Tornadoes have killed 682 people in Alabama since 1950, in 115 deadly tornadoes out of 2,772 on record. Most tornadoes kill no one; a handful account for most of the toll. The 12 deadliest below caused 384 deaths, 56% of the total.
The deadliest was the Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado on April 27, 2011, which killed 72 people in Alabama. It was one of 63 tornadoes that day, the April 27, 2011 outbreak, which killed 238 people across the state, the worst tornado day in Alabama's modern record.
Deaths are counted for the Alabama portion of each track. Figures come from the NOAA Storm Events Database and Storm Prediction Center records, with NWS survey updates.
Tornado deaths by decade
The 12 deadliest
Ranked by deaths in Alabama.
Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado
A tornado initially touched down west of Hamilton in southwest Marion County and moved northeast where it caused devastating damage to the city of Hackleburg. The tornado continued into Franklin County and tracked through Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone, and Madison Counties in Alabama.
Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado
A tornado touched down in northern Greene County and moved northeast through southern Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson Counties, causing devastating damage consistent with a violent EF4 rating to portions of the city of Tuscaloosa and western suburbs of Birmingham, before it lifted northeast of downtown Birmingham.
Oak Grove tornado
Tremendous damage along the path.
First Tanner tornado
Harvest 14 people were killed near the Mt Moriah community as many tried fleeing the tornado. The tornado swept away home after home killing 14 more people just west of Moulton. Total devastation occurred along the path.
Guin tornado
An estimated 23 people were killed and 250 were injured in Guin as this damage was possibly the most intense to ever hit Alabama. 5 were killed in Delmar. Along the path, 546 buildings were destroyed, 330 were heavily damaged.
McDonald Chapel tornado
Pleasant Grove-McDonald Chapel-Trussville 7 different communities were hit by the tornado with major damage in all locations. At least 400 structures were damaged or destroyed.
Rainsville tornado
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.
Beauregard tornado
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in far southern Lee County and determined that it was consistent with an EF4 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 170 mph. This track is a continuation of a track that began in Macon County.
Smithfield tornado
The powerful tornado touched down about 4 miles NW of downtown Birmingham. It moved NE at 60 mph finally lifting just E to the city of Tarrant. At its widest point it was 3/4 of a mile. 167 homes were destroyed and 48 had major damage.
Palm Sunday tornado
A tornado began about one mile south-southwest of Ragland in St. Clair County at 1055 CST and traveled northeast at between 45 and 55 miles an hour crossing the Alabama/Georgia border about five miles northeast of Rock Run in Cherokee County.
Shoal Creek Valley–Ohatchee tornado
This tornado initially touched down in eastern Jefferson County, north northeast of Trussville and moved northeast through portions of St. Clair, Calhoun, Etowah and Cherokee Counties. The tornado then moved into Georgia, across Polk, Floyd and Bartow (See Storm Data Peachtree City) Counties.
Huntsville Airport Road tornado
Huntsville Massive destruction in the city of Huntsville with many people injured or killed.