Tornadoes · United States · Alabama
Tornadoes in Limestone County, Alabama
79 tornadoes have crossed Limestone County since 1950, 7th of the 67 counties in Alabama with a tornado on record, an average of 1.0 a year. They have killed 52 people and injured 593. 3 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- 79
- Deaths
- 52
- Injuries
- 593
- F4 and above
- 3
- Worst on record
- F5, April 3, 1974
The deadliest in Limestone County
- F5, Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone and Madison counties, AlabamaApril 3, 1974
- F5, Limestone, Madison, Lincoln and Franklin counties, Alabama and TennesseeApril 3, 1974
- EF3, Limestone County, AlabamaApril 28, 2014
- F3, Morgan, Limestone, Madison and Jackson counties, AlabamaApril 3, 1974
- EF2, Lawrence and Limestone counties, AlabamaDecember 16, 2019
- F4, Limestone, Madison and Jackson counties, AlabamaMay 18, 1995
- F2, Limestone and Madison counties, AlabamaMarch 11, 1963
The strongest
- F5, Limestone, Madison, Lincoln and Franklin counties, Alabama and TennesseeApril 3, 1974
- F5, Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone and Madison counties, AlabamaApril 3, 1974
- F4, Limestone, Madison and Jackson counties, AlabamaMay 18, 1995
- F3, Morgan, Limestone, Madison and Jackson counties, AlabamaApril 3, 1974
- F3, Morgan and Limestone counties, AlabamaAugust 16, 1985
- EF3, Limestone and Madison counties, AlabamaMarch 2, 2012
- F3, Colbert, Lauderdale and Limestone counties, AlabamaMarch 17, 1965
- EF3, Limestone County, AlabamaApril 28, 2014
- EF3, Limestone and Lawrence counties, AlabamaMay 8, 2024
- F3, Limestone County, AlabamaJune 26, 1994
Every year with a tornado
The 30 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Limestone County. Each year links to every tornado in Alabama that year.
Every tornado that crossed Limestone County
79 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 2025 | 6:11 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 2.8 | 160 | $927,000 | ||
| May 20, 2025 | 6:09 PM CDT | EF2 | Limestone | 13.2 | 125 | |||
| May 20, 2025 | 6:09 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 0.9 | 65 | |||
| May 20, 2025 | 5:51 PM CDT | Unrated | Limestone | 2.2 | 25 | |||
| May 20, 2025 | 5:10 PM CDT | EF1 | Lauderdale | 17.1 | 575 | $688,000 | ||
| December 28, 2024 | 11:15 PM CST | EF1 | Limestone | 3.9 | 160 | $2.4 million | ||
| May 8, 2024 | 8:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 3.5 | 225 | |||
| May 8, 2024 | 8:23 PM CDT | EF3 | Limestone | 3.8 | 228 | |||
| May 8, 2024 | 8:11 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 4.8 | 90 | |||
| April 2, 2024 | 6:01 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 1.1 | 123 | |||
| August 10, 2023 | 2:21 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 7.7 | 225 | |||
| January 12, 2023 | 8:09 AM CST | EF1 | Lawrence | 30.3 | 325 | |||
| January 1, 2022 | 7:24 PM CST | EF0 | Madison | 3.7 | 150 | $1,000 | ||
| January 1, 2022 | 4:04 PM CST | EF1 | Limestone to TN | 16.7 | 150 | $50,000 | ||
| July 26, 2020 | 6:53 PM CDT | Unrated | Limestone | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| December 29, 2019 | 6:50 PM CST | EF0 | Limestone | 5.1 | 50 | |||
| December 16, 2019 | 5:30 PM CST | EF1 | Limestone | 9.5 | 50 | |||
| December 16, 2019 | 5:08 PM CST | EF2 | Lawrence | 18.5 | 370 | 2 | ||
| March 19, 2018 | 6:08 PM CDT | EF2 | Limestone | 23.5 | 600 | |||
| August 19, 2016 | 11:50 PM CDT | Unrated | Limestone | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| March 31, 2016 | 9:54 PM CDT | EF2 | Morgan | 9.6 | 200 | |||
| April 20, 2015 | 1:45 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.8 | 100 | |||
| June 5, 2014 | 4:34 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 0.7 | 100 | |||
| April 28, 2014 | 4:47 PM CDT | EF3 | Limestone | 15.6 | 600 | 2 | 30 | |
| February 20, 2014 | 9:05 PM CST | EF1 | Limestone | 2.7 | 500 | |||
| February 20, 2014 | 8:45 PM CST | EF1 | Lawrence | 10.7 | 450 | |||
| May 17, 2013 | 2:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.1 | 50 | $100,000 | ||
| May 17, 2013 | 2:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 2.0 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| March 2, 2012 | 3:39 PM CST | EF1 | Limestone to KY, OH | 2.6 | 150 | |||
| March 2, 2012 | 3:26 PM CST | EF0 | Limestone | 5.0 | 75 | |||
| March 2, 2012 | 1:55 PM CST | EF0 | Limestone | 2.7 | 50 | |||
| March 2, 2012 | 9:10 AM CST | EF3 | Limestone | 34.0 | 250 | |||
