EF5 Rainsville tornado, Alabama, April 27, 2011

1. EF065 to 85 mph

   Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

2. EF186 to 110 mph

   Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

3. EF2111 to 135 mph

   Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

4. EF3136 to 165 mph

   Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

5. EF4166 to 200 mph

   Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

6. EF5over 200 mphthis tornado

   Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

7. Unrated

   The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

Rating

EF5

Date

April 27, 2011

Touchdown

6:19 PM CDT (23:19 UTC)

Lifted

6:56 PM CDT (23:56 UTC)

On the ground

37 minutes

Path length

33.7 miles (54.2 km)

Path width

1,320 yards (1207 m)

Deaths

25

Injuries

0

County

DeKalb County

Touchdown point

34.391, -85.978

Lift-off point

34.733, -85.558

Record number

1104271719-01

31 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS FFC and NWS HUN, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF5. The highest wind the damage implies is 185 mph.

• Start Point of Lakeview to Rainsville to Cartersville EF-5 Tornado.
• End point in Alabama of Lakeview to Rainsville to Cartersville EF-5 Tornado.
• Start point of Section-Flat Rock EF-4 Tornado.
• End point of Section-Flat Rock, GA EF-4 Tornado in Alabama.

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

A powerful storm system roared across the Southeast United States on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. In the wake of this system, hundreds of people were left injured and/or homeless, along with approximately 100 people who lost their lives in the northern Alabama area alone. Some of the devastation was literally unimaginable with countless homes, neighborhoods and even portions of cities or towns either partially or completely destroyed. This storm system would be responsible for one of the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks to ever impact much of the southeastern region.| |The powerful storm system that affected the National Weather Service, Huntsville service area would actually occur in three separate waves of severe weather that day. The first occurred during the early morning hours of April 27, 2011 roughly between the hours of 2 AM and 8 AM CDT, while the second occurred during the late-morning to early afternoon period. The third and most devastating wave occurred during the afternoon hours on Wednesday, with some of the most violent and destructive tornadoes to affect the central Tennessee Valley area in recent decades.| |The worst areas impacted by these storms included the towns of Phil Campbell and Oak Grove in eastern Franklin County Alabama, Mt. Hope in western Lawrence County and the Tanner Community in eastern Limestone County. Along a line connecting these areas tracked an EF5 tornado with peak winds around 210 mph, the strongest and most violent on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. ||Other areas impacted by the storms include the city of Cullman, where extensive damage occurred to buildings in the downtown area, and to the town of Fairview, both of which are located in Cullman County. Downstream, further significant damage occurred to the Ruth and Oak Grove communities in Marshall County. In addition, the communities of Rainsville and Sylvania along with the towns of Henagar and Ider in DeKalb County were severely impacted. Fatalities in DeKalb County alone numbered at least 33 people. Furthermore, the towns of Flat Rock, Higdon and Pisgah in Jackson County sustained incredible damage. The tornadoes that affected these areas were rated as an EF4 with maximum winds near 190 mph.||In most of these areas alone, numerous people lost their lives. These represent just several of the communities and towns impacted by the events of April 27, 2011. While the majority of the analysis and survey work conducted by the National Weather Service, Huntsville and its partners have been completed, there will undoubtedly be countless research studies conducted by both academia and operational personnel in order to further evaluate and understand the complex processes associated with this near unprecedented severe weather outbreak.

