uprooted several hardwood and softwood trees. One mobile home sustained significant damage. Maximum winds were estimated to be 90 mph. The tornado lifted 0.1 miles northeast of County Road 272.
A tornado touched down just west of County Road 26 on Cruise Road in Lowndes County. The tornado tracked northeastward. Numerous trees were either snapped or uprooted along the path and a few homes suffered minor shingle damage. The tornado lifted just after it crossed County Road 32. Maximum winds were estimated to be 75 mph.
A tornado briefly touched down just north of County Road 58 in Dallas County. The tornado moved approximately 0.2 miles northeast and caused considerable damage to a metal warehouse. The tornado lifted along County Road 944. Maximum winds were estimated at 90 mph.
A tornado touched down east of County Road 189 and north of County Road 205 in Dallas County. As the tornado moved east, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado lifted approximately 1.6 miles northeast of where it initially touched down. Maximum winds were estimated to be 105 mph.
Quarter size hail was observed in Downtown Selma.
Several trees were blown down, including one that fell on a house. The awning of an old gas station also received damage.
A tornado touched down approximately 2 miles southeast of Independence along County Road 13. The tornado moved northeast where it snapped or uprooted several trees. As the tornado moved into the Old Kingston community, it strengthened to and EF-1 rating, with maximum winds of 90 mph, and removed the steeple from a church. A mobile home also sustained significant damage. The tornado lifted 2 miles north of Old Kingston near County Roads 161 and 150.
A tornado touched down just south of the Old Kingston Community along County Road 21. As the tornado moved to the northeast, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Several structures also suffered minor damage. Maximum winds were estimated to be 90 mph. The tornado lifted just east Marbury near County Road 20.
A tornado touched down 1.5 miles northeast of Boone's Chapel in the Hunting Area community. The tornado moved northeastward where it snapped or uprooted trees along its path. Maximum winds were estimated to be 75 mph. The tornado lifted near the intersection of County Road 68 E and County Road 139.
A tornado touched down near the intersection of Dallas County Roads 461 and 460. The tornado moved to the northeast and crossed the Alabama River where it moved into Autauga County. The tornado lifted just after crossing County Road 1 in Autauga county. In Dallas County, dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path.
A tornado touched down approximately 0.7 miles northeast of Titus, west of Grays Ferry Road in Elmore County. The tornado then moved northeast where it crossed Grays Ferry Road. Four barns were damaged and nearby outbuildings sustained roof damage. A carport also sustained damage, along with the cars that were parked under it. The tornado lifted in a wooded area east of Grays Ferry Road.
A tornado initially touched down in Dallas County, near the intersection of Dallas County Roads 461 and 460. It moved northeast where it crossed the Alabama River and moved into Autauga County. As the tornado crossed Autauga County Road 1, it lifted. In Autauga County, hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted. Several structures sustained damage as well.
A tornado touched down near the Alabama River in Autauga County. The tornado then moved northeastward and crossed County Road 1. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. The tornado lifted near County Road 9.
A tornado touched down near the intersection of County Roads 40 and 60, just east of the Old Kingston Community in Autauga County. The tornado moved east-northeast and passed north of Posey's Crossroads and entered Boone's Chapel. Hundreds of trees were snapped or uprooted along the path. Numerous homes and business were significantly damaged or destroyed. One manufactured home was destroyed, causing 3 fatalities and 4 injuries. The tornado crossed Interstate 65 and lifted along County Road 85, north of the Stoney Point Community.
A tornado touched down 6.4 miles west of Central, along County Road 334 in Elmore County. The tornado moved to the northeast and crossed the Coosa County line. The tornado then crossed State Highway 9 and continued moving east, eventually crossing into Tallapoosa County. The tornado lifted on the east side of northern Lake Martin. In Elmore County, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted along the path.
A tornado touched down 6.4 miles west of Central, along County Road 334 in Elmore County. The tornado moved to the northeast and crossed the Coosa County line. The tornado then crossed State Highway 9 and continued moving east, eventually crossing into Tallapoosa County. The tornado lifted on the east side of northern Lake Martin. In Coosa County, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. One home suffered significant damage and several outbuildings sustained roof damage.
A tornado touched down 6.4 miles west of Central, along County Road 334 in Elmore County. The tornado moved to the northeast and crossed the Coosa County line. The tornado then crossed State Highway 9 and continued moving east, eventually crossing into Tallapoosa County. The tornado lifted on the east side of northern Lake Martin. In Tallapoosa County, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.
A tornado touched down in a wooded area 4 miles southwest of Jackson's Gap. The tornado moved to the northeast where it snapped and uprooted many trees. As the tornado crossed Highway 280, 3 homes were damaged due to fallen trees. The tornado lifted 3.1 miles north of Jackson's Gap.
Trees and powerlines were blown down near Highway 31 in Davenport.
Signs in a shopping center were blown down in the Wadley Area.
A large tree fell on a home in Roanoke.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Marengo | 2011-04-15 | 96 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Autauga | 2011-04-15 | 69 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Autauga | 2011-04-15 | 41 | Male | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Autauga | 2011-04-15 | 38 | Female | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
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: 307482, 307488, 311763, 307489, 307490, 307537, 307497, 307501, 307556, 307574, 308491, 307634, 310060, 310075, 307220, 310078, 310080, 307223, 311942, 310520, 307226, 310083, 307227, 307228, 307229, 310524, 307231, 307233, 307235, 311943, 310525, 307503, 310526, 307236, 310532, 311944, 310533, 311945, 311949, 311947, and more.