| May 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 4.6 | 50 | |||
| May 25, 2011 | 11:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.8 | 50 | |||
| May 25, 2011 | 11:49 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 3.8 | 50 | |||
| May 25, 2011 | 11:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 1.3 | 25 | |||
| April 27, 2011 | 4:53 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 14.6 | 75 | |||
| April 27, 2011 | 11:35 AM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 3.1 | 100 | |||
| April 27, 2011 | 11:30 AM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 4.7 | 200 | |||
| April 27, 2011 | 11:23 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 4.1 | 50 | |||
| April 27, 2011 | 11:20 AM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 8.9 | 75 | |||
| April 27, 2011 | 11:15 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 7.2 | 150 | |||
| October 26, 2010 | 3:40 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.3 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| July 28, 2009 | 7:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| May 6, 2009 | 8:59 AM CDT | EF2 | Limestone | 10.9 | 75 | $1.0 million | ||
| April 10, 2009 | 1:59 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.2 | 10 | $20,000 | ||
| April 2, 2009 | 4:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 1.7 | 50 | $11,000 | ||
| December 24, 2008 | 3:33 PM CST | EF1 | Limestone | 1.6 | 50 | $200,000 | ||
| May 8, 2008 | 2:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Limestone | 4.0 | 250 | $20,000 | ||
| April 4, 2008 | 9:04 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 1.6 | 20 | $10,000 | ||
| April 4, 2008 | 8:34 AM CDT | EF0 | Limestone | 0.3 | 25 | $1,000 | ||
| May 9, 2006 | 5:05 PM CDT | F0 | Limestone | 0.1 | 30 | $20,000 | ||
| May 9, 2006 | 5:00 PM CDT | F0 | Limestone | 5.0 | 60 | |||
| April 7, 2006 | 10:24 PM CDT | F0 | Limestone | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| April 7, 2006 | 7:05 PM CDT | F1 | Limestone | 0.7 | 200 | $10,000 | ||
| October 18, 2004 | 6:27 PM CDT | F0 | Limestone | 2.0 | 35 | |||
| May 30, 2004 | 12:26 AM CDT | F1 | Limestone | 9.0 | 100 | 3 | $200,000 | |
| March 5, 2004 | 9:33 PM CST | F0 | Limestone | 1.5 | 75 | |||
| March 5, 2004 | 9:28 PM CST | F0 | Limestone | 2.0 | 75 | |||
| May 17, 2003 | 10:55 AM CDT | F1 | Limestone | 7.0 | 500 | $450,000 | ||
| May 6, 2003 | 7:20 AM CDT | F1 | Limestone | 15.0 | 500 | $350,000 | ||
| December 16, 2000 | 12:38 PM CST | F2 | Limestone | 4.8 | 60 | $150,000 | ||
| December 16, 2000 | 12:25 PM CST | F1 | Lawrence | 5.1 | 30 | $100,000 | ||
| May 3, 1997 | 5:02 PM CDT | F2 | Limestone | 3.2 | 73 | 12 | $2.3 million | |
| May 3, 1997 | 4:45 PM CDT | F0 | Limestone | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| May 18, 1995 | 5:33 PM CDT | F4 | Limestone | 39.0 | 1,300 | 1 | 55 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| June 26, 1994 | 10:50 PM CDT | F2 | Limestone | 7.0 | 200 | 2 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| June 26, 1994 | 10:12 PM CDT | F1 | Limestone | 5.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| June 26, 1994 | 9:50 PM CDT | F3 | Limestone | 3.0 | 300 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 16, 1985 | 12:40 PM CDT | F3 | Morgan | 45.0 | 100 | 2 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 3, 1984 | 1:30 AM CDT | F1 | Limestone | 3.5 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 17, 1982 | 3:35 AM CST | F1 | Limestone | 28.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| April 3, 1974 | 10:24 PM CDT | F3 | Morgan | 46.5 | 700 | 2 | 7 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| April 3, 1974 | 7:35 PM CDT | F5 | Limestone to TN | 83.3 | 500 | 16 | 190 | |
| April 3, 1974 | 6:15 PM CDT | F5 | Lawrence | 52.0 | 500 | 28 | 267 | |
| March 17, 1965 | 7:30 AM GMT-6 | F3 | Colbert | 29.8 | 10 | 22 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| March 11, 1963 | 5:40 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Limestone | 47.2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| April 5, 1958 | 10:15 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Limestone | 10.5 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| April 5, 1958 | 10:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Lawrence | 25.6 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Limestone CountyThe forecast for Limestone CountyThe live radar over Limestone 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.