A violent long track tornado began in the Lakeview community northeast of Geraldine before tracking northeastward, generally parallel to and just east of State Route 75. Along this line, the tornado passed through Fyffe, Rainsville, Sylvania, and eventually into northern DeKalb County south of the Cartersville community, killing 25 people. On the first day of surveys, the survey team noticed initial damage in the Lakeview community where the path width was generally around 50 yards. This initial damage included mostly felled and snapped trees and structural damage to small buildings. Extensive damage was noted especially in Rainsville and Sylvania where the path width was estimated to over 1/2 mile wide. Damage in Rainsville included houses that were completely removed from foundations, with debris scattered for about one mile. Near this location, trees were debarked and a few mobile homes were completely destroyed, with debris strewn for about a mile downstream.||A narrow corridor of intense damage extended from Skaggs Road to Lingerfeldt Road (also known as County Road 180), extending toward County Road 514. Along Skaggs Road, a stone house was completely obliterated with much of the interior debris strewn well away from the structure. A supporting large cement stone pillar was ripped completely out of the ground. Another home along Skaggs Road was also leveled completely to the ground. The NOAA overflight showed significant ground scarring in this area and a walk through the nearby fields showed large pot marks and other sections of disturbed ground. ||Slightly northeast along Lingerfeldt Road, numerous homes were leveled completely to their foundation with vehicles and debris strewn for hundreds of feet. Overhead photos and follow-up visual confirmation revealed a mangled vehicle tossed well into a ravine and resting up in the remainder of trees. At 1608 Lingerfeldt Road/County Road 180, a large two story brick home was completely obliterated with several of the supporting anchors ripped of the ground. A concrete porch was ripped off with pieces strewn up to 150 yards. A section of the asphalt driveway was pulled up. In addition, an anchored liberty safe weighing 800 pounds was pulled off its anchorage and thrown into a wooded area 600 feet away. When found, the safe's door had been ripped open and completely off. A large pick-up truck at this residence was found mangled in pieces over 250 yards away in the same wooded area. The residents of the home survived in a nearby storm pit. Of note, the storm pit was partially exposed by the tornado with dirt being sucked up and pulled away around the opening. Next door, a mobile home was completely disintegrated. The residents of the mobile there also survived in a storm pit. The section of damage from Skaggs Road to Lingerfeldt Road near the intersection with Crow Lane was deemed to be EF-5 intensity. Severe damage with high end EF-4 damage was noted in a corridor from County Road 515 through a neighborhood along County Road 441. In the east and south ends of the neighborhood, many one and two story homes were leveled to their foundation with debris scattered some distance. Several cars were thrown a large distance in this area. There was evidence of ground scarring as well as some sidewalk pavement pulled up in this location. However, some of the homes in this area appeared to be pushed off their foundation initially with limited anchorage. ||In the Sylvania community, similar situation occurred with houses completely removed from foundations and debris blown far downstream. Some of these houses were connected to their foundations with anchor bolts and foundation straps, indicating a stronger construction of the homes. ||Tornado damage continued from the Blake community, intersecting County Road 27, running parallel between State Highway 75 and Interstate 59 through Henager, Ider, to south of Cartersville. ||In the Blake community, the tornado path width was estimated to be one half to three quarters of a mile. Along County Road 27 just southeast of Sylvania, significant damage was observed . All exterior and interior walls of several homes were completely destroyed with partial block and mortar foundations remaining. In one instance, a concrete slab that served as a porch was displaced a few feet and broken in half. Some hardwood trees in the area were stripped with no stubs of any branches remaining and were partially debarked. The Mountain View Baptist Church sustained significant damage. An old, one-story portion of the church dating back to 1902 and constructed of a brick and mortar exterior on wood frame walls was completely destroyed. A recent two-story addition to the church was constructed in 2004 and consisting of similar building materials was partially destroyed, with most exterior walls and nearly all interior walls fallen. A concrete block and mortar foundation was all that remained of a hallway adjoining the two buildings.

The deaths

25 direct deaths are recorded for this tornado, each with what Storm Data knows of it.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a High Risk, with a 0.30 chance of a tornado within 25 miles, in the hatched area where significant tornadoes were expected. The outlook in force was issued at 19:12 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

NWS Huntsville, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at Apr 27, 3:09 PM CDT, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier.

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
309 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK CONTINUES ACROSS THE TENNESSEE
VALLEY...

THE TENNESSEE VALLEY IS CURRENTLY BEING BOMBARDED BY A THIRD ROUND
OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. WITH THE COLD FRONT AND SURFACE LOW STILL
WELL TO OUR WEST...THE AREA IS RECOVERING QUICKLY FROM EARLIER COLD
POOLING AND DISCRETE STORMS DEVELOPING ALONG THE DRYLINE ACROSS
NORTH MISSISSIPPI ARE RAPIDLY MOVING INTO THE CWFA. 18Z SOUNDINGS
FROM KBMX AND REDSTONE ARSENAL INDICATE AN EXTREMELY VOLATILE
SITUATION WILL EXIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WITH
SIGNIFICANT CAPE AND SHEAR PRESENT. SPC MESO ANALYSIS SUGGESTS
WHATEVER CIN WAS PRESENT IS QUICKLY DISSIPATING.

THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS...EXPECT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH
LONG TRACK TORNADOES...DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND FLASH
FLOODING ANYWHERE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RESIDENTS OF THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY ARE URGED TO REMAIN EXTREMELY VIGILANT THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS AS THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION
CONTINUES TO UNFOLD!

THE SEVERE THREAT WILL WANE THIS EVENING AS THE COLD FRONT
EVENTUALLY MOVES THROUGH THE CWFA. WHILE A FEW SHOWERS WILL LINGER
THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN FROM THE
WEST WILL BRING SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES AND DRY CONDITIONS TO THE
AREA THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY.

THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL IMPACT THE CWFA FROM THE NORTHWEST SUNDAY
NIGHT. LOOKS LIKE GLOBAL MODELS HAVE SLOWED A TOUCH IN HOW QUICKLY
THEY BRING THE FRONT THROUGH...AND AS A RESULT MAY SEE THUNDERSTORMS
LINGER THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. WEAK UPPER RIDGING AND A SURFACE HIGH
WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
HUNTSVILLE    53  72  49  78  51 /  70   0   0   0   0
SHOALS        51  72  49  78  51 /  40   0   0   0   0
VINEMONT      51  70  46  76  48 /  70   0   0   0   0
FAYETTEVILLE  51  69  48  75  50 /  70   0   0   0   0
ALBERTVILLE   53  70  43  77  46 /  90   0   0   0   0
FORT PAYNE    55  70  44  77  45 /  90  10   0   0   0

&&

.HUN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AL...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: COLBERT...CULLMAN...DEKALB...FRANKLIN AL...JACKSON...
     LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...MARSHALL...
     MORGAN.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     COLBERT...CULLMAN...DEKALB...FRANKLIN AL...JACKSON...
     LAUDERDALE...LAWRENCE...LIMESTONE...MADISON...MARSHALL...
     MORGAN.

TN...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
     ZONES: FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
     FRANKLIN TN...LINCOLN...MOORE.

&&

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
507 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALZ001>010-016-TNZ076-096-097-291000-
LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN-
MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-
507 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS
OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT...

A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY UNTIL
1000 PM CDT.

CLUSTERS OF SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM AHEAD OF...AND ALONG
A STRONG COLD FRONT AND MOVE RAPIDLY ACROSS THE REGION. A POTENTIAL
FOR VIOLENT...LONG TRACK TORNADOES EXISTS...IN ADDITION TO DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. RESIDENTS ACROSS THE
TENNESSEE VALLEY ARE URGED TO REMAIN ALERT FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND
WARNINGS.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL FROM THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE
THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING...WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY EVOLVE
INTO A SMALL STREAM AND RIVER FLOODING EVENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
PLEASE REFER TO THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AND THE FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS THREAT...AND CONTINUE TO MONITOR
RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS AS THEY ARE ISSUED FOR SEVERAL RIVERS AND
STREAMS ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY.

ALSO...GUSTY WINDS OUTSIDE OF THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY
REACH ADVISORY CRITERIA...THEREFORE A WIND ADVISORY WILL BE IN
EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS WEEKEND...AS
ANOTHER COLD FRONT PUSHES ACROSS THE AREA.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF STORM SPOTTERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IS
EXPECTED THROUGH THIS EVENING. SPOTTER STORM REPORTS ARE GREATLY
APPRECIATED.

In the hours before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
508 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0340 PM     TORNADO          NEW HOPE                34.54N 86.42W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DEBRIS FALLING OUT OF SKY. LOCATION WAS MAPLE ROAD AND
            BUTLER MILL ROAD.

0343 PM     TORNADO          UNION GROVE             34.40N 86.45W
04/27/2011                   MARSHALL           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            POWER LINES DOWN AND DEBRIS BLOCKING ROADS.

0344 PM     HAIL             MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011  M1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MEASURED BY SPOTTER.

0345 PM     HAIL             MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011  E1.75 INCH       LAWRENCE           AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

0346 PM     TORNADO          MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TORNADO ON GROUND WITH DEBRIS AND ROARING SOUND.

