2.1 SE Fackler - 2.6 ENE Long Island A violent tornado touched down northeast of Fackler along County Road 42 where several large trees were snapped and minor damage occurred to mobile homes. The tornado continued east-northeast producing tree damage as it crossed U.S. Highway 72 near the intersection of State Highway 117. On Oak Hill Road just east of Highway 72, large trees were snapped and several roofs were damaged. On County Road 286, a trailer was tipped over and a shed was partially destroyed. The tornado continued northeast producing heavy tree damage. The tornado produced EF-3 damage along County Road 96 just northeast of the Stevenson Airport, where 24 high tension electrical truss towers were twisted and flattened. Just south of the intersection of County Road 96 and State Highway 277, a mobile home was obliterated and another home collapsed. Two other homes sustained structural damage along this section of road, two mobile homes were rolled on their side, and a metal barn was destroyed. The tornado continued northeast and at the intersection of County Roads 255 and 256, the most significant damage was encountered and rated EF-4. A residence just to the south of this intersection was reduced to its foundation. A concrete slab at the front of the home was pulled up, and a set of concrete stairs was ripped from the foundation. A compact car was thrown about 50 yards. To the northeast of the intersection, two well-built and well-anchored homes were also reduced to their foundations. A car was thrown approximately 50 yards across the street from one residence. Several large trees were snapped off a few feet above the ground. A third residence along County Road 256 had zero walls left standing. Across the street from this home, a mobile home was completely demolished and strewn along County Road 256. The tornado continued northeastward, destroying a cinder block garage and damaging a mobile home along 6th Street just southeast of Bridgeport. The tornado crossed the Tennessee River, producing significant tree damage along County Road 91 before crossing into Marion County in Tennessee. The total tornado damage path was 30.24 miles long and was an EF-2 in Tennessee. Start: 34.7948/-85.9090 End: 34.9854/-85.6377

NWS EF Scale: F4 (F4)

The tornado continued moving north northeast from DeKalb County into Jackson County destroying at least 3 barns. The tornado produced EF-2 intensity winds as it struck a well constructed home south of Rosalie, collapsing the west end of the home completely. A shed was destroyed on this property as well. Additional trees were snapped or uprooted in Rosalie along highway 71. The tornado then turned more northeast along highway 71 snapping or uprooting several more large trees. The tornado lifted near the junction of highway 71 and CR 345.

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.

Part of 59-tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011