Tornadoes · United States · Alabama

Tornadoes in Jefferson County, Alabama

112 tornadoes have crossed Jefferson County since 1950, 2 of them surveyed so far this year and still preliminary, 3rd of the 67 counties in Alabama with a tornado on record, an average of 1.5 a year. They have killed 176 people and injured 2,545. 6 were rated F4 or EF4 and above, 2 at the top of the scale.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale

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

  2. F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale

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

  3. F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale

    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. F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale

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

  5. F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale

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

  6. F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale

    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.

Now

Tornadoes
112
Deaths
176
Injuries
2,545
F4 and above
6
Worst on record
F5, April 8, 1998

The deadliest in Jefferson County

  1. EF4 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado, AlabamaApril 27, 201164 killed, 1,500 injured
  2. F5 Oak Grove–Birmingham tornado, AlabamaApril 8, 199832 killed, 259 injured
  3. F4, Jefferson County, AlabamaApril 15, 195625 killed, 200 injured
  4. F5 Smithfield tornado, AlabamaApril 4, 197722 killed, 130 injured
  5. EF4 Shoal Creek Valley–Ohatchee tornado, Alabama and GeorgiaApril 27, 201122 killed, 85 injured
  6. F1, Jefferson County, AlabamaFebruary 26, 19713 killed
  7. EF3, Jefferson and St. Clair counties, AlabamaJanuary 23, 20121 killed, 75 injured
  8. F3, Jefferson, St. Clair and Etowah counties, AlabamaMay 27, 19731 killed, 44 injured
  9. F2, Jefferson County, AlabamaNovember 18, 19571 killed, 35 injured
  10. EF3 Fultondale tornado, AlabamaJanuary 25, 20211 killed, 30 injured

The strongest

  1. F5 Oak Grove–Birmingham tornado, AlabamaApril 8, 1998F5, 30.3 mi (49 km)
  2. F5 Smithfield tornado, AlabamaApril 4, 1977F5, 14.7 mi (24 km)
  3. EF4 Shoal Creek Valley–Ohatchee tornado, Alabama and GeorgiaApril 27, 2011EF4, 97.3 mi (157 km)
  4. EF4 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado, AlabamaApril 27, 2011EF4, 80.7 mi (130 km)
  5. F4, Jefferson County, AlabamaApril 15, 1956F4, 21.3 mi (34 km)
  6. F4, Jefferson County, AlabamaMarch 5, 1963F4, 14.9 mi (24 km)
  7. F3, Jefferson, St. Clair and Etowah counties, AlabamaMay 27, 1973F3, 41.6 mi (67 km)
  8. EF3, Walker, Jefferson and Blount counties, AlabamaApril 24, 2010EF3, 29.6 mi (48 km)
  9. EF3, Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties, AlabamaApril 27, 2011EF3, 20.3 mi (33 km)
  10. EF3, Jefferson and St. Clair counties, AlabamaJanuary 23, 2012EF3, 15.7 mi (25 km)

Every year with a tornado

The 51 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Jefferson County. Each year links to every tornado in Alabama that year.

YearTornadoesDeathsInjuriesStrongest
20262EF0
20252EF1
20232EF1
20222EF1
20215131EF3
20202EF2
201714EF1
201614EF2
201512EF2
201457EF2
20124276EF3
20117861608EF4
20102EF3
20091EF1
200831EF1
20072EF1
200621F1
20052F0
20043F0
200213F2
200111F2
20005F2
1998132259F5
19961F0
19911F0
1990317F1
19891F0
19854F2
198432F1
198221F1
19802F2
197931F1
19781F0
1977222130F5
197631F2
197524F2
19742F2
19734151F3
19721F2
1971232F2
19691F1
19672125F3
196632F1
1963235F4
19601F0
195915F3
19582F2
19571135F2
1956125200F4
1953312F3
19521126F3

