April 27, 2011
10:35 AM0.8 ESE Orrville - 1.3 ENE Monrovia The tornado began near mile markers 342 and 343, producing EF-0 intensity winds of up to 70 mph and snapping trees. The tornado then continued moving northeast producing generally minor and sporadic tree damage in rural areas of Limestone C ounty along Brownsferry Road. It then continued its path northeast into Madison C ounty. The tornado continued its path from Limestone into Madison C ounty producing minor and sporadic damage. As it moved into Madison C ounty the tornado intensified. It began uprooting large trees and producing some minor damage to homes in several locations. The most notable damage occurred in Madison along Balch Road near Kentucky Drive, Wall Triana at Gooch Lane, along McCrary Road, and further northeast along Capshaw Road between Nance Road and Jeff Road. From McCrary Road to Jeff Road, the width of tornado damage increased to approximately 75 yards. The tornado then continued moving northeast across Bishop Creek Road to Holbrook Drive. Damage along this portion of the track included uprooted large trees, some snapped-off tree tops, and minor roof damage. The tornado finally lifted further northeast on Holbrook Drive. Start: 34.6655/-86.9172 End: 34.7797/-86.7006
NWS EF Scale: F1
A tornado with EF-0 intensity produced peak wind speeds of up to 85 mph. The tornado touched down near the intersection of County Road 24 and Batts Road while embedded in a larger region of straight-line wind damaged associated with a bow echo. Numerous trees were knocked down and witnesses indicated a funnel that descended and lifted several times along the damage path. ||The tornado continued eastward moving parallel to Snake Road and County Road 24 where a concentrated region of numerous large trees were uprooted and snapped. Several houses had shingles removed and damage to gutters and roof awnings in this area. The most notable damage occurred north of County Road 24, between Zehner Road and Blackburn Road. The concentrated damage associated with this tornado dissipated near Browns Ferry Road as a secondary circulation developed to the south of the tornado.
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
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.