0348 PM     TORNADO          MT HOPE                 34.46N 87.48W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND.

0352 PM     TORNADO          HATTON                  34.56N 87.41W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MT HOPE TO HATTON. NUMEROUS HOUSES ARE GONE.

0353 PM     TORNADO          HATTON                  34.56N 87.41W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ONE HALF MILE WIDE TORNADO ALONG HWY 157 AND HWY 101 NEAR
            HATTON.

0355 PM     TORNADO          MOULTON                 34.48N 87.29W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TORNADO ON GROUN NORTH OF MOULTON AT 102 AND CR41.

0407 PM     TORNADO          HULACO                  34.31N 86.60W
04/27/2011                   MORGAN             AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND HULACO RD.

0411 PM     TORNADO          4 WNW ARAB              34.33N 86.56W
04/27/2011                   MARSHALL           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TREE FELL ON CAR WITH ENTRAPMENT. INJURIES UNKNOWN.

0416 PM     TORNADO          4 W TRINITY             34.61N 87.15W
04/27/2011                   LAWRENCE           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO REPORTED ON GROUND IN MORGAN COUNTY MOVING INTO
            SOURTHERN LIMESTON COUNTY.

0426 PM     TORNADO          HUNTSVILLE              34.73N 86.59W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   AMATEUR RADIO

            TORNADO ON GROUND LILLY FLAG AND SOUTH MEMORIAL PARKWAY.

0431 PM     TORNADO          HUNTSVILLE              34.73N 86.59W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND. HWY 72 AND MOORESVILLE ROAD. PATH 22
            YARDS WIDE.

0433 PM     TORNADO          HARVEST                 34.86N 86.75W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON GROUND AT NICK DAVIS AND INTERSTATE 65.

0506 PM     TORNADO          MADISON                 34.70N 86.75W
04/27/2011                   MADISON            AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TORNADO ON GROUND AT U.S. HIGHWAY 72 AND SLAUGHTER ROAD.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
532 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0510 PM     HAIL             ATHENS                  34.80N 86.97W
04/27/2011  E1.75 INCH       LIMESTONE          AL   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL SW SIDE OF ATHENS.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
605 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0603 PM     TORNADO          ALBERTVILLE             34.26N 86.21W
04/27/2011                   MARSHALL           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON THE GROUND. DAMAGE OCCURRING AT TIME OF
            REPORT.

&&

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
608 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALZ001>003-272345-
COLBERT-FRANKLIN-LAUDERDALE-
608 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR COLBERT...FRANKLIN AND LAUDERDALE
COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM CDT...

AT 605 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM ZIP CITY TO
FAIRVIEW MISSISSIPPI...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE
STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IN OR NEAR THE PATH INCLUDE...
  DEMPSEY...VINA.
  NEW BETHEL...GREEN HILL.
  COLBERT HEIGHTS...KILLEN.
  SPRING VALLEY...ROCKWOOD.
  WHITEOAK...WHITEHEAD.

THIS LINE OF STORMS IS NOT CURRENTLY SEVERE...BUT STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...HEAVY RAIN...AND CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL JEOPARDIZE
RECOVERY EFFORTS. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...SEEK SHELTER AND STAY
AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORMS HAVE PASSED.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA.

&&

LAT...LON 3501 8721 3497 8721 3480 8735 3479 8742
      3471 8743 3457 8753 3431 8755 3433 8817
      3452 8815 3502 8775
TIME...MOT...LOC 2307Z 270DEG 40KT 3500 8765 3433 8819

BCC

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
610 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     HAIL             ELORA                   35.01N 86.36W
04/27/2011  E1.00 INCH       LINCOLN            TN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
615 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0547 PM     TORNADO          3 SW HYATT              34.20N 86.38W
04/27/2011                   MARSHALL           AL   EMERGENCY MNGR

            TORNADO ON GROUND AT NIXON CHAPEL

&&

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Fort_payne (4A9), 11 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The live radar over the trackEvery 2011 tornado in AlabamaEvery tornado in Alabama since 1950Warnings in force in Alabama nowThe forecast where you are

209 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

All 210 of them

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.