Every tornado that crossed Jefferson County

112 tornadoes, newest first. The 2 at the top are this year's, from the surveying office rather than SPC's published database, and their ratings are marked as preliminary.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
February 26, 20263:41 PM CSTEF0Jefferson1.665
March 9, 20267:40 PM CDTEF0Jefferson5.8200
November 25, 20254:44 AM CSTEF0Jefferson4.2150
November 25, 20254:23 AM CSTEF1Jefferson17.9300
December 10, 202312:13 AM CSTEF1Jefferson1.8200
December 10, 202312:09 AM CSTEF1Jefferson3.0600$5.0 million
February 17, 20226:08 PM CSTEF1Shelby12.6400
February 17, 20224:53 PM CSTEF1Jefferson4.71,100
March 25, 20214:48 PM CDTEF1Jefferson4.8700
March 17, 20214:56 PM CDTEF0Jefferson3.56601
March 17, 20214:30 PM CDTEF1Jefferson2.8650
March 17, 20213:54 PM CDTEF1Tuscaloosa5.8650
January 25, 202110:40 PM CSTEF3Fultondale tornado10.4900130
December 14, 20201:02 AM CSTEF0Jefferson4.8350
April 12, 20205:14 PM CDTEF2Jefferson6.9940
June 22, 201712:21 PM CDTEF1Jefferson8.32554
March 1, 20165:43 PM CSTEF2Jefferson5.64654
December 25, 20154:55 PM CSTEF2Jefferson0.92802
April 28, 201411:16 PM CDTEF2Jefferson5.1600
April 28, 201411:00 PM CDTEF1Jefferson7.6913
April 28, 201410:55 PM CDTEF1Tuscaloosa4.5675
April 28, 201410:13 PM CDTEF2Jefferson5.51,8003
April 28, 201410:00 PM CDTEF1Jefferson8.88004
December 10, 20124:43 AM CSTEF1Jefferson1.1250
October 14, 201212:18 AM CDTEF0Jefferson0.3200
January 23, 20123:58 AM CSTEF3Jefferson15.7800175
January 23, 20123:09 AM CSTEF2Tuscaloosa13.188011
April 27, 20116:28 PM CDTEF4Shoal Creek Valley–Ohatchee tornado97.31,7602285$367 million
April 27, 20114:43 PM CDTEF4Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado80.72,600641500$2.2 billion
April 27, 20115:54 AM CDTEF2Jefferson7.820020$18 million
April 27, 20115:53 AM CDTEF2Blount3.22003$9.3 million
April 27, 20115:50 AM CDTEF1Shelby3.4100$3.7 million
April 27, 20115:17 AM CDTEF3Tuscaloosa20.3200$9.3 million
April 11, 20117:30 PM CDTEF1Jefferson0.4100$65,000
October 26, 20109:10 PM CDTEF1Jefferson4.3200$50,000
April 24, 201010:01 PM CDTEF3Walker29.6400$658,000
May 6, 20099:50 AM CDTEF1Jefferson0.450$50,000
April 11, 20084:25 PM CDTEF0Jefferson0.330$50,000
April 11, 20084:08 PM CDTEF0Jefferson0.130$5,000
February 26, 20083:42 AM CSTEF1Jefferson2.85001$1.0 million
April 11, 20073:14 PM CDTEF1Jefferson0.640$20,000
March 1, 20074:06 PM CSTEF1Jefferson0.9400$100,000
April 8, 20061:23 AM CDTF1Jefferson3.2100$300,000
April 8, 20061:16 AM CDTF1Jefferson2.31001$500,000
November 28, 20052:40 PM CSTF0Jefferson0.475$40,000
November 28, 20052:10 PM CSTF0Jefferson0.130$20,000
November 24, 20045:28 AM CSTF0Jefferson1.050$70,000
May 31, 20044:29 AM CDTF0Jefferson4.2150$500,000
May 31, 20044:22 AM CDTF0Jefferson1.7150$250,000
November 10, 200210:22 PM CSTF2Tuscaloosa15.24503$800,000
November 24, 20011:31 PM CSTF2St. Clair13.41251$500,000
April 3, 20001:09 PM CDTF1Jefferson5.7350$4.0 million
April 3, 200012:44 PM CDTF0Jefferson3.040$20,000
April 3, 200012:20 PM CDTF2Tuscaloosa11.1300$90,000
April 2, 20009:51 PM CDTF1Jefferson4.5400$150,000
March 10, 20009:22 PM CSTF1Jefferson1.5200$500,000
April 8, 19987:42 PM CDTF5Oak Grove–Birmingham tornado30.31,32032259$200 million
April 20, 199612:09 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.345$70,000
April 29, 19918:00 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.333
February 3, 19908:00 PM CSTF1Jefferson2.050$500,000 to $5 million
February 3, 19907:48 PM CSTF1Jefferson3.05015$500,000 to $5 million
February 3, 19907:35 PM CSTF1Jefferson7.0502$500,000 to $5 million
March 5, 19891:00 PM CSTF0Jefferson0.320$500 to $5,000
August 16, 19852:48 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.130$5,000 to $50,000
August 16, 19851:45 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.240$5,000 to $50,000
August 16, 19851:18 PM CDTF1Jefferson3.050$5,000 to $50,000
August 16, 198512:55 PM CDTF2Jefferson3.0600$50,000 to $500,000
May 7, 198410:15 PM CDTF1Jefferson1.01002$5,000 to $50,000
May 2, 19842:33 PM CDTF0Jefferson1.080$5,000 to $50,000
March 28, 19841:19 AM CSTF1Jefferson0.160$5,000 to $50,000
July 11, 19823:00 PM CDTF1Jefferson1.230$500 to $5,000
June 28, 19825:35 PM CDTF1Jefferson2.5601$50,000 to $500,000
April 25, 19809:45 PM CSTF2Jefferson6.2100$50,000 to $500,000
March 20, 19808:45 PM CSTF1Jefferson0.150
November 9, 19791:43 PM CSTF1Jefferson0.527$5,000 to $50,000
May 30, 19799:00 PM CDTF1Jefferson25.8201$50,000 to $500,000
May 4, 19791:38 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
April 24, 19788:00 PM CSTF0Jefferson0.150$500 to $5,000
July 8, 19775:15 PM CDTF2Jefferson0.5100$50,000 to $500,000
April 4, 19773:00 PM CSTF5Smithfield tornado14.755022130$5 million to $50 million
August 15, 19765:50 PM CDTF2Jefferson0.530$500 to $5,000
May 6, 19765:30 PM CDTF2Jefferson0.250$5,000 to $50,000
January 13, 19767:05 PM CSTF2Jefferson0.3501$50,000 to $500,000
January 10, 19753:45 PM CSTF1Jefferson0.110$50,000 to $500,000
January 10, 19752:45 PM CSTF2Jefferson2.01004$50,000 to $500,000
November 4, 197411:00 PM CSTF1Jefferson1.520$5,000 to $50,000
April 3, 19744:30 PM CDTF2Jefferson1.0800$5,000 to $50,000
December 29, 19734:35 PM CSTF1Jefferson0.550
May 27, 19736:50 PM CDTF3Jefferson41.6800144$5 million to $50 million
May 27, 19733:56 PM CDTF2Jefferson1.05003$50,000 to $500,000
May 23, 197310:30 PM CDTF1Jefferson1.04004$5,000 to $50,000
October 27, 19722:45 PM CDTF2Jefferson17.150$50,000 to $500,000
March 6, 19714:30 PM CSTF2Jefferson4.93002$5,000 to $50,000
February 26, 197112:30 PM CSTF1Jefferson2.0503$5,000 to $50,000
May 17, 19696:15 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
December 19, 19675:00 AM GMT-6F2Jefferson2.010$5,000 to $50,000
May 6, 19677:45 PM GMT-5F3Jefferson4.3200125$500,000 to $5 million
November 10, 19668:30 AM GMT-6F1Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 26, 19668:50 PM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.110
March 3, 19668:00 PM GMT-6F1Jefferson0.1102$5,000 to $50,000
May 27, 19638:10 AM GMT-5F2Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
March 5, 19633:35 PM GMT-6F4Jefferson14.966735$50,000 to $500,000
October 8, 19603:27 PM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.110
May 12, 19592:30 PM GMT-5F3Jefferson8.64405$50,000 to $500,000
April 29, 19587:00 AM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.3300$5,000 to $50,000
April 29, 19587:00 AM GMT-5F2Jefferson0.5100$5,000 to $50,000
November 18, 19573:30 PM GMT-6F2Jefferson8.2100135$500,000 to $5 million
April 15, 19563:00 PM GMT-6F4Jefferson21.320025200$500,000 to $5 million
May 4, 19538:00 PM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
May 1, 19539:00 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.110$500 to $5,000
April 6, 19533:45 PM GMT-6F3Jefferson0.53712$500 to $5,000
February 13, 19529:30 PM GMT-6F3Jefferson0.1200126$50,000 to $500,000

Nearby

Warnings in force in Jefferson CountyThe forecast for Jefferson CountyThe live radar over Jefferson CountyEvery county in Alabama

What this means

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.

Sources

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